Say Goodbye to Skunk Smell : 3 Effective DIY Solutions to Remove Skunk Odours 

We know dogs for getting into everything, and unfortunately, that includes when they get sprayed by a skunk. Skunk spray is one of the most potent and foul-smelling substances in the animal kingdom, and it can take months and even up to a year for a dog to fully rid itself of the smell. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how you can remove skunk odours if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk. We hope you get to read this article before it’s too late!

Act Fast!

The first thing you should know is that skunk spray is very oily. In cartoons, they often illustrate skunk spray as a gassy substance, but it’s wet and sticky! Once it penetrates the fur, it is extremely hard to remove the smell. So you must wash it off as soon as possible. Do not wait to bring them to the groomer to wash off the smell. It’s always best to bathe at home before bringing them to a professional. 

Skunk smells in the home can last a very long time! If your dog gets skunked, the best thing you can do to protect your home from the skunk smell is to not bring your dog inside right away. If you can hose them down outside with the homemade skunk solution (introduced later in the article) it will significantly reduce the smell inside your home.

If your dog gets sprayed in the face, you may notice your dog wincing. Skunk spray can feel like tear gas when in contact with their eyes, so do your best to calmly saturate their eyes with a paper towel or tissue to remove any oils in their eyes. Flush the eyes with water if you can. Something like a turkey baster would be appropriate to flush out the eyes.

The 3 Ingredient Solution to Remove Skunk Odours

Here is a quick homemade solution you can use with ingredients lying around your home that reduces and neutralizes skunk smells on your dog. In a bowl or a bucket, mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of a mild dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, and 4 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Avoiding your dog’s eyes, work the mixture into your dog’s coat and leave on for 5 minutes. You can rinse and repeat a few times, then bathe again with your dog’s regular pet shampoo to finish. They also recommended a moisturizing conditioner as the homemade solution can be very drying for your dog’s skin. 

How Your Groomer Can Help

It’s important to accept that nothing will fully remove skunk smells once it penetrates the dog’s fur. The important thing is to act quickly. Once most of the smell is diminished, bring them for grooming and ask for a shorter haircut. Cutting their hair short can significantly reduce the odor. It can still take a few months until you are completely rid of the smell, but it becomes more tolerable with each groom. 

As far as avoiding incidents such as these, it’s difficult if you let your dog roam around your backyard or the park without a leash or on an extended leash. So the best way to avoid such an experience is to watch your surroundings and keep them on a short leash. 

Have you had any interesting skunk accidents with your pet? Tell us if you know of any solutions or shampoos that worked! If you have questions, please email us.