Skunks can live anywhere, including in abandoned buildings, farm fields, forests, grasslands, and hollow logs. As such, your dog may easily come across one while roaming around.
Unfortunately, if your canine companion gets sprayed by the skunk, they may end up with a face full of stink. This may be stressful and unpleasant to deal with.
The good news is that the skunk smell cannot harm your dog. But of course, you will need to rid your pooch of the scent as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will have the whole house stinking.
So, in this article, we’re going to provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to wash skunked dog.
Step One
First, you should let the dog stay outside. You don’t want your pooch to carry the skunk smell indoors. You see, the skunk oil will stay in the air that you breathe as long as it’s on your dog’s coat.
While the dog is still outside, check their eyes since the spray can be extremely irritating. If you notice the eyes are watering or red, simply rinse them with cool water. You may also use an eyewash solution.
Step Two
Next up, assemble all the materials you will need. However, this may vary depending on the method you use to wash your skunked dog.
The most common bath for skunked dog involves using hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, and baking soda. Basically, you will need:
- One quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
- 1/4 cup of baking soda
- 1-2 teaspoons of dishwashing soap
Mix the ingredients together in a bucket and wash your dog immediately with the solution. Wearing rubber gloves, rub the mixture into your canine’s coat and leave it for about 20 minutes before rinsing it out.
Step Three
After rinsing the solution thoroughly, wash your pooch with dog shampoo. Then rinse with warm water. By now, your canine companion should be de-skunked and smelling fresh. If not, repeat the process as needed.
Next, dry your dog with a towel and place them in a warm room for a couple of hours. This way, you will avoid them getting chilled.
Step Four
You’re probably wondering, what happens if you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, liquid soap, and baking soda? Well, you can use tomato juice. Start by bathing your pup with dog shampoo and dry him off.
Then, cover your skunked dog in tomato juice, making sure to saturate the coat completely. Allow the juice to soak for 10-20 minutes and then rinse it out. Lastly, wash your pooch again with a pet shampoo.
Similar to the previous method, you may have to repeat this step several times until the smell is gone completely.
Step Five
If you live in an area that skunks are quite common, you should invest in a skunk-specific spray or shampoo. It would be a good idea to keep the spray on hand as soon it presents itself. You see, there are many products out there formulated specifically for getting rid of skunk smell.
You can get these products from pet supplies stores or your veterinarian. Whether using shampoos, soakers, or sprays, make sure to read the instructions before using them.
And before applying the solution, you should wipe off any excess skunk spray. Also, be careful not to let the products get into your pup’s eyes.
How to Help your Dog Avoid Getting Skunked Again
Now that you know how to wash skunked dog, here are tips on how to protect your dog from getting sprayed again. These include:
1. Skunks love to dig through the trash for food. So, make sure to cover all trashcans in your yard. More so, you should always bring any dog treats or food indoors. This way, there will be nothing to lure the skunks in.
2. Additionally, you should clear out all potential hiding spots. This is because skunks are always looking for places to nest with their young ones or to sleep.
Besides, they can surprisingly fit into small areas. So, clear out debris or piles of wood in your yard and close up any vents.
3. It is worth mentioning that skunks are nocturnal animals. This means that they prefer to be out at dawn and dusk. Therefore, it would be a good idea to accompany your pooch outside when you let them out in the evening.
4. We also recommend leaving a light on in the yard throughout the entire night. This will make your yard a less desirable place for skunks to visit.
5. More importantly, you should pick up any fallen fruits from your trees. You see, skunks love fruits a lot. Therefore, they may frequent your yad just to come and eat the fallen fruits.
6. Lastly, having automated sprinklers can help your dog avoid getting sprayed again. When the sprinklers are running throughout the night, they will deter the skunks from roaming in your yard.
Final Words
Being sprayed by a skunk can happen to any dog or pet. But if you’re prepared with the right cleaning solutions, you can get rid of the smell quickly.
