Skunks are shy and slow-moving. The humans who get sprayed by skunks are most often toddlers trying to pet the "kitty" but the commonest household member to encounter a skunk is a pet dog. No matter who the victim is, skunk spray is highly potent.
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Effects
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Those who come into contact with skunk spray, even secondhand while bathing a skunk-sprayed pet, can experience intense symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and violent headache. Shortness of breath is common, particularly in those who already suffer from respiratory illness such as asthma. Anyone, pet or human, who is sprayed directly in the face by a skunk may have temporary blindness and painful stinging in the eyes. If the spray gets into the mouth, nausea and drooling can result, and combined with the stress of the event can cause loss of appetite, lethargy and even stomach upset and diarrhea.
Significance
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Skunk spray is harmless in the long term. It is non-poisonous and does no damage, even to the sensitive tissues of the eyes and mouth of the person or animal sprayed. No diseases are transmitted via the spray. The smell alone is what protects the skunks, not anything damaging in the skunk musk.
Composition
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Seven compounds called "thiols" make up a skunk's musk, giving off a sulfur smell released by decomposing proteins, similar to rotten eggs. This smell is so unpleasant and noticeable that another kind of sulfur thiol is added to odorless natural gas to make it easy to notice gas leaks. Other animals also instinctively stay away from this odor of decay. Some of these compounds decay very slowly, which causes the skunk musk scent to linger.
Misconceptions
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Tomato juice and dish soap are the traditional remedies for pets that get sprayed by skunks. The illusion that this treatment works is a myth based on the fact that the human nose begins to block odors after a certain period of exposure. During the course of bathing the dog, the pet owner adjusts to the odor and thinks that the tomato juice has neutralized the skunk spray. Anyone who walks in after the tomato juice bath will testify that the skunk smell was not neutralized.
Solutions
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Most pet stores offer skunk-odor-treatment remedies, and chemist Paul Krebaum has developed an effective formula to neutralize skunk musk (see Resources) composed of 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of dish detergent.
Skunk spray sticks to hair and fabric. It can also dissolve the paint on indoor walls and slowly release odors for quite some time. Bathing the dog or other skunk spray victim outside the house will help avoid this, as will washing skunk-contaminated wood with the same deodorizing formula. It is not wise to bring clothing and towels that have come into contact with skunk spray into the house until they have been washed with a bleach solution. If the spray does get into the house, good ventilation and time will eventually dissipate the smell.
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