How long does skunk smell last on a dog

When left untreated, skunk odor can last up to three weeks, so you’ll want to follow these steps immediately to make everything more comfortable for you and your pet. Avoid giving your dog a bath right away.

How long does it take for skunk smell to go away?

The smell from skunk spray can linger for two to three weeks, so if you’re the unfortunate recipient you need to act fast. Skunk spray is pungent, oily and hard to remove. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to neutralize.

How do I get the lingering skunk smell off my dog?

The Best Solution

1. ¼ cup of baking soda.
2. 1-2 teaspoons of mild dishwashing detergent like Ivory Snow.
3. 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution.
4. Mix in a bucket and use immediately.
5. Work the foaming mixture well into the coat.
6. Leave on for five minutes.
7. Rinse with warm water.
8. Follow with dog shampoo if desired.

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Will skunk smell go away on its own?

2. How long does it take for skunk odor to go away on its own? If left untreated, the smell of a skunk can last anywhere from days, to two weeks, to a month (depending upon circumstances).

Skunk spray contains sulfur-based organic compounds called thiols. These compounds let off an immediate blast of acrid scent, reminiscent of rotten eggs. … Thioacetates remain dormant at first, but can morph into smell-producing thiols when they come into contact with water or humidity.

Does Dawn dish soap get rid of skunk smell?

Neutralize the Odor in the Skunk’s Oil

Have your dog wait outside while you prepare a simple mixture containing: a quart of hydrogen peroxide. ¼ cup baking soda. 1 – 2 tsp dishwashing detergent (blue Dawn dish soap)

What neutralizes skunk smell?

Chemist Paul Krebaum discovered a solution that changes the odorous thiols into odorless acids, thereby chemically neutralizing the skunk odor. The formula is: 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle), • ¼ cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and • 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap.

How do you clean a dog’s face after skunk spray?

Mix together:

1. 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (available at any pharmacy)
2. 1/4 cup baking soda.
3. 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap.

A popular myth is that bathing an animal in tomato juice will eliminate or neutralize skunk odor – it does not. … While bathing an animal with tomato juice might wash off some of the chemical components causing the odor, it does nothing to chemically alter or neutralize the odor.

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Does vinegar kill skunk odor?

Products and tools you’ll need to get rid of skunk smell

Vinegar: If you prefer not to use hydrogen peroxide or bleach for your home or pets, white vinegar is a decent alternative. It is ideal for cleaning, laundry, and eliminating nasty smells.

Will Apple cider vinegar get rid of skunk smell in house?

Mix a quart of hydrogen peroxide with a quarter cup baking soda and a teaspoon of dish liquid, and then scrub the perniciously scented animal or item with the solution. Apple cider vinegar is a strong contender for an effective solution. … Fun fact: when vinegar dries it ceases to smell almost completely.

How do I Deskunk my house?

Hot water, liberal amounts of detergent and 4 cups of vinegar in the wash water. Otherwise the scent will soak into the fabric permanently. You can try adding some baking soda alternating with vinegar is the wash on alternate loads to get that entire stink out.

How do you Deskunk a dog?

Mix 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon dish-washing liquid. Apply this mixture in the same way you would the vinegar solution. The quantities listed should make enough deskunking solution for a medium-size dog (30 to 50 pounds), so use less or more as needed for the size of your dog.

Will skunk smell go away dog?

When left untreated, skunk odor can last up to three weeks, so you’ll want to follow these steps immediately to make everything more comfortable for you and your pet. Avoid giving your dog a bath right away.

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Can skunk spray kill a dog?

“Our research project is based on anecdotal information that suggests skunk spray is toxic, and in a few cases, dogs have died where no other disease (was present),” Agnew said. Agnew said a lot of research has documented toxins found in the chemical makeup of skunk musk.

What to do if a dog gets sprayed by a skunk?

Shampoo your dog: Use a regular dog shampoo to remove any residual solution and to leave your dog smelling clean.…

Best Way to Get Rid of Skunk Smell:

Mix together:

• 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (available at any pharmacy)
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

De-skunking Shampoos on Amazon.com

Wearing rubber gloves, wash your dog with this solution immediately after they've been sprayed. DO NOT get the solution in their eyes. (If you don't have peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap on hand, use vinegar diluted with water.)

Caution: Do NOT store this mixture or make it ahead of time, as the mixture could explode if left in a bottle.

Step 3: Clean and rinse

Rub the mixture through their fur, but don't leave it on too long (peroxide can bleach fur). Rinse them thoroughly.

Step 4: Shampoo

Next, wash your dog with pet shampoo and rinse thoroughly. By now, they should be de-skunked and smelling sweet. Thoroughly towel-dry your dog, and be sure to place them in a warm, sunny room for the next couple of hours so that they don't get chilled. 

Owner cleanup

If your dog rubbed some of the stink onto you, you can rid your clothes of the smell by using regular laundry detergent mixed with a half-cup of baking soda.

We’d like to think that skunks spraying dogs isn’t as common in real life as it is in the movies. However, dogs love to chase things and they don’t know the particular consequences of chasing skunks. This need to chase, combined with the oversight of not understanding skunks, can lead to your dog getting sprayed, especially if you live in a forested area.

