How to Wash Skunk Scent from a Dog (2024)

FAQs

How to Wash Skunk Scent from a Dog? ›

Homemade remedies can be a safe and effective way to remove skunk odor from your dog's fur. One popular homemade solution is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap.

Mix 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, with ¼ cup baking soda and a teaspoon of dish liquid or dog shampoo. Put on rubber gloves. Another remedy that may be useful for washing skunk smell from your dog is vinegar diluted with water. This are not as effective, but can be used if if you do not have hydrogen peroxide on hand.

Chemist Paul Krebaum discovered a solution that changes the odorous thiols into odorless acids, thereby chemically neutralizing the skunk odor. The formula is: 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle), • ¼ cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and • 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap.

If a skunk sprays your dog, the scent can linger for up to three weeks. The thiol in the liquid binds to proteins in your dog's skin and fur, making it difficult to remove from their coat once it dries, so it's vital to act quickly in the event of a smelly encounter between your dog and a skunk.

Neutralize the Odor in the Skunk's Oil

Have your dog wait outside while you prepare a simple mixture containing: a quart of hydrogen peroxide. ¼ cup baking soda. 1 – 2 tsp dishwashing detergent (blue Dawn dish soap)

The thiol chemical in skunk spray is not water-soluble, even with soap. A combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will oxidize the thiols into water-soluble sulfonates and neutralize the thiols. The hydrogen peroxide will lighten the fur of black dogs to a bronze color and bleach fabric or clothing.

Contrary to urban legend and online myth, tomato products, such as tomato juice and sauce, do not eliminate skunk smell. These products may help mask odor, but they do not oxidize or destroy the thiols or thioacetates that cause them. This is also true for beer and oatmeal.

It's very important that you do not spray your dog with water after he's been sprayed by a skunk! The oil will repel the water and actually become more pungent once wet. Get your dog to a location where you can work to remove the spray from his fur without having to chase him down.

Skunk smell can last anywhere from two weeks 14 to 21 days. The best ways to remove the smell from your clothes, furniture, hair or dog's fur is using a mix of baking soda and vinegar or peroxide.

The foul odor lingers for days, no matter how many windows you open or scented candles you burn. However, a simple way to eliminate the skunk smell in your house is to clean with vinegar. Vinegar is a powerful natural disinfectant that will neutralize the skunk smell quickly and effectively.

How to get skunk smell out of house fast? ›

Use fans to facilitate air circulation and carry the scent out of the house. Additionally, placing bowls of vinegar or baking soda around the affected area can help absorb and get rid of the unpleasant odour. You might need a heavy-duty cleaning solution to eliminate skunk smells.

Some scientists suggest using a mixture of dilute hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and a little liquid soap, which will oxidize the thiol and turn it into a sulfonic acid. But be careful, because it could dye your hair or pet fur.

Hydrogen peroxide reacts with the chemical in the skunk spray and releases oxygen radicals that neutralize the skunk scent. The smell should quickly disappear.

If your dog is smelly but otherwise unbothered, then you're good to handle things on your own and move on to the next step: the bath. Skunk spray has a way of only getting worse when it gets wet, so a regular shampoo is no good. Tomato juice is also unhelpful and will only make a huge mess in your house.

Mix hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and Dawn Dish soap together and apply to your dogs DRY fur. 1 teaspoon “DAWN” liquid dish-washing soap. Wear rubber gloves!!! Or 'YOU' will smell like skunk too!

Contrary to urban legend and online myth, tomato products, such as tomato juice and sauce, do not eliminate skunk smell. These products may help mask odor, but they do not oxidize or destroy the thiols or thioacetates that cause them.

Scrubbers De-Skunk Grooming Package For Dogs & Cats

We pre-bathe your dog with our deodorizing mixture of de-skunking shampoos. We then concentrate our efforts on the sprayed area(s) to remove the sulfur-containing chemicals sprayed on your pet's coat by the skunk during their unfortunate encounter.

Throwing your dog in the closest pond makes it worse for the same reason that the odor can come back months later when your dog gets wet. Thiols are a sulfur-based compound which reactivate with water. It's folklore that washing your canine with tomato juice gets rid of pungent pong.

The best way to keep your dog from getting skunked is to ensure the critters don't den on your property. To make your backyard less appealing to a skunk, close garbage cans tight and, if your dog eats al fresco, take the bowl back inside as soon as he is finished.