Anyone know how to get skunk smell off of a dog?

[Skywalker]

My dog got sprayed by a skunk this morning...or maybe a whole family of skunks based on how bad he smells. It is absolutely disgusting and the whole house smells like it now!

Anyway, I tried washing him in tomato juice because I thought that was supposed to work. It doesn't. Does anyone know a real, tried and true method of getting that smell off of a dog?

He and I will be forever grateful. (So will my other dog, who cannot stop rubbing his face in the grass when he's close to the "skunked" dog).

 

[Crankyshank]

vinegar douche

 

[monkeyboy]

Originally posted by Crankyshank
vinegar douche

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Shave him?

My dog got sprayed by a skunk once and tomato juice worked, but he was short-haired (Doberman), so maybe that's why?

 

[Robmom]

Well, on the Partridge Family, they gave the dog a bath in tomato juice.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I've always heard to use tomato juice too, but since it's a dog, shaving his hair might work best and then give him a bath in the tomato juice.
You should probably ask your vet though, they might actually carry products just for this situation

 

[phillybeth]

Hydrogen Peroxide. It breaks down the chemicals in the 'smell'- state road crews use it to destink road kill so you know it works!

Mix a 16 oz bottle of peroxide with 1/2 gallon of water, and add a few drops of shampoo or dish detergent. Lather up the dog (be careful around his face), let sit as long as you can- try for at least 5 minutes. Rinse, and the stink should be gone!

 

[Skywalker]

Maybe it does work on short-haired dogs but for some reason it did not on this hairy beast! And somehow, I just don't envision shaving him.

The vinegar idea sounds promising...I think...

Anyone else?

 

[Skywalker]

Thanks Phillybeth!!!

 

[jan/cape]

Last summer my Lab was spayed just a little bit. Hewas due for a stay at the kennel for a week as we were going away. We forewarned the kennel before he arrived.
We always have him groomed there when he stays. They said it was not a problem they just add some kind of a deodorizer when he is shampooed. He lokked and smelled great when we picked him up.

 

[phillybeth]

Originally posted by Skywalker
Thanks Phillybeth!!!

You're welcome! You might need to mix up more based on the size of your dog though.

 

[gr8tpanther]

Make him stay outside and AIR OFF till he doesn't smell anymore!

 

[DrCavin]

Found this on google

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/HuskyHowllow/deskunk.html

Good luck

 

[TammiMcMan]

Phillybeth,

Your recipe is exactly what we've used on our dog in the past. She's a collie, so very very hairy. It always worked like a charm.

 

[talicskai]

I bought that book "talking dirty with queen of clean" She was on Oprah once and has all kinds of great housecleaning ideas. Her sworn advice for skunk smell is Massengil Douche!
My hubby told me if Buddy (our golden) ever got sprayed he would not go to the store to buy the stuff!

Good Luck!

 

[JerseyJanice]

Beth, we call that recipe "Skunk Off" and folks, it works! At least it does on my mutt! (He's half labrador and has the coat of one.)

 

[Boo'sMom]

Originally posted by gr8tpanther
Make him stay outside and AIR OFF till he doesn't smell anymore!

the peroxide and dawn dish soap works best.....our vet recommended it too...

also have tried...and it works...coffee...just rub dry coffee into your pet's coat, and then rinse off.

outside and air off will not work...you have to get the oils out of the dog's coat...or the smell will last.


also FYI...did you know that oxyclean is basically a dry powder that, once it becomes wet, it generates concentrated hydrogen peroxide bubbles

 

[phillybeth]

What the peroxide does is break down the bonds in the mercaptans in the skunk spray. Mercaptans are sulfur-containing chemicals and they are oil-soluble (they also smell really really bad- tuna and coffee and other foods have mercaptans but at low, non-stinky levels). The peroxide breaks them down, not only removing the 'stink' but also making it water soluble so you can rinse it away!

I don't recommend adding baking soda to the mixture, as all that does is break down the peroxide BEFORE it can get to work on the mercaptans.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Here's my skunk spraying story, lol.

A few years back my 6 lb Shih Tzu got sprayed early one morning by a skunk in our yard! We cornered her onto our deck and I rushed to call our vet. He stated to bathe her immediately in vinegar douche solution!

So I zoomed off to the local pharmacy which had just opened, and rushed up to the feminine hygiene product aisle. I grabbed the 3 boxes of pre-mixed vinegar douche that were there and raced up to the register.

The woman, just opening her register up, looked up at me as I excitedly asked if they possibly had any more vinegar douche mixes out back! I told her I would buy them all...

She shook her head no, rang up my sale and continued staring at me as I babbled on and on about need the douche mixes for my dog. I am certain I sounded rather bizarre! ROFLOL!!

And BTW, YES! It works miracles and takes the smell out of the poor dog's fur. Good luck!!

 

[Felicia]

When our German Shepard I quickly ran him to the groomer, they said either the vinegar douche or Selsen Blue dandruff shampoo would work also.