Of course, we can’t blame skunks for this behavior. They’re just protecting themselves, after all. Still, it leaves us with a rather difficult problem to solve – getting the skunk smell off our dog. Not only does the stench bother our canine, but it’ll also bother us. There is no way a skunk-smelling dog can hang out inside or even near the backdoor.

There are several ways to remove the skunk smell from your pup. Some of these methods work better than others, though. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best solutions.

Get Rid of Skunk Smell on Dogs With Baking Soda:

We’ve all heard of bathing our dog in tomato juice to remove the stench. However, this isn’t necessary nor is it highly effective. You can remove the skunk smell using basic household items like baking soda and dishwashing detergent.

Before we jump into the step-by-step instructions, let’s look at what you’ll need:

• ¼ cup of baking soda
• 1-2 teaspoons of mild dishwashing detergent (Dawn works great)
• 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide

Your first instinct may be to rush your pup to the bath. However, the oils from the skunk spray will transfer to everything they touch, including your bath, hands, clothes, etc. You want to minimize contact as much as possible.

Instead, you want to take your pup to a safe, outdoor space. Don’t let them roam around much, even outdoors. Use a leash to create a tie out if you don’t already have one. You want them as confined as possible while remaining outside.

Safety first. Now that your pup is somewhere safe, you should look them over for injuries. Gloves are a must for this step since you don’t want to rub your hands all in their skunky fur. If they were sprayed in the face, you’d want to rinse some clean water over their eyes. The oils can injure their eyes if not removed quickly.

The rinsing can be difficult, especially if you have a stinky dog fighting you. Get a second pair of hands to help you if necessary.

You’ll also want to check for injuries. Since your dog got close enough to the skunk to be sprayed, it is possible that they also got in a fight. Skunks can carry diseases, which can be transferred through bites. It is essential to check your dog thoroughly for possible injuries. If there are any, follow up with your vet.

Most people do not have skunk odor removers sitting around their house. You’ll probably need to make a DIY option. Luckily, this isn’t too difficult. You’ll need the ingredients we’ve listed above, including baking soda, dishwashing detergent, and hydrogen peroxide. Mix them in a bucket, and then apply it to your dog.

You can use a smaller cup and pour it over your canine, or you can apply it with a washcloth. Either way, be sure to get everywhere.

Let the solution stay on your canine for about 10-20 minutes. Keep them confined during this time, but do not let them lick the solution off. Now may be a good time to distract them with a bone or treat. If any long-lasting chews are lying around, it is time to pull them out.

Grab a hose or another bucket and rinse your canine off. You’ll want to remove all of the solutions, as it can irritate your pet’s skin if you leave it on for too long.

You may need to repeat the process if the smell is not gone. In some cases, it may only take one try before the smell is gone. However, in other cases, you’ll want to do it two or even three times to get rid of the stench completely.

If your dog got sprayed once, it could happen again. Save yourself some work next time and purchase a commercial soap that removes the skunk smell. There are quite a few on the market, though we like the Natural Chemistry Skunks Etc. Odor Remover the best.

This formula is specifically formulated for removing skunk odors. You can use it on pets, as well as on carpet and upholstery. It is made with biodegradable ingredients, which is one reason we recommend it.

An Alternative: Visit the Groomer

If you absolutely cannot stand the smell or don’t have the necessary ingredients available to you, a visit to the groomer might be in order. Most know how to remove the skunk smell and may even be able to make you an emergency appointment. Traveling groomers are especially helpful in this situation, as you won’t have to put your pup into your car.

FAQs

Is skunk spray dangerous to dogs?

Skunk spray is not pleasant – there is no doubt about that. Luckily, it is usually pretty harmless. It makes your canine stink, but that’s about it. However, in some cases, it can be a severe problem for some canines.

Some dogs are allergic to skunk spray. In these situations, the spray can make the dog anemic. This can be potentially serious, as it will affect your dog’s ability to carry oxygen and other nutrients to the organs that need them.

Skunk spray can also become dangerous if it gets in your dog’s eyes. It won’t hurt if the oils stay in your pet’s eyes for a short period, but it can hurt if it stays there for a longer time. That’s why we recommend flushing their eyes as soon as they are in a safe area.

How do you get skunk smell off a dog without peroxide?

If you don’t have peroxide lying around your house, you can use vinegar instead. The only problem with this is that your dog will smell like vinegar. While the scent of vinegar is better than that of a skunk’s, it isn’t always the best alternative.

If you use vinegar, we recommend giving them a regular bath afterward to help remove the vinegar smell.

How long does it take for skunk smell to wear off a dog?

If you don’t do anything to help the process along, the odor can last for up to 3 weeks. This is far longer than you can keep your dog quarantined. For this reason, we seriously recommend removing it using the method we outlined in this article.

Not really. This is an old myth. Tomato juice doesn’t do an excellent job of removing the skunk smell. It only smells so strongly that it fatigues your senses, preventing you from really smelling anything. However, everyone else will still be able to smell the skunk smell.

Featured Image Credit: Eric Isselee, Shutterstock