DEODORIZE SKUNK SPRAY

 

A happy walk in the park or a quick trip outside before bed can turn into a nightmare when your dog encounters a skunk. Before he sprays the skunk goes into defense mode and lifts his tail as a warning. However not many dogs are able to heed the warning and the skunk sprays to defend himself and we all know what then occurs.

 

There is nothing pretty about this. To neutralize or deodorize skunk spray, the chemicals in the secretion must be changed to a different type of molecule to be effective. Many people think tomato juice is the ticket to solving the odor probem. In reality tomato juice simply masks the odor and does not eliminate it. Many humans will develop olfactory fatigue with the overwhelming smell of skunk spray. When this happens and you use tomato juice all you begin to smell is tomato juice. However another person, new on the scene, will tell you there is still SKUNK  smell everywhere. Now what?

 

For pets that have been sprayed bathe them in a mixture of 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (can be found at every drug store and most supermarkets), 1/4 cup of baking soda,  and a teaspoon of liquid detergent. After five minutes rinse the animal. Repeat if necessary. The mixture must be used after mixing and will not store safely. DO NOT STORE IN A CLOSED CONTAINER - it releases oxygen so gas can build up in the container. This mixture also may bleach the dogs coat. An additonal tip is to bathe outside if possible. To remove residual skunk odor from your clothes and any towels used in the clean up procedure, wash them with one cup of liquid laundry bleach per gallon of water.

 

If this act occurred in your home grounds and your house, or other part of deck or patio were sprayed you can use a solution of 1 cup liquid bleach to each gallon of water. Bleaching may occur so you should check a small area before applying.

 

Your next step, if this occurred in your yard, is to check the perimeter of your fencing to see how the skunk is gaining entry. Skunks may appear big, but remember there is a lot of fur covering a little body. They can gain entry through a small gap in the gate, under the fencing, and, if babies, even through a chain link fence. Plugging the gaps and keeping them out is your best defense.

 

There are several commercial products available that you might want to keep on hand. Try Omega Zapp Skunk Odor Conditioning Shampoo or Petrotech Odor Eliminator De-Skunk Dog Relief.