I’d love to be able to tell you that dog’s learn their lesson after being sprayed by a skunk, and that they learn to avoid them. However I can now safely say that is not the case at all. My dog has not (and probably never will) learned to avoid chasing after skunks, no matter how many times she ends up getting sprayed.
So after some trial and error (and my dog getting sprayed multiple times) I found a solution that works well to remove that skunk smell. Here’s how to remove skunk smell from your dog.
How to Remove Skunk Smell From Your Dog
First things first: DO NOT START BY RINSING WITH WATER. This will just make the smell ten times worse. The first time my dog got sprayed my immediate reaction was to spray her off with the hose outside — big mistake.
The secretions from a skunk contain thiols (very smelly) and thioacetates (not so smelly); when mixed with water those secretions convert to thiols which are very pungent and can embed in your dog’s fur.
So before rinsing your dog with water grab the following and mix them together;
- 1 quart Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
- 1 teaspoon Liquid dishwashing soap
Those two ingredients are all you need to get rid of that nasty smell, and I make sure to always have some on hand in case of an emergency.
If you have rubber gloves put those on and start lathering your dog with the peroxide and soap mixture, and avoid getting it into their eyes. Make sure to thoroughly rub the mixture through your dog’s fur before rinsing it off.
If your dog still has some lingering skunk smell lather them again with the solution and rinse off. Do not leave the solution on your dog for too long as peroxide can be irritating and bleach their fur.
Toss the remaining mixture when you’re done, do not store or save it.
You can shampoo your dog with regular dog shampoo afterwards if you want, but I’ve never found it necessary. The process is already hectic enough, I prefer to just dry them off and move on with the day.
Pre-made skunk odor removers are also available at pet stores, but to be honest the peroxide and soap mixture works so well I’ve never had a reason to try an alternative.
Complications To Watch Out For
It’s normal for your dog to roll around and drool a little after getting sprayed, however any signs of lethargy, weakness, or change in urine can indicate a serious reaction.
Although rare, skunk spray can cause severe health complications in dogs. In high enough concentrations the thiol components in skunk spray can cause anemia by damaging your dog’s red blood cells.
If your dog got sprayed directly in the eyes or mouth you’ll want to seek immediate veterinary care.
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