I’ll never forget the day I saw a poor Boston Terrier sprinting around a Vancouver dog park, shrieking and stopping only to wipe his face on the grass. The culprit? A skunk.
The owner, who was from Brazil, looked around at the other dog owners in a panic and asked, “What do I do!?”
At that moment, I realized I had no idea how to help. And as we head into Fall—when young skunks leave their mothers and venture out on their own—I don’t want you to get caught in the same situation.
Here are the steps to get your dog back to smelling fresh if they’ve had an unfortunate run-in with a skunk.
Step 1: Act Quickly, But Stay Calm
When your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, it’s easy to panic—especially if it happens during a late-night walk. But the key is to stay calm and act fast. The longer the skunk oil sits on your dog’s fur, the harder it will be to remove the smell.
Try to keep your dog outside if possible. Skunk oil can easily transfer to furniture, carpets, and even your clothes, which will make the cleanup even more difficult.
Pro Tip: Don’t let your dog roll around to try to rub off the spray (like the poor Boston Terrier did). This will only spread the smell and make things worse. Keep them calm and stationary until you’re ready to start cleaning.
Step 2: Avoid Water (For Now)
Your first instinct might be to grab the hose and start rinsing your dog off immediately, but hold off! Water can actually make the skunk oil worse by helping it penetrate deeper into your dog’s fur and skin. Instead, you want to neutralize the skunk spray first.
Step 3: Use a Skunk Odor Removal Solution
One of the most effective home remedies for removing skunk smell is a simple solution of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. This mixture breaks down the oils in the skunk spray and neutralizes the odor, making it easier to wash off.
Here’s how to make it:
- 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide (3% solution)
- ¼ cup of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap (like Dawn)
How to Use It:
- Mix the ingredients in a large bowl (or spray bottle if you prefer). Do this right before applying it to your dog, as the solution loses potency if it sits too long.
- Wearing gloves, gently apply the mixture to your dog’s fur, avoiding their eyes, ears, and mouth. Focus on the areas that got sprayed, especially around the face and chest.
- Let it sit for 5–10 minutes. You should start noticing the smell dissipating as the solution works its magic.
- Rinse thoroughly with water (now’s the time to bring out the hose or give your dog a bath).
Pro Tip: Avoid storing leftover solution, as it can become unstable. Always make a fresh batch if needed.
You might notice that tomato juice isn’t on this list. That’s because it doesn’t actually neutralize skunk spray. The reason people think it works is that they smell the strong scent of tomato juice, but once that fades, the skunk smell is still there.
Step 4: Wash and Rinse Again
Once you’ve neutralized the skunk smell with the baking soda-peroxide solution, it’s time to give your dog a good bath with regular dog shampoo. Use a gentle, unscented formula to avoid irritating your dog’s skin since they’ve already been through enough!
Step 5: Repeat If Necessary
Sometimes, one round of de-skunking isn’t enough—especially if your dog got sprayed in sensitive areas like the face. If the smell lingers, you might need to repeat the process with the baking soda-peroxide solution and shampoo.
Be patient—it may take a couple of washes to fully eliminate the odor, but it will go away!
Final Thoughts: Stay Calm, You’ve Got This!
Dealing with skunk spray is never fun, but with the right steps, it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Prevention is the best remedy, so keep an eye out for skunks and other critters while on your walks.
And remember, your dog didn’t mean to get sprayed. So give them a little extra love and patience as you work through the cleanup together.
Happy walking!
