| Whether it is spring or fall, some dogs and humans are | | | | vet. |
| prone to be confronted with a skunk. About the size | | | | If your dog got sprayed on his fur, there are many pet |
| of a house cat, a skunk can weigh about 12 pounds | | | | products on the market today that makes claims to |
| and packs a powerful punch if threatened. Skunks are | | | | eliminate skunk odor. Keep in mind, you need |
| primarily active at night. They can be good to have | | | | something to cut the oil. A skunk scent is an oil and it is |
| around because they are omnivorous foragers, eating | | | | difficult to get rid of. Because this oil gets into the |
| just about anything they can find or catch from fruits | | | | pores of the dog and not just the hair, that is why your |
| and plants to insects and frogs. Skunks make their den | | | | dog will smell again when he gets wet. Time will take |
| usually underground. Highly adaptable, they can live | | | | care of this. However, you might be impatient, so |
| anywhere from wooded forests to the cities. | | | | check with your local professional groomer to have |
| Skunks do not run very fast from predators, so they | | | | him deodorized. |
| have come up with a better solution. They have a | | | | Here is the best solution made right at home: |
| powerful defense system. Two scent glands (musk | | | | 1 quart of 3% hydrogen Peroxide |
| glands) at the base of their tail. The muscles around | | | | 1/4 cup of baking soda |
| these scent glands will contract and spray yellow liquid | | | | 1 -2 TB of Dish Washing liquid |
| drops about 14 feet or more. Though not aggressive, | | | | Wet the coat, apply the solution, leave on a 5 minutes, |
| skunks give warning signs when threatened. They will | | | | rinse & repeat. |
| arch their back, hiss, growl, or stomp their feet while | | | | Some tips: |
| trying to find an escape route. When it is their only | | | | This solution works best when you apply immediately |
| recourse, a skunk will spray, and they are accurate! If | | | | on the dog after the incident. The longer you wait, the |
| a dog gets sprayed directly in the eyes, this will burn a | | | | worse it is to remove the smell. |
| lot an can possibly cause temporary blindness, but this | | | | Don't let the dog ingest the solution or get into his eyes. |
| is rare. Skunks actually do not like their own odor and | | | | Also don't mix the solution until you are ready to use it. |
| refrain from scenting on themselves and their den | | | | Saving the solution is a bad idea as it can explode. |
| hardly has any odor. | | | | Best advice, is to keep these products on hand and if |
| If your dog gets skunked: | | | | needed mix at that time. Also, Hydrogen Peroxide |
| 1st check his eyes. If he got sprayed in the eyes, rinse | | | | does not last forever, so change about once a year if |
| out the eye with water or eye drops and get him to a | | | | unopened & about 2 months if opened. |