Occasionally, frantic owners call us when their dog has been sprayed by a skunk. Can we help? Sure, but the effectiveness of our de-skunking services largely depends on the actions taken immediately after the spraying incident. So, if your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, please read this section carefully.
De-Skunk Your Dog Before Bathing!
First—and most importantly—DO NOT wash your dog with regular shampoo. This may sound counterproductive, but washing your dog after being sprayed can actually worsen the situation. Warm water opens your dog’s hair follicles, allowing them to absorb the skunk oil, potentially negating the effectiveness of subsequent de-skunking treatments.
Here’s what we recommend: Before bathing a dog sprayed by a skunk, it’s critical to first “deactivate” the skunk odor by neutralizing it. The following three-step process is highly effective in neutralizing the skunk’s scent and removing excess skunk oil from your dog’s coat.
Step 1: Prepare a Neutralizing Solution
Combine one quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of Dawn dishwashing liquid detergent.
This mixture, especially the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, acts as neutralizing agents, while the dish soap helps remove the skunk oil. If applied to the top layer of the dog’s coat and not the undercoat or skin, it effectively eliminates most of the odor.
Step 2: Neutralizing Process
Preferably, perform this step outdoors to avoid spreading the odor inside your home.
Gently blot your dog’s fur with paper towels to absorb excess oil from the skunk’s secretion on top of the coat. “Pat” the coat rather than “rub” to avoid pushing the oil further down to the dog’s undercoat or skin.
After blotting, carefully apply the neutralizing solution. Once the bubbling stops, apply the mixture again as needed until the odor significantly reduces. Then, thoroughly rinse your dog.
Step 3: Bathing Your Dog
After neutralizing the odor, bathe your dog with a gentle, tear-free canine shampoo.
Despite eliminating the skunk odor, an oily residue may remain. Additional applications of dog shampoo or a bit more Dawn dishwashing liquid (hint, hint) may be necessary, especially on areas heavily sprayed. Multiple baths may be required to fully remove all traces of skunk oil, and prevent it from getting on your carpets and furniture.
These washing steps can severely dry out your dog’s coat. After removing the oily residue, consider booking a deep conditioning treatment with us!