Skunks are friendly animals until they feel threatened. If your dog gets too curious there is a high possibility that the skunk will spray your dog as their way of defense.

Skunks have two glands around their rectum. There are muscles around the glands that allow the skunk to squirt an extremely potent and enduring odour that skunks emit as a defense mechanism. The odour is so strong and unpleasant that it’s important to keep your dog outside to avoid getting the skunk odour in your house since it will take an extraordinarily long time to get rid of it.

What to do When Your Dog has been Skunked?

• Keep your dog outside until you plan to deal with the situation.
• If your dog was sprayed in the face and has swallowed the spray they may vomit, or they may not be able to see temporarily. Rinse their eyes and face with a wet sponge or cloth but do not get too much water on your dog as that will set the spray and will make it ridiculously hard to get rid of the odour.
• It’s so important not to bathe your dog in tomato juice, mouthwash, or any other folktale remedy, because, once again, this will set the spray and will make it difficult to make effective treatments less effective.

How to Remove the Majority of the Odour

Odour-Neutralizing Products

• Ideally, having an effective skunk odour neutralizing product on hand. This is handy to have in your pantry during skunk season. Pet Planet offers these natural products for convenience and effectiveness.
• If you are using one of these ready-made products then:
  • Spray the dog completely where the spray is apparent and let it sit on the dog while the dog is outside.
  • Some products, you will just rinse with warm water.
  • Other natural products you will shampoo out after the skunk neutralizing product sits on the dog for the instructions outlined time.

Homemade Remedy

• If you do not have a skunk neutralizing product handy you can try the following:
  • 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide (be sure it is 3%, any stronger may bleach the pet’s coat).
  • ¼ cup baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap
• Instructions:
  • Rub the mixture into the coat to the skin and cover every area of the pet. Be sure to avoid your dog’s eyes and leave it on for about 10 minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly to remove all the mixture.
  • Wash with a natural pet shampoo (Pet Planet offers a wide assortment) and then rinse your dog thoroughly.
  • Use rubber gloves and an apron if you have one to avoid transfer of odour from your dog to you and your clothes.
  • If your clothes do get skunk spray on them then wash in the washer with laundry soap and ½ cup baking soda to rid your clothes of the odour.