It seems that this year the skunks in the Andovers are out with a vengeance! I can certainly say there were a couple of skunks that I’ve run into so far this year. I had a very close call with Reese…she was nose to nose with a skunk but came when I called and avoided getting sprayed…good thing I’ve got her recall down perfectly, such a good girl! To help those of you who have been unfortunate enough to deal with a skunked pooch, I’ve put together an explanation of what to do to get rid of the smell best, courtesy of Bulger’s Animal Hospital. The most important thing to remember is to NOT wet your dog until you’ve accomplished this process. Ingredients:
- 1/2 pint of hydrogen peroxide
- ¼ cup of baking soda
- One tablespoon of dish soap
(double for long haired or large dogs)
Mix all ingredients together really well and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the dog until they are completely soaked. Rub the mixture in for several minutes, creating a foam. Repeat soaking and rubbing again, being careful to avoid your pup’s eyes. Smell your dog and if the skunk smell seems to have improved, rinse your dog. If not, repeat the process once more and then rinse. Continue to repeat the process if you can still smell skunk, especially on the areas that got sprayed directly. You can also repeat this process the next day if your dog still has an odor to him.
Your dog may still have a lingering odor, especially when he gets wet, but this will be the best approach to eliminate the smell!