How to Handle a Skunked Dog, by Premier Pet Supply

If you notice your dog has been skunked, KEEP IT OUTSIDE. The smell is powerful and will linger on whatever it touches, so unless you want your living room to reek of skunk for the next couple of weeks, don’t let the dog inside!Tomato juice being the miracle de-skunker is the oldest story in the book, and although it works decently, you don’t want to break your bank buying 100 cans of it for your 120-pound dog. We recommend shampoo products such as Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover, as the chemicals in these solutions help get rid of the smell as much as it can be.

If you don’t happen to have any of those products on hand and are in a bind – not to worry. A simple household solution for de-skunking is as follows:

1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide
¼ cup of baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid dish-washing soap

You’ll want to wear rubber gloves while applying the solution to the dog, as your hands will smell like skunk afterward. Make sure you don’t get the solution in their eyes, as it will burn and can be very dangerous. (A pet’s face is usually what smells the longest because you CAN’T put strong chemicals near their face, even if they were sprayed pretty badly there).

Once the solution or shampoo has been rubbed into the pet, let it sit for a couple of before rinsing thoroughly. Next, wash your dog with whatever pet shampoo you have around; it does not have to be skunk shampoo, it’s just for a general wash. After this, they should be as de-skunked as possible and smelling (pretty) sweet. Keep in mind that the smell will sometimes linger for months, but will be faint and very bearable.

Any dog or human clothes that smell of skunk can be washed with regular laundry detergent mixed with a half cup of baking soda to smell normal again,.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local pet store if you have questions on this or any pet related topic.

About the author

Alexandra Loyd

A recent college graduate from Grand Valley State University with a degree in writing, Alexandra Loyd has a passion for sharing stories and using her voice to benefit others –in this case, the well-being of pets! Alexandra has worked for Premier Pet Supply since May of 2017, where she found a love for animal nutrition and helping each pet parent fulfill their pets’ needs. Alexandra loves being a part of the Premier family and sharing all she has learned during her time with the company writing Mike’s Blog.