Skunk!

There is nothing quite like the smell of skunk wafting toward you as your dog runs to greet you. The moment you smell the cologne, "Eau de Skunk" you know you are in for a real treat. You love your dog, but you really want nothing to do with them when they stink to proportions that are almost unimaginable. The main thing now is to find the best way to remove the smell.

The first step may seem a bit strange, but it involves not washing the dog right away. If you give the dog a little time to decompress from the encounter, the smell will actually dissipate some. The best plan is to have your dog wait in your fenced yard for his safety and to keep the "perfume" from inundating your home. If you have no alternative except to bring your dog inside, cover him with a towel or other washable item and keep him covered until you can get him cleaned up properly. This lag time will also allow you some time to head to the store to purchase the supplies you will need to get a handle on this.

There are many ways to try and remove skunk odor, but this homemade remedy has worked the best for me.

Kitchen Chemistry.

Mix 1/4-Cup baking soda

1-teaspoon of liquid dish soap. (Ivory or other liquid dish soap. Not the soap for inside the dish washing machine.)

1-quart of hydrogen peroxide.

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. (It will bubble and boil so don't worry when it happens.) This is the part that creates the oxygen.

Work the solution into the coat, preferably while it is still in the bubbling stage as the oxygen will help remove the oils and reduce the smell. As with most remedies, leave on the coat for 10-20 minutes.

Once you are through with the Kitchen Chemistry, use a good quality dog shampoo and dog conditioning rinse on your dog.

Do not store this mixture as it is likely to explode out of the container. Can also be used on clothing, people, cats, horses and anything else unlucky enough to meet up with a skunk.
Here are some other alternatives, including the old standby of tomato juice.

Use a pet shampoo specifically for skunk odor. This is best done outdoors, or your whole house could stink for weeks. Follow the directions and wear rubber/latex/vinyl gloves to protect your hands as you scrub your pet. Remember to rinse well.

Tomato Juice can help to reduce the odor. After washing and rinsing your pet, pour on the juice and let it saturate the coat for 10-20 minutes. Rinse and wash again with regular pet shampoo, making certain to really rinse well. You may need to do this several times to get rid of the smell. Light colored pets may turn pink or orange with this remedy, but the stain does eventually go away. If your dog gets sprayed near Halloween, the staining of the pet could become part of an award winning costume.

Massengill. This over-the-counter medicated douche works wonders. For small to medium dogs, mix 2 ounces with 1 gallon of water. For large dogs, double both the Massengill and water. Soak your dog with the mixture and then wait 15-20 minutes. Rinse, then wash with his regular shampoo and rinse thoroughly.

Vanilla Extract. Try dousing your pet with 1-1/4 Cups of Vanilla Extract (use the real Vanilla, not the imitation) mixed with a gallon of water. Let him soak for 10-20 minutes then shampoo and rinse thoroughly.

Enjoy your Summer!

Image: http://animals.timduru.org/dirlist/skunk/skunks.jpg