Skunk!
Something no dog parent ever wants to deal with, it’s a smell that lingers not just on you’re dog but in your home and up your nose for days, if not weeks!
Recently Edie went out for her usual before bedtime business and was very distracted by something around the garden shed. I wasn’t too concerned as we have squirrels, birds, bunnies and the occasional cat that make their way through our garden, but this time her interest was different. Edie started to bark and make a whimper-like sound so unlike her. Annoyed that Edie wouldn’t stop her fussing and just do her business so we could go in for the night, I had to investigate what all this fuss was about. As Edie continued to sniff around the bushes and shed, I looked and searched but could not find the cause of her distress, that was until I peered behind our garden shed – SKUNK, tail up and ready for action!
I don’t think I’ve ever moved so fast, picking Edie up in one quick swoop, running into the house; Edie didn’t know what hit her.
Thank goodness Edie missed getting sprayed, but this did get me thinking about what I would do if we weren’t so lucky next time.
Tomato juice was the bath of choice for skunked dogs when I was growing up, but I personally didn’t find it much help. I wanted something that would be the most effective, but more importantly; safe for use on our dogs. I consulted with Dr. Ryan Llera and below is the recipe that is most preferred by vets.
Mix together:
1 litre of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap (Dawn if available)
Do NOT prepare this mixture ahead of time as it could explode if stored and left in a bottle
Step 1: Bath your dog outside in their usual dog shampoo. If your dog has been sprayed in the face use water soaked towels to ease their face/eyes.
Step 2: With rubber gloves on, rinse your dog in the mixed solution taking care NOT to get any in the dog’s eyes.
Step 3: Rinse dog thoroughly. If necessary repeat with solution.
Step 4: You may want to follow up with another bath in dog shampoo.
Here’s hoping this is one bath solution you will never have to use on your dog!
Special thanks to Dr.Ryan Llera for the “de-skunk” solution.
