How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell On Dog

The sooner you act once your dog has been sprayed by the skunk the bigger the chances for successful elimination of the odor, keeping your dog outside to avoid indoor Odor diffusion. Also, since the skunk spray is oily you would not want your dog to rub on the furniture and other things. 

Perform a rapid examination so you can find out where the skunk spray is heavily concentrated on your dog's fur. Now that you have sprayed those areas, add in a cleaning solution. The sooner you do this, the better the smell goes away, it will stop the skunk odor from setting in.

This remedy should work well for instant de-skunking of your dog, the most effective and popular recipe to start with is mixing with a quarter cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of dish soap. This is because it initiates a chemical reaction capable of degrading the oils in skunk spray, which accounts for the abhorrent odor.

Get your dog in a quiet state of mind and take him to a place where the solution can easily be rinsed off such as a bathtub or outside.

Work the mixture into your dog's fur, paying close attention to the area that has the most concentrated skunk spray. Keep the solution in your dog's fur but not for too long then rinse well with warm water.

This should be done with warm water, draining all residuals from the solution onto the fur of your dog so that absolutely nothing is left behind. The trick for it working with successfully eliminating the smell from the skunk is to repeat over and over again until even after the first wash, the smell still prevails.

This you can repeat for a second or even a third time if the odor is overwhelming. Always work the solution deep into your dog's fur, paying particular attention to that area of the most pungent smell.

In matters like these, persistence is often a virtue, as anyone who has ever had to take off the spray of a skunk will know.

If the commercial type is your preference, you might want to try one of several commercial skunk odor removers currently for sale. These are proprietary mixtures for just this reason spray- and for that reason alone eliminate the need to formulate home remedies, a selection of some of the current favorites is listed below.

De-Skunking Shampoos

Special shampoos formulated to neutralize odors from skunks are available for sale in most pet stores. Most of these contain natural enzymes that degrade the skunk spray into much easier-to-wash-off components. When using such shampoos, instructions on the label must be followed for the best results.

Odor-neutralizing sprays

 Most of the fast-acting remedies concerning a skunk's odor, are usually easy to use and can be applied after your dog has been washed. They get rid of odors and freshen up your dog.

Skunk-Specific Wipes

To add to that quick fix come skunk-specific wipes. Wet wipes containing the solution to help your dog get rid of the nasty smell-soothe his fur in the process best for spot treatments and when you are on the go.

Professional grooming products

These come in handy for those particularly stubborn odors and are specifically made to take away the smell of a skunk. Since these usually are stronger kinds of products, they may serve as good options for a last resort if other ways have not completely taken away the smell.

One of the most available household products is baking soda, which works just as well in magic to get rid of the foul smell a skunk bequeaths on your pet. This works so well because it helps neutralize acids in the skunk spray and thus breaks down the odor molecules themselves.

Apply this paste in those areas where the spray of the skunk is strongest. Just ensure this is massaged into the fur very carefully, making sure not to make any contact with the eyes and face of your dog.

Allow to sit for a few minutes as the process of the paste starts to draw out the smell of the skunk in your dog's fur.

The idea that bathing a dog sprayed by a skunk in tomato juice would rid the terrible smell has always been assumed, this is more of a myth than an actual solution. The powerful sweetness of tomato juice might camouflage the smell for some, but it does not neutralize the skunk spray.

The strong pungency in the tomato juice will give you the feeling that the smell of the skunk has been neutralized. Unfortunately, once it is washed off, up comes the unwanted smell of the skunk.

Instead of tomato juice, it would be one of those known remedies such as homemade deskunking solution or a smell product. 

Another household product that could help with the skunk odor on your dog is apple cider vinegar. Because it is acidic it will have the effect of breaking down oily compounds in skunk spray and therefore make its removal less difficult. Mix an equal amount of apple cider vinegar with water in a large container to prepare an apple cider vinegar rinse.

Place your dog in a comfortable position; this is best done either in a bathtub or outside, and start the rinse. Start slowly pouring the apple cider vinegar mixture onto your dog's fur, making sure the worst-hit areas come in contact with the solution.

Sometimes the humblest solutions will amaze you with the results of eliminating skunk odor from your dog. After a good wash and rinse of your dog, having him outside with fresh air and sunlight may help break down any remaining skunk musky smell.

Sunlight contains natural neutralizing properties, while the fresh air helps circulate and carry lingering smells away from your dog's fur. Allow them to run in some sort of enclosed, safe area where the dog can take some time out to relax and dry off on his own.

