7 Ways to De-Skunk Your Pet
Before you begin removing the smell, make sure that your pet is not in pain. Usually when a skunk sprays, it’s going to get them in the face first which will cause their eyes to burn and water. Start with the eyes first and flush them with water or eye drops.
Now that the pain is gone, it’s time to get rid of the funk. Most of these are home remedies using ingredients that are likely already in your house somewhere: peroxide, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, etc. For these remedies, you may have to rinse and repeat a few times before the smell is totally gone. Also remember to de-skunk outside, otherwise that skunk smell is going to get in your house.
#1: Dishwashing Liquid and Peroxide
As far as home remedies go, this one is at the top of the list. The Humane Society even recommends this treatment for de-skunking your pet. The quantities of these ingredients will vary based on the size of your pet. For small animals, you will need about a quart of hydrogen peroxide. For larger ones, you may need up to three quarts.
Mix the hydrogen peroxide with a fourth cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Make sure you put on gloves so that the smell doesn’t attach to you. Apply the mixture to the fur, rubbing it in thoroughly all over your pet but do not let it get in their eyes.
Let it sit for about 20 minutes or less; if you leave peroxide on your pet’s fur too long, it will bleach it. Now, use your pet’s regular shampoo to wash the mixture off. You’ll want to repeat at least a couple of times or as many as is needed to remove the odor. If you’re thinking about saving the rest of the mix in case it happens again, don’t. Throw out the solution. If you leave it in the bottle, it could explode.
#2: Vanilla and Water
This simple vanilla and water based mixture comes from New England Today – an area that sees more than its fair share of skunks. They recommend mixing a cup of vanilla extract with a gallon of water. Soak your pet in the mix for about ten minutes and then shampoo, rinsing and repeating as necessary.
#3: Apple Cider and Water
For this treatment, you should get your dog soaking wet first. You’ll use twice the amount of water as you do apple cider vinegar so start with one bottle of vinegar, then add twice as much water. Once your dog is soaked, start working the solution into your pet’s fur avoiding contact with the eyes. After you’ve covered all of the fur with the vinegar mix, let your pet sit for five minutes before rinsing it off.
#4: Shampoo and Tomato Juice
The tomato juice de-skunking method works for both pets and humans. For this treatment you want to get your pet nice and lathery using a pet shampoo. Do not rinse the soap off but dry them with a towel. Then add enough tomato juice to completely saturate your pet’s fur. Let it sit for up to 20 minutes, then rinse off the tomato juice. Next, shampoo your pet, rinsing and repeating over and over until the smell is gone.
#5: Douche and Water
Seriously, a lot of women will have some douche or feminine wash in the house somewhere. If you mix a gallon of water with about two ounces of douche, it can de-skunk your pet. For bigger pets, you’ll need to use more douche or wash. Soak your pet with the douche and water mix. Let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing. Next, you’ll wash your pet with their regular shampoo, rinsing and repeating as needed.
#6: Shampoos for De-Skunking
There are lots of pet shampoos out there specifically designed to get rid of skunk smell. If you have time to run out and find some that you think will work, you could do that. The problem is, the longer the skunk smell stays on your pet, the harder it is going to be to remove it. That’s why people turn to home remedies using products that they have immediately on hand.
#7: De-Skunk Odor Removal Treatment
Out of all of these options, by far the surest way to de-skunk your pet is to let a professional do it. Bubbles Pet Spa offers De-Skunk Odor Removal Treatment for only $20. It’s gentle on your pet and safely removes the odor. Sometimes it’s hard to judge how many rinse and repeats are too many or if the smell is completely gone. In a pinch, these home remedies can do the trick, but the absolute best solution is a professional skunk odor removal treatment.
SaveSave
SaveSave