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There’s nothing more intense and immediately recognizable than the notorious smell of skunk spray. The skunk’s rancid oil is expelled at high velocity as a defense mechanism. Unfortunately, if they feel threatened, it can be directly into your poor dog’s face (or even all over them), leaving them smelling rotten. Besides the discomfort of the offensive scent, the skunk spray can cause ocular edema, conjunctivitis, drooling, and even an intoxication that causes your pet’s red blood cell destruction, which can lead to anemia.
Panic can quickly ensue, but there are ways that the skunk smell can effectively be removed from your dog’s face, leaving them fresh and smelling clean again. As long as a little preparation is undertaken, you can rid your dog of skunk aroma in just a few easy steps; read on to find out how to fix this smelly problem quickly.
What You Need to Prepare
Some owners like to keep a “skunk kit” ready if they live in wooded areas, such as upstate New York, but be aware that if you follow the steps below using hydrogen peroxide, you should not pre-mix the solution, as this can cause the containers to explode. Keeping them in separate containers but in the same place is the best way to maintain a skunk kit should you wish to do so.
In any case, the way that popular veterinary and pet organizations (such as PetMD1 and the AKC2 (American Kennel Club) recommend removing skunk smell is by using a combination of:
- Hydrogen peroxide (no more than 3%)
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Dog Shampoo
These can all be kept in their respective packages until needed or kept in a cupboard close to a bucket or bin for mixing.
The Step-By-Step Guide to Removing Skunk Smell From Your Dog
The following steps detail how to make up an effective skunk spray wash, which should be used a few times to ensure maximum effectiveness.
1. Secure Your Dog Outside
The first thing to do as soon as your dog gets sprayed is to secure them safely and comfortably outside. You’ll want to keep your smelly pup outside because the stink of skunk spray will not only stick to any surface it touches (meaning they also need to be cleaned), but it will permeate the air and make your whole house smell.
2. Check Your Dogs Eyes
Before you go any further, check your dog’s eyes. If they’re red, watering, or your dog is pawing at them, they may have been sprayed in the face. Rinse their face with water or saline (human saline is fine) before you go further to keep them comfortable. At this point, focus on the eyes and avoid getting your dog’s sprayed coat wet.
3. Measure Out Your Ingredients
- 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1/4 cup of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap
This recipe can be adjusted for larger dogs (e.g., doubled), but don’t change the ratio. The ingredients can then be combined in a washing bowl, bucket, bin, or any container that’s easy to use.
4. Grab Your Dog and Move Near a Water Source
Find a suitable place near a hose or if it’s impossible, bring buckets of water outside to wash the solution off your dog. We strongly recommend you use rubber gloves to get this task done, and have a towel ready to dry them off afterward. It is important to keep in mind that you should not wet your dog before applying the solution as water can spread the oily skunk spray, making it harder to remove. The water will only be used to rinse off the solution and wash your dog afterward.
5. Apply the Mixture and Scrub
Apply the mixture all over your dog (avoiding their eyes) and scrub them gently but thoroughly. Make sure to work quickly and cover all areas, as time is of the essence when your dog has been sprayed. Skunk oil will sink into the fur if left, and the smell can hang around for up to a year once it gets embedded in dog hair!
6. Let It Sink in
After completely covering your dog, leave the mixture to sink in for 5-10 minutes. This is to allow the peroxide and baking soda to do their work.
7. Rinse and Shampoo
Rinse the mix thoroughly, then wash your dog with their usual shampoo (or a special skunk shampoo if you have one), making sure to follow the instructions on the bottle. This can then be repeated two or three times more if needed.
Bathing your pet can be a difficult task, but the first step is to choose a great shampoo. We love Hepper's Shampoo Products, both of which are natural, pet-safe options specially formulated to clean your pet's skin and coat without causing irritation. Both formulas are also free of dyes, soaps, sulfates, and phthalates. Your pet will enjoy the soothing aloe vera and oatmeal, and you'll love the clean, fresh scents!
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
For Bathing
 |
Hepper Oatmeal Pet Shampoo |
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Check Price |
For In-Between Baths
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Hepper No-Rinse Pet Shampoo |
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Check Price |
At PangoVet, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Things to Look Out for – Safety Tips
- Dogs can vomit if they lick up the mixture, so you should prevent them from ingesting it.
- Black dogs (and dark dogs) can have their fur lightened by the hydrogen peroxide, don’t be alarmed if this occurs.
- Make sure you keep it out of your dog’s eyes, as it can burn.
Specialized Skunk Remover Products
There are a few alternatives to consider if you don’t want to use the hydrogen peroxide mix.
Several specialized products are available on the market that are made to get rid of skunk spray and the horrid smell. Products like skunk shampoo or a de-odorizing skunk spray can be used immediately on your dog with no prior prep.
Just follow any instructions on the packaging and keep all products away from your dog’s eyes.
Why Does Skunk Spray Smell So Bad?
Skunk spray is designed to save a skunk’s life if it’s threatened or attacked. That’s why it is so potent. Skunk spray contains a substance called thiols, which has a very characteristic rotten egg smell and is secreted by the animal’s anal glands.
While this is a stinky situation for us, it’s a big deal for the skunk. It takes 10 days to completely re-fill their anal glands, and during this time, they’re completely vulnerable to their natural predators, such as great horned owls, bobcats and foxes.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing worse than hearing a yelp and smelling the telltale stench of skunk spray on your dog. Knowing what to do is key to getting as much of the smell out as fast as possible, as skunk spray can last for days, weeks, and even months if it’s left to fester.
Not only that, but the oily substance is also an irritant for your dog and can cause them distress and even in rare cases destroy their red blood cells and cause hemolytic anemia. Cleaning it off them and out of their fur will help to keep them as comfortable as possible after they have been targeted by a sweet-faced yet stinky, striped nemesis.
Featured Image Credit: Masarik, Shutterstock
