Skunk Odor Removal
Learn What Works Before Rover Gets Skunked!

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I think it's a safe bet that skunk odor removal was probably not the top thing on your mind when you first got a dog. But, you'll be patting yourself on the back if you already know what to do if and when your dog has that inevitable run-in with a skunk. As dog owners, most of us have already been there, done that. If you haven't, read on!

I still remember the first occasion my dog had a skunk cornered in our backyard. Our property was very big and naturally Murphy's law decreed that it was dark outside when this joyous event occurred, so I had to get a flashlight to find out what was going on.

WOAH... there they were in the face off position with neither one of them willing to yield. Even with relentless barking, the skunk still wouldn't move and my dog was holding his ground waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

A neighbor started yelling, using some colorful expletives, to shut up the dog, so I politely invited her to be my guest! Finally she tossed something over the fence which distracted my dog just long enough for the skunk to flip his body, spray and run. Since the run-in was very close to the back fence, I was comforted knowing that the neighbor would have a chance to enjoy the residual odor for quite some time to come.

With all the excitement over, our dog was now ready to comply with our earlier commands to come here. We were just as ready to say "not so fast my furry one", at least not until we had discovered a surefire way to remove the foul stink. Fortunately we were able to keep the dog out of the house while we researched our options.

Skunk Odor Removal -Where shall we start?

Aromatherapy? hmm, sounds like a good place to look for a solution. But no luck, seems likes skunk juice is one aroma without a therapy.

Then I remembered a little bottle of some "miracle" odor removal stuff I had purchased from a TV ad. The ad claimed: Strong Enough To Deodorize A Skunk With Just One Drop. Aha, I thought, I'm about to be rewarded for my savvy purchase on TV.

Nah, no miracle in that bottle. It might have been able to deodorize a skunk, but they obviously hadn't tried it on a skunk-sprayed dog! Back to the drawing board.

How about the old tomato juice cure that I had heard somewhere. OK, worth a try. After a couple of hours and two rounds of juicing, the dog had a red face, the garage was a mess, and we had poured several gallons of tomato juice down the drain. Skunk Odor? You guessed it - still there.

I would have to say that the tomato juice does work to a degree because after your nose gets worn out from the skunk smell, it becomes less noticeable. The tomato juice then becomes the dominant aroma. But any newcomer to the scene will still smell skunk and again so will you in due time.

Skunk Odor Removal - Methods And Folklore:

Following is a list of various remedies that have been used by dog owners at one time or another. Go ahead and try them if you're so inclined, and I'd be interested in hearing your results. I can't vouch for each one, because I haven't tried them all.

Here they are in no particular order:

• A mixture of dish soap, water and vinegar
• Feminine douche product
• Lemon antibacterial kitchen soap
• Toothpaste - yes you read it correctly!
• Oxyclean mixed with dog shampoo
• Dishwashing liquid
• Vanilla Extract
• Apple Cider
• Selsun Blue
• Mixture of baking soda (1/4 cup, or more), 3% hydrogen peroxide (1qt), dog shampoo(about 1 tsp). Mix fresh and apply with sponge, take care around eyes. Rinse off after about 10-15 mins. Be aware that this method may very likely turn your dog into a blond - temporarily that is!

Skunk Odor Removal - Around The House:

• To absorb odor in the air, set out bowls of vinegar
• Bleach in the laundry (approx. 1c per gal) to wash clothes and any house related items that won't be harmed by bleach (NEVER on the dog)
• Add Borax OR ammonia to the wash, not both
• Baking soda on rugs, vacuum up after odor has dissipated. Change bags in vacuum.
• After clean-up, change filters in all household systems related to air circulation (HVAC)

Skunk Odor Removal - Conclusion

The peroxide mixture seems to be the most popular remedy. Plus, you can keep all of the ingredients on hand to make up a batch if needed. Don't try to store a mixed batch as it could explode. Also, it loses effectiveness a short while after mixing - about an hour.

If you go this route, let the solution sit on the dog awhile, then rinse out. To finish the job, I recommend following up with a commercial skunk remover product. Triple Pet Skunk Insurance is a very good one that is guaranteed to work.

Skunk Odor Removal - The Secret

In all that's been said here there is one very important secret I am going to pass along to you. This is the key to success no matter which remedy you select to deal with skunk odor removal. Here it is - the sooner you handle the problem the better. Get those rubber gloves on and shampoo your dog right away, before the skunk spray dries. This is critical.

Then go ahead and follow up his bath with the odor removing remedy of your choice. This bit of information is what I learned after my first skunk experience and now you know the secret too!

Good luck to you and Rover!

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