Eeek! Your dog went out to use the grass and instead your dog gets skunked! He smells horrible and his eyes probably hurt. What are you supposed to do? First things first DO NOT LET HIM IN THE HOUSE. You probably weren’t going to anyway, but, just in case you thought about it in your momentary panic.
Second, this is a toss up, you can A: Run inside and change your clothes into something that you can stinkify or B: Rinse any skunkiness out of your poor doggies eyes. Make sure to do both though!
Third, don’t waste your time on tomato juice. Maybe your dog is special, but mine just smelled like skunked tomatoes.
Related Posts: Can You Have a Dog AND Chickens and Predator Proof Chicken Coops: A Simple Way To Protect Your Flock.
What Works When Your Dog Gets Skunked?
What DOES help once the dog gets skunked is this nice little recipe we found on the Humane Society. When our dog got skunked we mixed up a batch of it and applied it liberally (like three times). Mix together a quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and one teaspoon dish soap. Don’t get it in his eyes, and you’ll want to wear gloves. Apply and rinse, apply and rinse, apply and rinse, until you think maybe he’s starting to smell less. Before you let your doggie back in the house wash again with his regular shampoo.
When our dog, Lawrence valiantly defended our chicken coop from sneaky egg-eating skunks (hahaha, yeah right), he still had a lingering skunky-ness to him after doing this, but he slept in the house that night without reeking or spreading the smell. Poor dude.
Good Luck!
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Jeff
Wednesday 3rd of February 2021
What if it’s freezing outside?
Kathryn
Wednesday 3rd of February 2021
If you can do an outbuilding that can be hosed off and scrubbed that might work, like a garage. If you bring the dog in, it will make your house stink.
Shayla Holloway
Friday 15th of January 2021
What do you do if your dogs afraid of water? Before I got my dog he was abused with a water hose and with water so I can't give him a bath. I heard from the pet hospital to use tomato sauce. If I can't rinse it off it's OK to let it just stay on him, it won't hurt him just not to get it in eyes
Kathryn
Saturday 16th of January 2021
That's a tricky situation. I would follow the advice of the pet hospital and work with a dog trainer skilled with rehabilitation to help with the fear in the future.
Elizabeth
Friday 15th of May 2015
The solution works best if you let it sit on the dog for about 5 minutes before you rinse it off.
Terry
Monday 20th of April 2015
I agree, tomatoes don't smell any better!
Kathryn @ Farming My Backyard
Monday 4th of May 2015
Mmmm, tomato scented skunk! :D