Such aromas like lavender or eucalyptus, if it comes down to it will help mask even more the remaining traces of the skunk odor on your dog. But be very cautious because essential oils in their undiluted form are hazardous to pets.

The application to fur is always preceded by the mix of a few drops of essential oil into a carrier medium, such as coconut or olive oil to target areas of your pet that still have a trace of the skunk odor. This is avoiding sensitive areas, including the face and ears, this will further neutralize the smell to a pleasant one, provided that this is performed after proper washing and rinsing of the dog.

The smell of the skunk just does not leave the body of your dog, even if you have done everything right. Such situations call for learning how to remove odors like these. A few tips regarding that are as follows:

Repeat Baths: If your dog still smells of a skunk after his first bath, that's fine. Sometimes it does take upwards of two, three, or four baths to take that smell completely out. Apply the very same de-skunking solution or shampoo but pay more attention to those areas where the scent is much stronger.

Activated Charcoal: It is a fantastic absorber that, in essence, performs odor absorption quite well. You can consider some shampoos or sprays that may contain activated charcoal as the active ingredient to wash off that fur smell from your dog. Just the right thing you would need when that smell seemed to simply not want to go away.

Getting Rid of Odor: If it simply does not go away after repeated treatment, there is always a professionally qualified groomer who will have far stronger products and many techniques at his command that will neutralize even the most insistent skunk odors. Of course, not all cases would need this, but it's one option if everything else doesn't work out.

If your dog got sprayed by a skunk, then more than likely, some of that smell has come inside your house, it is just as important to neutralize the smell of a skunk in your living space as it would be to remove it from your dog. Open your windows because this allows fresh air to circulate and can help dissipate the smell. 

Other than airing out your home, you may use things lying around the house to neutralize the skunk's smell: baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and furniture and let it stay for several hours before it is vacuumed.

It is always better to prevent the smell of a skunk beforehand, you can reduce the chances of smelling a skunk if you take some precautionary measures. Here are some valuable tips that will keep your dog safe.

Supervised Outdoor Time

Those rare times you do let the dog out, especially around dawn or dusk when these skunks are most active, it should be under your supervision. You may interfere in case there is a skunk around so that you may help your dog avoid this where you can have an eye on your dog.

Securing Trash and Food

Skunks are attracted to food sources, including garbage and pet food that one may leave outside. Keeping trash cans tightly secured and avoiding, as much as possible, leaving pet food outdoors will minimize attracting these creatures into your yard. This simple step goes a long way in reducing the chances of any encounter with a skunk.

Fencing and Barriers

Build a fence or barrier around your yard to keep them off. The height should be appropriate and without any gaps and holes, the skunks can pass through easily. It will be effective in means of keeping the skunks off your property as well as your dog.

Motion-Activated Lights

Skunks are nocturnal, thus mostly coming to your yard at night. Putting up motion-activated lights around the home will keep them off since they do not approach well-lit areas. This might sound quite simple, but it is very efficient in helping you avoid future skunk encounters.

Another very important area in terms of your dog's health, hygiene, and management of odors emanating from his body is grooming. Regular brushing will help clean your dog's fur of dirt and debris that may reduce the chances of lingering smells in general, including that of a skunk.

A clean and well-groomed coat would not be as apt to absorb and retain pungent odors; therefore, if he happens upon a skunk, management of odors becomes easier. Other than brushing, you may also consider regular bathing to keep their fur fresh and clean and you won't have to bathe them too often.

That's just the reason it's always a good idea to be prepared against these sudden encounters with a skunk. It would contain some essential things like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, dish soap, and rubber gloves. If all these things are on hand that would be a good thing if one's dog gets skunked which means he or she will be able to act faster.

Aside from these simple staples, include one commercial skunk odor remover in your arsenal. This will be your fallback just in case your homemade concoction fails to thoroughly extract the smell from your dog's skin.

Being sprayed by the skunk will distress your dog a lot, it's reassuring for them to spend time with your dog after the incident. They need gentle handling and stroking softly, and in a soft voice, reassurance to let them regain their composure. The skunk sprays irritate for some time your dog would want a quiet place where they could rest and recover.

Giving your dog one of his favorite treats or playthings might just be what is needed to take his doggy mind off the powerful residual odors and irritation. It would also be quite advisable to keep a close watch on your dog during the days following the skunk encounter for signs of distress and discomfort.