-Recipe to Eliminate Skunk Scent From Your Dog-

Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way the warning signs that skunks give before they do their final deed, spray you or your dog with their pungent, oily scent.  Skunks are very near-sighted, they may not even see you until they bump into you or your dog while out on your walk on your neighborhood streets or nature trails.  We have some great trails here in South Orange County where we can walk our dogs, so please keep these warning signs in mind.  And keep the following “recipe” handy, although I hope you never need to use it.

Here are some indicators to watch for if you do encounter a skunk:  First, they will stomp their front feet, and raise their tail; they are telling you they see you and want you to leave.  If your dog doesn’t leave them alone, they may next do a short charge and then stomp and drag their front feet.  They may repeat this several times hoping you get the message and get out of their way.  They may also do “hand stands”, holding their back end into the air, and they do hiss like a cat.  (The hissing surprised me the most-heard it in my backyard, but by then it was too late!) All of these signs are warning your dog to back up, get away, the last thing they want to do is unleash their scent, but they will if they feel threatened.  An adult skunk can spray up to 15 feet away with great accuracy.  You really need to respect their space and back away slowly and quietly.

If all of these signs have been ignored and your dog does get sprayed, here is the “recipe” to help neutralize that odor.  Be sure to wear rubber gloves, use this recipe immediately (it cannot be stored-must be made fresh each time) and try to bathe your pet outdoors to avoid that powerful fragrance getting into your home.

1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide

¼ cup baking soda

1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap (Dawn is best-but any will do)

Mix well in a plastic bucket and use immediately.  The mixture should bubble, if not, make sure both the baking soda and the hydrogen peroxide are not expired.

Apply the mixture to your dog’s fur where the oily residue is, or where the smell is.  DO NOT WET YOUR PETS FUR FIRST, APPLY THIS MIXTURE TO THEIR DRY COAT.  Leave on for 5 minutes, rinse well and repeat if necessary.  If you have a larger dog, you can add up to one quart of lukewarm water to help spread the mixture into their coat more easily.  DO NOT GET THIS MIXTURE INTO THE DOGS EYES OR ON ANY CUTS, this solution will sting.  If the spray went into the dogs eyes, try flushing with water.  TOWEL DRY YOUR DOGS FUR.  A blow dryer may reactivate any oils left on your dog’s coat.

After you are sure you got the stinky off your dog, you can follow up with a quick bath of your favorite doggie shampoo.  Hopefully that will leave him smelling fresh and clean again.

If you have textiles that have the skunk odor, use the mixture diluted with water and lightly wipe onto the surface.  It will dry quickly and you can do the sniff test to see if it’s working.  White Vinegar may help as well on your furniture or clothes but if your clothes took a direct hit, you may need to throw them out as the scent may never fully go away.  Leave your clothes or shoes outside for a few days to see if the scent has dissipated.

If you think you may have skunks in your yard, remember that they really are beneficial in the yard or in the neighborhood.  They eat lots of insects and rodents.  It really is best that we leave them alone.  They will eventually move on to another neighborhood or yard.  Here are some signs that skunks may be hanging out in your yard.  Small, swallow holes in the lawn indicate that they are searching for grubs to eat.  You also may find potted plants knocked over or the lower leaves of edible garden plants eaten.  That should alert you to keep your dog under close supervision while in the yard from dusk until dawn.  If you would rather not have them visiting your yard, keep in mind that skunks are attracted to garbage and pet food.  These are the same things that attract coyotes, so do yourself a favor and keep a tight lid on your trashcans and do not leave pet food outside.  Keep your birdseed in an aluminum container with a securely closed lid.  They also like to hang out in areas where they can make a den, such as rock or wood piles and under decks.   Skunks look for grubs in your moist lawn so do yourself a favor and don’t water at night.  It’s best to water your lawn between 4 am and 8 am anyway and that will help keep the soil drier during the night hours when the skunks are hunting for grubs.  The moist soil pushes the grubs closer to the surface of the lawn and as the lawn dries out, the grubs go further down into the soil, making them less obvious to the skunks.  (Who knew you were going to get a lawn maintenance tutorial.)

Dog walking at dusk or later may be the most common times for you to encounter a skunk.  Please keep your dog under supervision or hire a professional dog walker to help you out.  At The Pet Sitter, we are a professional dog walking and pet sitting service.  We do not walk dog’s off-leash and are not distracted by phones, texting or music.  Your dog’s safety and well-being are first and foremost in our business.  Give us a call or email to see what other great services we provide.

Thank you.