Your dog hates skunks

Occasionally we will have a skunk take up residence beneath our shed. Thinking it unfair to shoo them away (as they posed no real problems, so long as we payed attention) we typically just shared our backyard with whatever skunk happened to call the burrow beneath our shed home.

This changed when we adopted a dog together. In the winter we placed his lead out in the backyard for his quick jaunts in the frosty New England mornings. Then the spring came and our little smelly friends became quite active.

You know where this is heading.

One early spring evening we placed our Corgi mix in the front yard, because his backyard domain had been invaded by a rather large skunk. We didn’t want any trouble, so we moved his lead to the front yard and attached it to a tree so he couldn’t cause any mischief.

Bad move. We soon heard frantic barking, a yelp and through the front door we could smell the sticky scent of spray. Concerned for both the dog and the skunk’s well being, I rushed head on into a maelstrom. I marched through the bushes, (slick with skunk spray and rain) grabbed a hold of the soaking wet lead and pulled my dog away from his epic battle with our backyard friend. Just in time to catch the second spray.

I hauled my dog up onto the deck as the skunk slithered off into the darkness. His eyes were runny and blood shot. His mouth was foaming, he was gagging violently. He had caught the spray directly in his mouth.

I was frantic. I didn’t know what to do. We called people, my fiance Googled. We finally figured out a solution. Now you have one too.

Some notes before getting down to the scent removal ordeal:

• Do not, under any circumstance allow the sprayed animal inside your home. If you are the sprayed animal, tough luck. Even the smallest amount will cling to upholstery for weeks on end.
• Inspect for any cuts or bites. If you do find some, schedule a vet appointment immediately. While skunks are not prone to rabies more than any other mammal, it’s always a good idea to have your pet already vaccinated.
• If your animal has been sprayed in the mouth, face or eyes immediately flush the area with lots of cool water. They’re not going to want to drink, but try to rinse out their mouth the best you can. A hose on medium power works well. It’s probably a bad idea to stick your hands in their mouth.

Scent removal:

• Once your animal has calmed down a little secure them. Tie the lead around a tree, have a fearless friend hold them still, or shut them inside of an outdoor pen (if applicable.)
• Obtain:
  1. Baking soda
  2. Hydrogen peroxide
  3. A gentle liquid dish soap (not dishwasher detergent!)
• The exact amounts will differ depending on the size of the affected animal. But try to keep the dish soap and the hydrogen peroxide in equal quantities. Place them in a bowl and make a paste.
• Smear the paste on the animal. Pay special attention to the most heavily sprayed area. Rub it into the fur. Let it set for 20 - 30 minutes. Note: The peroxide may discolor fur if you added too much. But it’s still better than smelling like a skunk. Plus, it’ll grow back.
• Rinse the animal and give them a regular, but very thorough bath.
• Place any affected clothing inside of a heavy duty garbage bag. Soak in a vinegar / water solution (1 part vinegar for every 2 parts water) for 10 - 15 minutes before washing. If clothes still smell like vinegar, repeat the washing.