Hello AKC! Just now, “Pepe Le Pew” met my Chow Chow. Must I say more? He needs a bath, but he still smells bad. What actually works to get the skunk scent out of his coat? I’ve heard of several different cures, such taking a bath in tomato juice. Ohio is odious.
Message to Odiferous We all have our favorite “skunking stories” as dog owners. Mine is the day my grandmother paid her first visit to my new house and my dog gave her a face skunking. In order to bathe my dog later, after my meal, I moved her down the basement. Big error! Grandma arrived, and my house no longer had that “lemonly-fresh scent.” What took its place could only be described as strong enough to make an elderly Swiss woman’s nose wrinkle.
first guideline. If possible, avoid bringing the dog into the home. Skunk oil will continue to be present in the air you breathe as long as it is still on the dog’s coat. The key to fresh air is to find a suitable solution to remove the oil as quickly as feasible.
I’ve tried a number of cures over the years, including pouring my dog’s head with the popular Bloody Mary mix (hold the celery). While these natural solutions are excellent at covering up the stench, they do not get rid of it.
I don’t recall how or when I discovered the following solution, but the first time I applied it, it worked like a charm. The ingredients are as follows:
- Baking soda, 1/4 cup
- Ivory Snow or another mild dishwashing detergent, 1-2 tablespoons
- 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in 1 quart
- Combine in a bucket, then use right away.
- Well-integrate the foaming ingredient into the coat.
- Keep running for five minutes.
- Use warm water to rinse.
- Afterward, use dog shampoo if preferred.
As the oil hasn’t yet penetrated into the hair, the quicker you can get the dog in the tub, the better the results will be.
This is a strong formula, so use extra care near the dog’s eyes. Never use hydrogen peroxide solutions that are higher than 3% since they could burn. Use it right away after mixing it up fresh. This concoction will explode if you store it in a closed container. Be careful with those black dogs because the hydrogen peroxide could bleach their coat (imagine bleached blond). Bleaching is less likely to occur the shorter the solution is left on. However, you ultimately have to decide between a wrinkled nose and a bleached attractiveness.
What eliminates skunk smell on dogs?
Add to a mixture: 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide at 3% (available at any pharmacy) Baking soda, 1/4 cup. liquid dish soap, 1 teaspoon.
Will vinegar get rid of the dog’s skunk smell?
Your dog’s skunk odor can be eliminated with your favorite pantry item. Mix 2 parts water and 1 part apple cider vinegar in a simple manner. Rub the mixture into your dog’s fur after wetting its coat. Sit for five minutes, during which you may consider how much you adore skunks. Thoroughly rinse. Be careful to avoid the eyes, as you would with the previous skunk remedy.
Does Dawn make dogs smell less like skunks?
One of every pet owner’s biggest nightmares is realizing that their dog has been skunked. Every pet owner should be aware of what to do if their pet becomes a bit too fascinated about the striped animal because the aroma of the striped animal can linger for weeks on the dog, inside the house, and even on humans.
Your initial reaction after seeing your dog be hit by a car could be to take them inside so they can get into the tub as quickly as possible. However, resist the desire because doing so would just make your dog and home smell bad.
Thiol, a molecule that can not dissolve in water, is the substance that produces the distinctive skunk spray. While it might be your first inclination to grab the hose after bringing your dog inside, resist the urge. Spraying your dog with water or another water-based item (such tomato juice) will only disseminate the skunk oil further into their fur rather than getting rid of the odor.
What should you do initially if you can’t bring your dog inside and you shouldn’t just turn on the hose? The solution is to “neutralize the scents in order to deactivate the skunk odour. While you make a straightforward combination consisting of: Have your dog wait outside.
- hydrogen peroxide in a quart
- Baking soda, 1/4 cup
- 12 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid (blue Dawn dish soap)
In order to get rid of any extra oil from the skunk spray, pat your dog’s coat dry with a paper towel. DO NOT massage your dog’s coat as doing so will just encourage the oil to absorb more deeply into their skin. Apply the mixture evenly to your dog’s coat after the solution has ceased bubbling and wait until the stench goes away. Then, thoroughly rinse your dog.
The next step is to simply bathe your dog. Even though the odor ought to be gone, there will still be an oily residue that can only be taken off with shampoo. At this time, wash your dog as usual, being particularly aware of any places that seem oily or slimy. If the situation is severe, it can take more than one washing to completely remove the residue from your dog.
There are numerous methods available online that claim to eliminate the skunk smell, but you should be aware that only hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are capable of doing so. The tomato juice is a typical home treatment. While some of the oils will be cut through by the juice’s acidity, the majority of the stench will still be present (and will also leave your light-colored dog looking pink). Others swear by vinegar since it covers up odors while doing little to eliminate them.
Does Dawn dish soap eliminate the skunk odor?
We are pleased to provide a remedy for the skunk smell in addition to a tomato juice bath and the passage of time. The home treatment is simple to use and will eliminate the skunk smell with common household materials. While we cannot guarantee complete odor eradication, we have found this to be a successful solution. The solution has received excellent customer reviews.
The following items are used in the recipe:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide in a quart
- liquid soap, 1 teaspoon (we have found dawn dish soap to work the best)
The skunk spray’s oils are broken up by the soap, allowing the other chemicals to serve as neutralizers. To safeguard the pet’s eyes, follow standard bathing methods. Lather, wet the hair, and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. After application, the pet should be washed with tap water to remove the solution. Avoid looking at or mouth.
Does apple cider vinegar eliminate the stench of skunks?
