Has your dog ever encountered one of these critters? Mine sure has and fortunately I keep a bottle of Skunk Off dog shampoo that worked beautifully and the dogs were smelling clean and fresh.
What do you do if you don’t have this on hand? Here is a good do-it-yourself solution with some ingredients you may have at home. I used this recipe with my Great Dane who brought me the skunk in her mouth so proud! I have found tomato juice doesn’t do the job.
The Best DIY Solution
The recipe is as follows:
- ¼ cup of baking soda
- 1-2 teaspoons of mild dishwashing detergent like Ivory Snow
- 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution
- Mix in a bucket and use immediately
- Work the foaming mixture well into the coat
- Leave on for five minutes then rinse with warm water
- Follow with dog shampoo if desired
The quicker you can get the dog in the tub the better the result since the oil will not have saturated into the hair yet.
Please Use Caution
Be careful around the dog’s eyes as this is a potent formula. Don’t use a higher than 3% hydrogen peroxide solution as it may burn. Mix it fresh, use it and discard it. If you store this mixture in a closed container it will explode. The hydrogen peroxide may bleach the coat (think bleached blond) so be careful on those black dogs. The less time the solution stays on the less likely for bleaching. My black Great Dane was still black.
Working on your dog’s recall is imperative to stop them from going after small creatures like Skunks.