The Best Ways to Clean a Dog Sprayed by Skunk

Dogs are understandably curious when they spot these slow-moving critters and will move in to investigate, only to be surprised by a blast of the skunk's odoriferous spray, which it uses as a natural defense against predators. The resulting smell can be overwhelming and is difficult to get rid of. There are commercial products that neutralize skunk odor and home remedies that you can try. It's important to control the dog after the incident to avoid spreading the odor throughout your house. The dog also should be inspected to be sure it hasn't been injured in the incident; if it was sprayed directly in its face, the dog may require medical attention.

  1. When to Seek Medical Attention

    • Dogs lead with their nose and skunks spray straight at the intruder, usually resulting in a direct hit to the dog's face. The chemicals in the skunk's spray can be harmful to your pet. Before doing addressing the odor issue, check the dog's eyes, nose and mouth. Use eyewash or water to rinse out the dog's eyes. Use a hose and flush its mouth. Skunk spray can be quite toxic if it is swallowed. Look for signs the dog may have ingested the spray; vomiting and diarrhea are the most common signs. In extreme cases the dog may have convulsions or go into shock as a result of skunk toxic shock syndrome, which can result in long-term damage to the kidneys and sometimes cause anemia. Ulcers in the mouth and lip area may also develop from contact with the skunk spray. Spray can also inflame the lining of the dog's lungs, so watch for labored breathing. The dog's eyes may become quite red and irritated. Seek medical attention immediately for any of these symptoms.

    Contain the Spread of Smell

    • A skunked dog will do anything to try to get away from the smell. If allowed in the house, the dog will try to rub the skunk spray off on beds, couches, carpets and even you. Removing odor from the dog will be difficult, but getting it out of the house is even more complicated. Immediately contain the dog to prevent contaminating the entire household. Crate the dog, if possible, or confine it to a yard or garage until you have time to gather the supplies necessary to adequately deal with the situation.

    Neutralizing the Odor

    • Immediate odor neutralizing steps should be taken. And while you may think the smell is noxious, the dog's suffering is even worse. The dog's keen sense of smell makes a skunking unbearable for your pet. Relieving its misery quickly is important. Use paper towels and wipe off as much of the skunk spray as you can from the dog. Commercial skunk odor neutralizers that use enzymes and microbes to naturally destroy the smelly compounds that compose skunk odor are probably the most effective solution. But they need to be the first remedy applied to the dog. Don't use a home remedy first. Commercial skunk odor removers don't work if you've applied anything else to affected area prior to using them. Since skunks are nocturnal, most skunk attacks happen at night. It may be difficult to find a commercial neutralizer when you need it, so you may opt for a home remedy that you can apply immediately.

    Home Remedies

    • An old standard remedy to eliminate skunk odor was to drench the dog in tomato juice. The effectiveness of the tomato bath method has been debunked. All you will accomplish with a tomato bath, naysayers claim, is mixing the additional aroma of tomato with the skunk smell. More widely recommended is a simple mixture of 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. The remedy causes a chemical reaction immediately when the ingredients are mixed together, so you need to quickly mix it and apply it to the affected areas on the dog for it to work. Dousing the dog in antiseptic mouthwash is another home remedy you can try. Let the mouthwash soak into the fur for a few minutes and rinse. Use a washcloth to apply any remedy to the dog's face and avoid getting any odor remover in your dog's eyes.