OT: For all of you with pets re: skunks

[annnewjerz]

So I know this board has a lot of dog/cat owners and figured it would be the easiest place to post---because otherwise I have no idea where this question might go (community board?)

About an hour ago, our Golden Retriever Mickey was out in the back yard and got sprayed by a skunk. We bathed him and then read online that if you don't get all of the oil off, the smell can last for TWO YEARS?!

For anyone that may have experience with pets being sprayed by skunks, what did you do to get rid of the smell and did your pet really smell for two years? I was thinking more like two weeks.

If my poor Mickey smells like burnt rubber for two years, he's going to be spending a lot less time next to us on the couch each night.

 

[jann1033]

So I know this board has a lot of dog/cat owners and figured it would be the easiest place to post---because otherwise I have no idea where this question might go (community board?)

About an hour ago, our Golden Retriever Mickey was out in the back yard and got sprayed by a skunk. We bathed him and then read online that if you don't get all of the oil off, the smell can last for TWO YEARS?!

For anyone that may have experience with pets being sprayed by skunks, what did you do to get rid of the smell and did your pet really smell for two years? I was thinking more like two weeks.

If my poor Mickey smells like burnt rubber for two years, he's going to be spending a lot less time next to us on the couch each night.

you can buy stuff to get the stink out( don't know the name, maybe call your vet tomorrow if he still smells, the dog i mean not the vet) but i do know if he is around anything that absorbs odors, ie clothing, bedding it can pick up the odor...i remember when a friend's dog got skunked she let him in the porch where she kept her coat and the coat smelled like skunk.i happened to be with her the next day and we kept thinking we were smelling a skunk till we realized it was her

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Sorry to hear that Ann My only experience was when I was a kid and we had a dog that got sprayed all the time. Back then we poured tomato juice all over him. Not sure if it help or not. The smell only lasted for a week or two unless they get wet and then it comes back.

 

[annnewjerz]

you can buy stuff to get the stink out( don't know the name, maybe call your vet tomorrow if he still smells, the dog i mean not the vet) but i do know if he is around anything that absorbs odors, ie clothing, bedding it can pick up the odor...i remember when a friend's dog got skunked she let him in the porch where she kept her coat and the coat smelled like skunk.i happened to be with her the next day and we kept thinking we were smelling a skunk till we realized it was her

LOL, your poor friend! We did bring him in and he touched the clothes we were wearing, but we tossed them already (just wearing a t-shirt and boxer shorts). I'm going to take a ride to the pet store, apparently they sell anti-skunk shampoo and by the time it happened tonight the stores would have been closed. Figures.

Sorry to hear that Ann My only experience was when I was a kid and we had a dog that got sprayed all the time. Back then we poured tomato juice all over him. Not sure if it help or not. The smell only lasted for a week or two unless they get wet and then it comes back.

I read this solution online. Only problem is, no tomato juice and they said that the color would possibly stain the dog's coat and next to a skunky dog, the last thing I wanted was a red skunky dog.

I also heard the thing about the dog getting wet and I really hope that's just for a few weeks. I would hate if for the next few years every time we went to bath the dog or take him swimming we would have to smell that.

Looks like one very fuzzy doggy might be in store for a clipping at the groomer sometime soon!!

 

[My2Girls66]

It won't last 2 years. Herhsey got hit by 2 skunks at the same time a few months ago. We bathed her a few times and she was ok- not skunk odor free but much better. She smelled if you really got close for a few weeks then it faded. One of our cats got it 3-4 weeks ago- DD bathed her in people shampoo a day after it happened- she smelled a little for a while but no smell at all now.
I was told to try peroxide, Dawn and baking soda mixed. I used that on Hershey- she got sprayed in the chest/head/face, I was afraid to put peroxide near her eyes so I just used shampoo there. At the pet store you can get Natures Miracle Skunk odor remover. I have it, also- not sure its all that great. I'd shampoo a few times then let it fade on its own.
Good luck!! It is one powerful smell when its fresh!!

