Around the House
How Do I Clean Skunk Smell from My Dog?
If this is an emergency, jump to Step 3 for the cleaning formula!
It happened so quickly I couldn’t do anything about it. I walked out of the house with my dog on a leash. Unbeknownst to me, there was a small animal just feet away from our door. Jack, my 19 pounds of terror terrier immediately barked to defend our property from this intruder. The intruder, immediately scared and distressed, turned his better side to us, lifted his tail, and did what skunks do best -- he sprayed my dog!
By the time I could react, it was over. The skunk was running in one direction as I pulled Jack back into the house, though, what he wanted to do was catch the skunk to settle the score.
The Solution in 7 Steps:
Step 1: Inspect your dog for injury, such as if he was sprayed in the face. If he was sprayed in the face, then rinse his eyes, nose and face with clear water.
Step 2: Immediately bring your dog to a safe bathing area. If possible, keep your dog outside to clean him with the garden hose. If that is not possible, then escort him to the tub while he is still on the leash (so he doesn’t have a chance to jump on the couch!).
Step 3: Mix a cleaning solution (unless you happen to have a store bought de-skunk shampoo on hand). Personally, I prefer this solution which features white vinegar. See the resources below for links to websites that offer other recipes.
To apply the vinegar solution, you can use a cup to pour it onto the dog or a washcloth to work the vinegar solution into the fur. Mix more vinegar solution as needed.
Step 5: Scrub your dog’s fur in the same manner as if you were shampooing him; add a little water to spread the mixture over the dog, if necessary. Take your time. Ideally, the mixture should sit in your dog’s fur for 10 minutes.
Step 6: Rinse well, after you have thoroughly scrubbed the white vinegar, baking soda and dish detergent mixture into the affected area.
Step 7: Repeat as necessary. When our dog, Jack, was sprayed by a skunk, we used this formula with great results. Lucky for us, one good wash did the trick.
Tips:
It happened so quickly I couldn’t do anything about it. I walked out of the house with my dog on a leash. Unbeknownst to me, there was a small animal just feet away from our door. Jack, my 19 pounds of terror terrier immediately barked to defend our property from this intruder. The intruder, immediately scared and distressed, turned his better side to us, lifted his tail, and did what skunks do best -- he sprayed my dog!
By the time I could react, it was over. The skunk was running in one direction as I pulled Jack back into the house, though, what he wanted to do was catch the skunk to settle the score.
The Solution in 7 Steps:
Step 1: Inspect your dog for injury, such as if he was sprayed in the face. If he was sprayed in the face, then rinse his eyes, nose and face with clear water.
Step 2: Immediately bring your dog to a safe bathing area. If possible, keep your dog outside to clean him with the garden hose. If that is not possible, then escort him to the tub while he is still on the leash (so he doesn’t have a chance to jump on the couch!).
Step 3: Mix a cleaning solution (unless you happen to have a store bought de-skunk shampoo on hand). Personally, I prefer this solution which features white vinegar. See the resources below for links to websites that offer other recipes.
- 1 quart white vinegar
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap (Dawn brand is preferred as it has been used by wildlife rescue agencies).
- Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl. When the white vinegar mixes with the baking soda it will fizz for a minute or so.
To apply the vinegar solution, you can use a cup to pour it onto the dog or a washcloth to work the vinegar solution into the fur. Mix more vinegar solution as needed.
Step 5: Scrub your dog’s fur in the same manner as if you were shampooing him; add a little water to spread the mixture over the dog, if necessary. Take your time. Ideally, the mixture should sit in your dog’s fur for 10 minutes.
Step 6: Rinse well, after you have thoroughly scrubbed the white vinegar, baking soda and dish detergent mixture into the affected area.
Step 7: Repeat as necessary. When our dog, Jack, was sprayed by a skunk, we used this formula with great results. Lucky for us, one good wash did the trick.
Tips:
- Avoid pouring the cleaning solution into your dog’s eyes, as the acidic solution may irritate your pup's eyes.
- Take your time. This is not a “quick fix” situation. The oil from a skunk will come out, but you need to work it.
- For the sake of the puppy (all dogs are puppies!) … don’t scold him. He is likely confused, and possibly shaken, by the experience.