To deal with the stench in the house, you can burn incense, boil apple cider vinegar on the stove, and open the windows. White vinegar can also be used, although apple cider has a somewhat softer texture.
How can I deodorize my dog without using vinegar or peroxide?
An efficient skunk spray neutralizer is a common peroxide/dish detergent/baking soda mixture. It is common because it is effective. However, peroxide causes vomiting and is harmful to tissue. There are less caustic solutions, but they might need to be applied more than once to get rid of the skunk scent on dogs.
How do you Deskunk the face of a dog?
The oxygen that hydrogen peroxide produces binds with the thiols (the sulphur compound) in the skunk spray to neutralize the odor, making it a popular additive. Before administering the mixture to the problematic regions, thoroughly wet the dog, taking care to keep the mixture away from the dog’s eyes. After five minutes, properly rinse it.
Given that white vinegar dissolves the oil in the spray and that hydrogen peroxide can bleach fur, some individuals choose to use vinegar instead of hydrogen peroxide.
Baking soda paste is another popular remedy that is safe to apply to your dog’s face. Simply combine one part baking soda with three parts water, then gently apply with an old rag. Before shampooing it out, let it sit for 3–4 minutes.
De-Skunking Dog Myth: Busted!
Why I didn’t include tomato juice to de-skunk your dog may have left you puzzled. Well, a tomato juice bath isn’t really that helpful in getting rid of skunk stench, according to none other than the Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters.” Actually, it masks the smell, fooling your drained sense of smell into thinking it has vanished.
If that’s all you have, go ahead and attempt it, but chances are you’ll need to use something else to complete the de-skunking task. For a well-deserved Bloody Mary, save the tomato juice.
Can tomato juice get rid of skunk odor?
Pets must either have the chemical components of the spray chemically changed or removed from their coats in order to get rid of the skunk smell. Skunk odor cannot be totally eliminated physically, not even after numerous baths; therefore, the chemicals must be changed chemically. There are several commercially available treatments to get rid of the smell, but if it’s too late and the pet stores have closed, you can use a homemade solution made of 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon liquid soap. The skunk spray’s oils are broken up by the soap, enabling the other chemicals to function. Water should be used to rinse off the solution. Use a sponge to apply the solution to the animal’s face, being careful not to get it in its eyes or mouth.
It is a common misconception that giving an animal a tomato juice bath would get rid of or mask the smell of skunks. Olfactory tiredness, a phenomena, is thought to be the reason tomato juice works. Any odor that is subjected to for a long time will make your nose less sensitive to it, and you won’t be able to smell it anymore. When this occurs in the instance of skunk spray, the tomato juice fragrance may immediately be noticed, and it looks that the skunk stench has vanished. While bathing an animal in tomato juice may remove some of the chemical components contributing to the stench, it has no effect on changing or neutralizing the odor’s chemistry.
How long does a dog smell like a skunk?
The aroma left behind by a skunk spraying your dog may linger for up to three weeks. It’s critical to respond quickly in the event that your dog and a skunk have an unpleasant encounter since the thiol in the liquid bonds to proteins in your dog’s skin and fur and is tough to remove from their coat after it dries.
Does lemon get rid of skunk odor?
Your dog can’t help but investigate when it spots a charming little creature waddling by. The skunk raises his lovely tail and attacks your closest friend with an amazing stench. This is a quick and easy way for skunks to protect themselves from predators, and the stench isn’t just passing. Thank your lucky stars that wasn’t a porcupine and be ready for some serious cleaning.
Get Home with Minimal Contact
Skunk sightings are frequent on hikes and walks that start at a trailhead. If you’re fortunate enough to be close to your house, you can return home without damaging your upholstery. But if you’re in a car, spend some time quarantining the backseat. The aim is to minimize touch. Fold down the seats, spread out the blankets, and, if you can, swaddle your dog in a towel. If you plan ahead enough, you might be able to get home without needing to detail your car’s interior.
Prepare a Wash Station
The last thing you need is that distinct skunk stench permeating your entire home. Create a dedicated wash area outside, ideally close to a hose with a pressure nozzle. Use buckets of warm water and a kiddie pool or other container that can hold water if a hose is not immediately available. Put on gloves to safeguard your hands as you thoroughly massage the fur’s odor.
Make sure everything is prepared and accessible before donning the gloves and beginning the cleaning. Lemon juice and white vinegar will effectively mask most of the stench. A citrus-scented soap from Dr. Bronner’s also surprisingly works well on skunk odors. Both are gentle on the animal and chemically. To fully get through the scent and break down the chemicals, do one cycle of each.
Another suggestion that is frequently made is tomato juice, however I have found that it is inconvenient, does not work well, and leaves stains. Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and a little lemon juice together will produce a strong reaction to break down aroma particles if the smell is particularly obstinate.
Multiple Rounds of Deep Cleaning
No of the approach utilized, it will take several rounds of washing if your dog detests getting a bath. In the past, I’ve attached my dog’s leash to a pole. Two free hands come in very handy. If you can, ask a friend to hold the dog for you while you wash everything away.
Start by wetting the fur and shooing any lingering fragrance particles away with a powerful hose spray. Put on your gloves and start working the solution into the fur after donning them. If you don’t get down to that skin level, the scent won’t go away. Use a powerful spray to rinse everything away, then continue the process until the scent is gone. Citrus makes a significant difference in overcoming the odor. While lemon is fantastic, I prefer orange to mask any final traces of aroma that take a few days to completely go.
