Skunk Odor on Dogs

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Skunk Odor on Dogs

My family and I have two dogs.They're sweet - a little troublesome at times, but my husband, the kids and I all adore them. They get into their fair share of trouble though and recently that trouble involved a skunk. Only one of the dogs was sprayed but he had to have been standing directly in the skunk's vision.He smelled horrible and unfortunately regardless of what we tried, nothing was working.



Since the only reference I had for skunk attacks was what I had seen on TV, I tried all those remedies and then more. A friend even suggested I cover the dog in dirt because it would help absorb the odor. It didn't and because he was dirty I had to give him a bath. As soon as I started I realized that was a huge mistake - the smell seemed to get even worse.



The kids got progressively upset because the dog couldn't spend much time indoors. (I was so worried about the odor.) I was truly at my wit's end.



Then I found a solution that actually worked. Since then the dog has been sprayed again and we had him smelling fine right away.

The Vet as a Method of Treatment 

Why I Don't Recommend It

The first time our dog was sprayed by a skunk it was on a Saturday afternoon. My first thought was to call the vet. I did and naturally was greeted with an answering service. The stench coming off my dog was so strong that I considered it an emergency. A few minutes later the vet called back and convinced me that coming to his office was the only way I was going to get rid of the smell that day.



So we got the dog in the back of the mini van and headed off. It was a huge mistake.



At the end of the day we had spent a few hundred dollars (mostly high fees for 'emergency treatment' since it was the weekend.)



What we got for that was a dog whose odor was only masked. By Sunday evening he smelled horrible again, our van smelled and we also carried the skunk odor on us since we had been in the van with the dog the entire way to the vet's office and the way back.



It didn't work.



This did work. And has worked on our dogs since.



Please don't make the mistake we made of spending money expecting the vet to solve the problem. You can do it at home much less expensively and the results are guaranteed.

How to Avoid the Problem of Skunks 

Tips to Help Keep Skunks Away from Your Dog

Once your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, you most likely will feel exactly the way I did. I wanted to ensure that it wouldn't happen again. To avoid another instance where my dog smelled like skunk spray I knew I had to try and discourage skunks from coming onto my property. There are a few things you can do to make your yard less appealing to these smelly creatures:



Don't Feed the Dog Outdoors. If you can feed the dog inside. If you have to feed him or her outside, be certain all food is cleaned up and removed after your pet is finished. Skunks are drawn to pet food and if they find a little, they'll be back for more.



Get Lids for Your Rubbish Cans. Garbage is incredibly appealing to skunks and if you keep your garbage piled up in bags, that won't deter the skunks. You need to place it in containers with lids. This will also help to ward off raccoons.



Trim Berry Bushes. If you grow any berries in your yard, and they are near the ground, that will also be something that will increase your chances of attracting skunks. If you don't want to trim any branches that are growing near the ground, build a small fence around the area. This will certainly make it harder for the skunks to get to the bushes.



If you still have issues with skunks and your dog has gotten in the line of the skunk's fire, this will help to get him or her smelling great again.

Dealing With a Skunk Spray to a Dog's Face 

How to Help Your Pet

If you've ever been sprayed by a skunk, you know that it's not pleasant. It's the same for your dog. Dogs have a much more sensitive sense of smell than we do. The odor coming off your pet may be irritating to you, but it's so much worse for your dog.


You want to be able to help your dog as soon as possible after they've been sprayed by a skunk. This is especially true if the dog was sprayed in the face. There are a few things you should do immediately if this is the case.


If a dog get a shot from a skunk directly in its face, it's going to feel some major irritation. You may notice your dog has trouble keeping its eyes open or it's constantly rubbing his or her paws on its eyes. You need to help the dog by flushing their eyes with water. Use cool water, but not too cold. Also, if it's at all possible, have someone help you. One person should comfort the dog while the other handles the water.


The same is true if your dog was sprayed while its mouth was open. As horrible as skunk spray smells, the taste could only be much worse. Your dog is likely to be irritated by the skunk smell, so be gentle when you rinse its mouth out.



You want to get rid of the skunk smell on your dog as soon as possible. The odor alone can be very distressing to your animal. Find out how to fix it right now.

Additional Resources 

Pamper Your Pooch

For the health of the dog in your life:

Make Your Own Dog Food Don't tempt fate. Start making your own dog food so you can ensure your dog has the healthiest diet possible. This actually saves money too!



Save Money on Vet Bills Learn how to treat your own dog for many minor things. This can save you hundreds of dollars a year.



Cure Dog Skin Problems If your dog suffers with any skin conditions, this is a tremendous help. Learn how to treat your dog yourself, at home.