Beyond Tomato Juice - Deskunking Your Dog

When it comes to home remedies for removing skunk odor from dogs, professional groomers have seen it all, from the ever popular tomato juice and its many variations like spaghetti sauce or ketchup to lemon juice, mayonaise, vinegar, and mouthwash. You name it; groomers have seen an unfortunate dog smeared with it. While the acidic content of some of these cure-alls does help wash away the stench by breaking it down the oily skunk spray, none of them really works all that well.

Nowadays there are commercial products available from groomers, pet supply stores, and vets that do a far better job. Some are detergent-based shampoo products while others are sponge-on enzymatic cleaners that actually digest the odor-causing bacteria. They come in liquid or powder form and are used at the grooming salon prior to a deodorizing bath. Dogs are usually soaked with one of these products for at least 15 minutes before being washed. If your dog was sprayed in his mouth, the smell willl cling to the mucous membranes of the gums and tongue. Groomers spray the mouth with doggy breath spray to help alleviate this problem.

If you don't have any commercial deskunking products on hand, don't despair. Try this home remedy developed by chemists to treat the problem:

~ 1 Quart 3 Percent Hydrogen Peroxide
~ 1/4 Cup Baking Soda
~ 1 Teaspoon Liquid Dish Detergent

First, gently flush out your dog's eyes with plain water. When a dog takes a direct hit in the face, skunk spray stings and burns the eyes. Next, rub the solution into the dog's coat, penetrating all the way to the skin and taking care not to get it in his eyes. Thoroughly rinse the dog with lukewarm tap water, and then discard any leftover solution. (Warning: This product cannot be made up ahead of time nor should you store any unused portion for future use. Because it produces oxygen, it is combustible and will explode if left in a closed container.) Follow up with a good shampoo to make the dog your welcome housemate once again.