Did your dog get too close to a skunk and things didn’t end up pretty?
Skunks and dogs don’t go well together, and it usually ends up with the skunk spraying the dog with an awful smell.
As a dog owner, it is really important that you know what to do in such a situation.
Dogs have a better sense of smell than humans do. So, the bad odor is probably bothering your dog more than it is affecting you.
If your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, it is really important that you de skunk him as soon as possible.
In this blog post, I will teach you how to de-skunk a dog properly.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in, shall we?
Let’s start.
Things You’ll Need to De-Skunk Your Dog
In this section of the article, I will go through a list of things that you’ll need to have to de-skunk your dog.
Let’s take a look
- 32 fluid ounces or 1 liter of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (U.S.P); which must be fresh
- ¼th cup baking of soda (this means sodium bicarbonate, and not washing powder or baking powder)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of Softsoap or Ivory Liquid Cleanser or any liquid soap
- 32 fluid ounces or 1 liter of lukewarm water (This is needed only if you have a large dog)
- A clean plastic bowl, bucket, or any other mixing container that doesn’t have a cover
- Clean plastic utensils to mix the ingredients
- Mineral oil or protective eye ointment for the dog's eyes
- Rubber or latex gloves
- Eye goggles or a protective apron, if possible
- Lots of paper towels or cloth towels
How to De-Skunk a Dog - Step By Step
In this section of the article, I will go through the various steps that you’ll need to follow when de-skunking your doggy friend.
Step 1: Keep Your Furry Friend Outside
First of all, you would like to keep your doggy friend outdoors so that they don’t carry the godawful smell with them to the house.
Make sure to check your dog’s eyes for irritation or redness to see if the skunk got to your dog’s face.
If you see anything, flush them with cool water.
Step 2: Mix All the Ingredients
Mix the following ingredients together in a plastic container:
1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (available at any pharmacy)
1/4 cup baking soda
One teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap
Wear some rubber gloves and wash your dog with this mixture right after they've been sprayed by the skunk.
Make sure that you don’t get any part of the solution in the dog’s eyes as it can cause pain and irritation.
Never store this mixture or make it beforehand as it can explode if left in a bottle for a long time.
Step 3: Clean and Rinse Your Dog
Make sure that you rub the mixture through your dog’s fur thoroughly but, keep in mind that you don’t leave it in for to longs as it can bleach your doggy’s fur.
Rise your dog thoroughly and make sure that you got all the solution out.
Step 4: Shampoo the Dog Normally
The next thing that you should do is to shampoo your dog like you normally would and rinse thoroughly.
At this point, your dog should be successfully de-skunked and should smell rather nice.
Use paper towels and cloth towels generously to clean your dog and make sure that your furry friend is warm.
Let him be out in the sun ---or in a sunny room for a few hours.
You can even use a hairdryer if necessary.
Cleaning Yourself Up
If your furry friend rubbed some of the nasty stinks onto you, you would be better off throwing the clothes away.
You can use a regular laundry detergent mixed with baking soda to try and get the smell off.
Some Precautions to Keep in Mind
In this section, I will quickly go through some precautions that you need to follow while de-skunking your furry friend.
Don’t place the mixture in a spray bottle or a closed container.
This is because the pressure will build up and the container could eventually burst and cause you or your dog to have a serious injury
Never use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide and don’t substitute baking soda with other products.
An altered chemical reaction can lead to severe injuries.
Make sure to use fresh hydrogen peroxide as it becomes less concentrated over time.
How You Can De-Skunk a Dog
It is best if you keep your furry friend outdoors while you are de skunking him to avoid getting the awful smell in your house.
De-skunking, a dog, is rather easy and is something that all dog owners should know how to do.
In this article, I shared all the necessary steps, and I hope you get to successfully de-skunk your furry friend.