SKUNKED!

They’re small, cute, fuzzy …. and every pet owner’s nightmare! That’s right, I’m talking about skunks. With summer finally here, I’ve been getting many more clients bringing their dogs in for grooming that have been skunked. A lot of them either waited too long or tried removing the smell themselves, making some crucial mistakes and actually making the smell worse and harder to get rid of.

With a quick search on google, you’ll find article after article on the subject, with all types of solutions, tips & tricks. Some work…some don’t…and some can actually make the problem worse. I highly recommend reading this article, even if your pet hasn’t been skunked YET, to learn how to get rid of the smell effectively and without wasting any time searching the internet or making mistakes.

Why does skunk spray smell?

The exact composition of a skunk’s spray will depend on the species, however, the main offenders that all skunks have are a group of compounds called thiols. Thiols are characterized by their attached sulfur and hydrogen atom and are known to have a very strong smell.  2 butene-1-thiol and 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, are the two main components responsible for the notorious smell of skunk spray [source: Wood].

The smell is so strong, and there is no effective way of covering it up with perfumes or other strong smells (like tomato juice).  The only effective way to get rid of the smell, will be to convert these thiol compounds into a different compound that does not smell.

Another sneaky set of compounds found in skunk spray are called Thioacetates. They do not have a strong scent, HOWEVER, they very easily become thiols when they are exposed to water. This means that getting your pet wet without converting the thiols will actually make the smell worse! Yes…even if you use soap.  [source: Gross Science]. 

This leads me to the list of things you should NOT do if your pet is skunked.

What not to do

DO NOT try to wash your dog with shampoo. I repeat…DO NOT get your pet wet! This WILL make the smell stronger and harder to get rid of. As explained above, exposing thioacetates to water will convert them into thiols, the compounds responsible for that awful skunk smell.

DO NOT use tomato juice. This is a myth and does not really work. The smell of tomato juice will somewhat mask a tiny portion of the smell….for a very limited amount of time, and the water used to wash your dog will convert thioacetates, causing more smell on your pet when the tomato smell goes away (a few hours to a few days).

DO NOT let them on your furniture, their own beds, carpets, towels etc…… The smell will get on them and CLING to them for an extremely long time.

So how do you get rid of the smell? If you haven’t done anything yet…your in luck; you will most likely be able get rid of 98% – 100% of the smell by following the instructions below.

If your reading this after already trying to wash your pet… i’m very sorry to say that contact with water will have made it nearly impossible to get the smell out completely now… BUT you can get at least 90%-98% of it off.

The miracle solution

As explained above, to get rid of the smell we want to convert the thiol compounds into something else that does not have a strong scent. The best way to do this would be to oxidize the thiols to turn them into sulfonic acids(not harmful to pets and does not smell). Good thing is that there’s a very simple solution you can mix together at home to do just that!

You should always keep these items handy at home. You never know when your pet will get skunked…and the faster you use this solution, the better it will work. You may need to make double or triple the recipe depending on the size of your pet.

RECIPE

• 500ml of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
• 1/3 cup of Baking Soda
• 1/4 cup Pet shampoo or dish soap(I like Dawn dish soap)
• 1 to 2 cups of water
• 1/4 cup of Mint flavored mouthwash (Optional)

For use after de-skunking:

• Tropiclean Freshening pet spray (Optional – look for “freshening” on the label for the right ones)

The method

You will need to use this method AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to get good results. The longer you wait, the more smell will linger on your pet. Try your best to get it done within the first 1-5 hours of your pet getting sprayed.

Secure your pet in the tub. It is best to do this in a bathtub and not with a hose in the yard. The reason is because you will have much more control of your pet in the tub, and they will likely fight less if you are using warm water.

Once your pet is in the tub, mix the hydrogen peroxide and the baking soda in a bottle first and then add the shampoo/soap, mouthwash and water. Give the ingredients a few seconds to fizz and then shake the mixture together. Use IMMEDIATELY once combined or it will not be effective.

Use the solution on your DRY pet. Use it ALL over your pet including their head and face (be careful not to get mixture in eyes, but make sure to get the mixture on all their fur). You will need to scrub and lather the mixture into their fur VERY VERY well. Once that’s done….lather some more! Make sure to scrub all over your pet’s fur, but focus most of your attention on the part of your pet that got skunked. Now set your timer for 5 minutes. Once the time is up, rinse well.

After the 5 minutes, do it all over again. Yes…I know what your thinking… my pet smells great now! I don’t need to do this again!  YES….YES YOU DO. Trust me… you want to do it again. Use the rest of the shampoo or make a second batch, but re-lather your pet in the mixture and scrub scrub scrub again. Let is sit another 5 minutes and then rinse very well. Make sure there is no solution left on your pet, including their paws.

Smell your pet all over and make sure you don’t smell anything anymore. If you still smell the skunk…you may not have scrubbed it in well enough or left it in long enough. Repeat the process.

If you have the Tropiclean Freshening spray (multiple scents available), spray your pet after you towel dry them and brush it into their coat. You can spray them again once their fur is dry. Make sure to buy one that specifically says Freshening on the label as these have special ingredients that help neutralize odors.

***Make sure to soak all collars & leashes that were on or have been used on your dog since they were skunked. If you don’t neutralize the smell on them, your dog will still smell! Soak for 5-10 minutes, rinse and allow to dry. Note that the hydrogen peroxide may fade some colors on fabric…but trust me when I say…a faded collar is better than skunk smell.

Tips

• Mix solution immediately before using or it won’t work. You cannot premix and store this solution; it won’t work.
• Make sure to scrub in between their paw pads.
• If the solution gets in your dogs eyes, rinse and re lather their face carefully.
• To get around the eyes, use a bottle with a applicator tip and squeeze some solution between their eyes and allow it to run down their snout. You can then use your thumbs and fingers to scrub the solution around the eyes, being careful that it does not touch the eye itself.
• Spread peanut butter on the wall of the tub to keep your pet occupied while you lather them.
• Don’t spray the Tropiclean directly on your dog’s face. Instead, spray your fingers and rub your fingers on their face.
• If your pet has sensitive/dry skin use a pet conditioner after washing.

Can’t do it yourself?

If you can’t do it yourself, no matter the reason, you will have to find a groomer as quick as possible. Make sure to ask the groomer what they use to de-skunk your pet. If they say anything other than this solution…question it. Using regular or even skunk specific shampoos only, can leave the smell worse than before or only remove some of the smell, leaving the rest to linger for months. It will also be much harder and may be impossible to remove the remaining smell if another solution is used first.

A WORD OF WARNING: 

This solution can be drying or irritating on sensitive skin. I recommend using a moisturizing conditioner after you wash your pet with the solution. Allow the conditioner to sit in their fur for 2-5 minutes and then rinse.

I have also read that the hydrogen peroxide can sometimes cause a pet’s fur to lighten slightly due to it’s bleaching properties. While I have never experienced this issue before, even on dark coated dogs, keep in mind that it may be a minor side effect. Your pet’s hair will grow out so it’s nothing to worry about.

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