If your furry little friend loves to explore outside, he or she may run into more than they bargain for from time to time. This may include the unfortunate run in with a skunk. There’s not much you can do about a skunk spraying your dog or cat.
You likely won’t even know it happens until it’s to late. But now that you have a pet sprayed by a skunk, what should you do? Is the old advice of tomato juice really something that works? Follow these tips to help rid your pet (and maybe your home) of that awful skunk smell.
Steps To Take If Your Pet Is Sprayed By A Skunk
Timing is Everything
A skunk’s spray is mostly oil. This oil will absorb into the coat and skin of your pet, causing the smell to linger far longer than you want. Due to this, the faster you move on washing your pet the better. Now, the first decision you’ll make is whether or not you bring the pet inside. If you have a yard or a place to wash outside this is idea. If not, try to take your pet into a closed room near the door. Otherwise the skunk smell will spread throughout the house.
Cleaning Your Pet
Yes, if you have a can of tomato soup this can work in a pinch, but it has a very limited effect. There also are specialty pet shampoos specifically for this. It is a good idea to have one of these on hand just in case, but if you don’t, wash your pet before you head out to pick this up. You need to minimize the effects before you go shopping.
According to the American Kennel Club, the best way to rid your pet of skunk smell is to mix:
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1 tsp dish soap.
If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide you can use a white vinegar (cooking or cleaning varieties work).
Wash your pet thoroughly but don’t let the mixture remain in their fur too long as it may cause skin irritation and even bleach the fur. You may need to repeat this process several times, but you should notice a difference each time.
Once you have finished washing with the mixture, wash your pet with their standard dog or cat shampoo.
Lingering Effects
Do be aware that it is not always possible to completely rid your pet of the smell initially. If your pet was sprayed point blank or in the face it is extremely difficult to have your pet smelling like normal even after using the specialty combination. Should this prove to be the case, there isn’t much you can do but to wait it out. Eventually as your dog or cat produces more of their own oil, it will mask and ultimately remove the remainder of the skunk smell.
Taking Care of Your Pet
If you have a furry little friend who loves to explore, there is nothing better than watching their excitement as they scamper through the backyards or local woods. However, should they encounter a skunk, just remember the faster you move on cleaning them up the better off all of you will be. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
