The smell of a skunk that has sprayed is one of the obnoxious scents to get rid of – even if you weren’t sprayed directly. If you’ve ever had the unfortunate experience of roadkill outside your home or perhaps a stench that sticks on to a bookbag or clothing that was in your car when a nearby skunk sprays, then you know how hard it can be to get rid of the smell once it’s happened.
Now picture what it smells like if your dog runs indoors after a bathroom break outside with that incredible smell now on his coat. It’s the thing horrors are made of for any pet parent.
Fortunately, we know exactly how you can handle this situation and have a few tips for helping to prevent it from happening again in the future. Keep reading to learn more!
Get it Out ASAP
The first thing you should do if your dog is sprayed by a skunk is to get to work getting the stench and oily secretion off of him as quickly as possible. The longer it sits and dried, the harder it will be to remove the scent. Sometimes it can even stick around for months! So this is nothing to panic and lose time over. Get to work cleaning up ASAP!
Start the Washing Process
Take the dog outside and immediately start using a cleanser to wash him before even turning on the hose. If you have some store-bought enzymatic spray on hand use that to spray your dog down and set in. If you’re looking for something quick and an at-home DIY to use quickly then mix the following up to massage into the dog’s coat on the spot where they were directly sprayed:
– 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
– ¼ cup baking soda
– 1 teaspoon of strong liquid soap
It’s important to lather the cleanser into the sprayed areas and get them pulling out the oils and stench from that area before you use the hose and potentially spread it around.
If your dog was sprayed in the face be sure to quickly protect their eyes by applying some mineral oil and be careful as you wipe the cleanser through their coat to not get it into their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Finally, remember anything you get on your as you’re cleaning the dog will stay stuck on you too so use gloves and old clothes you can toss in the garbage when you’re done!
While there is nothing you can do to completely prevent wildlife from making its way into your hard, you can help to keep your dog within certain perimeters of your yard where they may be less likely to come upon a skunk. With a wireless pet containment system, they’ll still enjoy the freedom of the backyard but can safely roam around while avoiding those areas you’ve marked as forbidden.