 

[annnewjerz]

It won't last 2 years. Herhsey got hit by 2 skunks at the same time a few months ago. We bathed her a few times and she was ok- not skunk odor free but much better. She smelled if you really got close for a few weeks then it faded. One of our cats got it 3-4 weeks ago- DD bathed her in people shampoo a day after it happened- she smelled a little for a while but no smell at all now.
I was told to try peroxide, Dawn and baking soda mixed. I used that on Hershey- she got sprayed in the chest/head/face, I was afraid to put peroxide near her eyes so I just used shampoo there. At the pet store you can get Natures Miracle Skunk odor remover. I have it, also- not sure its all that great. I'd shampoo a few times then let it fade on its own.
Good luck!! It is one powerful smell when its fresh!!

THANK GOODNESS.

I read the whole peroxide/baking soda/soap combo online but unfortunately didn't have a quart of peroxide and just didn't feel like running all the way out to the closest 24 hour grocery or Walmart to get it.

I think Mickey got hit right in the head/face too. He was rubbing his face around a little on the carpet (I'm guessing a little got in his eyes but we rinsed them with water).

The weird thing is, it smelled so different than normal skunk smell. It smelled like burnt rubber where a dead skunk smells really sour. Who knows!

Thanks so much for the response. I'm glad to hear that in a few weeks and/or a few months the smell should be pretty much all gone. That's a relief and my DH will be very happy to hear it.

 

[My2Girls66]

Just wash him a few times with whatever you have. It'll get rid of most of the smell.

 

[mescad]

When I was in high school we had a boxer who mistook a skunk for our black cat that she loved to torment. She grabbed it by the tail, and got sprayed in the mouth. After a long bout of vomiting, we finally got her into the bathtub. We used tomato juice back then, which didn't stain her red by the way.

The smell cleared up after a while, but I swore that she had the WORST breath for the rest of her life (about 10 more years.) Any time she'd get near your face, you'd get a whiff of skunk breath!

 

[My2Girls66]

Do you think they learned their lesson? I'm thinking NOT in Hershey's case.
When she gets crazy in the house about going out at night now I look out with a flashlight before letting her out just in case. I saw the 2 skunks under my birdfeeder like a split second after I let her out that night. I yelled at her before she reached them but she wasn't stopping. She stopped dead when they sprayed her square in the face, tho. Ran back in the house- eyes watering, nose running. Nothing like giving a dog a bath at midnight. She usually hates baths- let me tell you, she sat there and let me bathe her, face and all with no problem whatsoever.

 

[My2Girls66]

The weird thing is, it smelled so different than normal skunk smell. It smelled like burnt rubber where a dead skunk smells really sour. Who knows!

I think maybe when its so fresh and if the dog gets a lot on them like that it just REALLY REALLY is strong. My eyes were watering when Hershey got it. I kept saying I could BELIEVE how strong that smelled. That was the 1st time I've dealt with it 1st hand.

 

[annnewjerz]

Do you think they learned their lesson? I'm thinking NOT in Hershey's case.

Not at all. This morning, both darted right back to the spot that the skunk was last night.

Nothing like giving a dog a bath at midnight. She usually hates baths- let me tell you, she sat there and let me bathe her, face and all with no problem whatsoever.

Same here! We ended up having to give him a bath outside at 10:00ish. Bad part was that we spent an hour during the day yesterday bathing and grooming him and for what? NOTHING!

I think maybe when its so fresh and if the dog gets a lot on them like that it just REALLY REALLY is strong. My eyes were watering when Hershey got it. I kept saying I could BELIEVE how strong that smelled. That was the 1st time I've dealt with it 1st hand.

Today he definitely smells more "skunky" and less like burnt rubber. The smell was completely overwhelming. I had to smell it all night and it was just horrible. Hopefully the pesky skunk will be staying away from our yard from now on

 

[zackiedawg]

It might be time to try some 'as seen on TV' stuff and prove once and for all if it works. The product called 'What Odor?' advertises to neutralize any odor, including "The toughest odor of all - skunk!". It also says it is biodegradeable, and safe/non-toxic for children & pets. So maybe some diluted in water and mixed with shampoo might help.

Personally, I don't own it and have never used it - so I'm not endorsing it!! I just remember the pitch they used where they specifically mentioned skunk.