If your pet got sprayed by a skunk, first make sure there are not any injuries that go with the smell. Skunks can be aggressive and do transmit rabies, so be sure to check your pet for any wounds. Also check your pet's eyes for any redness or squinting. If injury or eye issues are noted, or if your pet will not stop vomiting, it's best to have your pet seen by your veterinarian before tackling the odor.
Why Do Skunks Stink?
The scent of a skunk can not only be powerfully malodorous, but also very irritating to the eyes and mucus membranes. When a skunk sprays, the contents of the anal glands of the skunk are sprayed onto the pet. The secretions contain multiple chemicals. One group, the thiols, are responsible for most of the strong scent. Others are acetate derivatives of these thiols. They are responsible for the smell, that tends to linger and become worse if the pet becomes wet. Of course, the most obvious sign is the smell. The pet may roll on the ground attempting to rid himself of the smell. The eyes may water, and the pet may be nauseated and retch. If you're sure your pet is okay health wise, the next step is to get rid of the smell.
Recipes to Get Rid of the Skunk Smell
Either use a treatment specifically formulated for use on skunk odors like Skunk Kleen or Skunk-Off, or use the following formula:
1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1 teaspoon liquid soap
This recipe can be doubled for bigger breeds.
Wet your pet down and work the mixture through the pet's hair. Leave it on for three to four minutes and rinse. This will generally need to be repeated several times. Be sure to throw away any excess mixture. Do NOT get any of the mixture in the eyes; as a precaution, place protective ophthalmic ointment in the eyes.
Note that the above mixture may bleach the hair color temporarily until the animal sheds and new hair grows in. Common antidotes like tomato juice, vinegar, or regular shampoos will not be as effective.
Your pet may need a few baths before they smell like the pet you love again. Some odor may linger for some time. Be patient, soon your pet will be as good a new and hopefully avoid skunks in the future!
Article by: Drs. Foster & Smith, Oneal Bogan DVM