The Dogs Bone

Removing skunk spray on dogs isn't difficult, and it is important both for your own sense of smell, and your dog's!

Skunk spray is a very strong odor, so even if you've never smelt it before, should your dog unfortunately become the recipient of it, you will know.

The first thing you should do is check your dog's eyes. Veronika Kiklevich, D.V.M., an instructor at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman, and the head of the community practice division there, says: "It won't make him blind, but it's very painful". She suggests that you use the same solution that people would to wash out your dog's eyes.

The next step in removing skunk spray from dogs is to wash your dog very thoroughly - outside. Washing him inside will only mean the rather pervasive smell leaves itself in your home for several weeks. Wearing latex gloves to protect your hands from smelling of skunk, wash your dog thoroughly. Using a regular pet shampoo is fine, but you'll need to wash him two or three times.

The final step in removing skunk spray on dogs is to wash him in tomato juice! The mechanism behind it working is unclear, but it does work. You'll need to totally dry your dog after washing him as above. Then pour the tomato juice on his coat and rub it in thoroughly. It's preferable to let it soak for about half an hour, if you can keep your dog still that long. This lets it soak into his skin. If you have a light colored dog, it will tinge his coat slightly pink, but this will fade. And a pink dog that smells nice is a much more preferable alternative to a skunked dog!