I think it’s safe to say that skunk smell is not pleasant. In fact, the very existence of skunks relies on the stench they put out. Skunks use their terrible odor to protect themselves and keep predators away. Unfortunately, sometimes dogs are a little oblivious to the warning signs that skunks use to tell you they’re about to spray. As humans, we know to stay away from skunks, especially if you see their tail raised up. Dogs are more curious and a little more clueless when it comes to skunks. Dogs get sprayed by skunks and that might never change. Don’t worry, there are some home remedies that are pretty effective at relieving both you and your dog of the terribleness. This article will give you some tried and true methods to get rid of the skunk smell on your dog.
How to Get Rid of the Skunk Smell on Your Dog
Tomato Juice
We’ve all heard about the old method where you take a bath in tomato juice. It doesn’t need to be an entire bathtub full to get the job done. Just buy a couple of bottles and pour it all over your dog, rubbing it in as best as you can. Then rinse, rinse, rinse. You wouldn’t want your dog stained red! That creates its own set of problems. Your dog should smell significantly better by the time you’re done. The smell might not be completely gone but it’ll be a big improvement. Some people say that tomato juice simply masks the smell of the skunk, instead of eliminating it. You decide.
Vanilla Extract
Use a cup of vanilla extract (yeah, that’s a lot) and mix it with a gallon of water. Pour that all over your furry friend and let it soak for at least 10 minutes. Then use dog shampoo and rinse everything out. Again, the smell should be almost gone by the time you’re done. It might not be totally gone but boy will it be better! You and your dog will be able to breathe again.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Use one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water. Use more as needed depending on the size of your dog. Then get your dog soaking wet and rub the vinegar mixture on them. Make sure that you work the vinegar into the fur as best as you can. The more you work the vinegar into the fur, the more effective this remedy is. All the vinegar works to deactivate the smell of the skunk so put some elbow grease into it. Let the solution sit for about 5 minutes then rinse your dog thoroughly. Don’t let any vinegar get into your dog’s eyes!
Hydrogen Peroxide
This method works really well even for the smelliest of dogs. Mix 1-quart of hydrogen peroxide with ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid. Rub this all over your stinky pup and really work up a lather. Use more or less mixture as needed. This mixture is usually good for a medium-sized dog. You can simply adjust the amount as necessary. Then rinse like crazy!
Original Listerine
Buy the original Listerine that’s a brown color. For whatever reason, this kind of Listerine will get rid of the skunk smell on your dog quickly and effectively. I have had personal experience with this! A vet recommended I try it after I took my dog in for her checkup while she still smelled like a skunk a couple of days after she got sprayed. I pour the Listerine in a spray bottle and spray my dog’s fur with it. Let me tell you, it works wonders! The terrible smell goes away almost instantly. I’ll be honest, your dog will still stink but the smell changes really quickly and it becomes tolerable. I just give my dog a little spritz every day and the smell is gone within a couple of days. This method is also a lot easier than the other methods.
Summing Up
Don’t despair, there is hope! It is possible to get rid of the skunk smell on your dog. It might require a little effort but you’ll be able to do it. Sometimes you can’t avoid your dog getting sprayed by a skunk. You hope they learn to stop chasing them, but sometimes they can’t resist chasing a furry little creature. These tips and tricks will help relieve both you and your dog from that awful smell when the unavoidable happens. You’ll be able to get rid of the skunk smell in no time.
