My dog decided to play with a skunk last night on his final trip outside before bed

I’d start by shaving off all his fur.

Tomato juice bath helps, but doesn't remove the smell entirely.

The tomato- based treatments are not really effective since this is an oil based animal spray.

The AKC website has the good basic treatment. Afterwards, you can sponge your dog thoroughly with solution of a tablespoon of vanilla extract per cup of water, let sit for 5- 10 minutes, then rinse well with warm water. This really helps to cut any residual odor.

R1, yeah, but you don't really do that with a Pom...they have two layers of fur, the lower of which continuously sheds. If you shave them, they overheat. Good thought, though, thanks.

dawn and peroxide

a cut onion in every room

must not be so bad. one got my dog and it was the most sulphurous nauseating thing ever. lasted like 6 months.

Tomato juice will just mask it. It's a good way to start, then rinse and do this

Mix one quart of three-percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and one teaspoon liquid dish soap just before use, not in advance. Wear rubber gloves when applying and keep the solution away from your pet’s eyes and mouth.

Then rinse. He will still smell. Then tomato juice, rinse and then more of the above mixture.

Keep alternating, it may take a good three or four scrubs. You need to scrub between the toes, IN the ears, and brush his teeth.

How weird... when I was a kid in the hills of LA, we had a Pomeranian who regularly got sprayed by skunks. We had a cupboard full of cheap tomato juice to wash her. As said above, I think it masks the smell more than gets rid of it.

But to this day, when I smell tomato juice I think of skunks and our Pomeranian. A recherche du temps perdu...

Skunks are extinct in my part of the US

And how does that forward the conversation, gaylord?

Is there an abandoned quarry in your town OP?

I remember pet stores had some special shampoo. But our dog still had a slight smell for awhile. Hopefully, there's something better now. Dogs know they smell and feel ashamed. It's sad.

Both the AKC and the Humane Society recommend this recipe for post-skunk dog wash, if you happen to have the ingredients handy.

We going to be looking shining an ultraviolet light up your dog's ass and injecting it with Clorox. I understand this works well to get rid of the smell from the inside.

The first time my Husky got sprayed by a skunk was several years ago. The tomato juice/vinegar thing did nothing. I read somewhere that prepared douche was an excellent neutralizer, so I went to CVS and bought six or eight Massengill douches. I put them on the counter to pay for them and the clerk looked puzzled, perhaps because guys don't usually buy an armload of prepared douches.

"They're for my dog," I explained.

"Oh," she said. She asked no questions and I volunteered nothing further.

I emptied the douches into a tub and washed the dog thoroughly—and it worked! There was a faint lingering [italic]odeur de moufette,[/italic] but nothing like it had been.

Unfortunately, the skunk population has increased in my suburban neighborhood, and the little bastards are adept at getting into the fenced yard and spraying my curious Huskies. I've found that the very best thing is to put down a heavy blanket in the car and drive the dog(s) to the Petco grooming salon. They do a GREAT job. I also tip the staff heavily.

HANDY HINT: If the dog that's been sprayed manages to get into the house and rolls on furniture, you can buy this stuff called Nature's Miracle and spray it directly onto the affected areas. It's expensive as hell, but it contains enzymes and does a yeoman job of removing bad smells. It even works on cat piss.

Good luck!

R14: Where do you live that Nature's Miracle is expensive as hell? I have never spent more than $8.99 for a 24 ounce spray bottle, and the refills are even cheaper.

Unfortunately, it will take a while for it to leave completely. Our dog was sprayed right outside of the house and the house was unbearable for a couple days. Smelled like an oil fire, not skunk.

Anyway, the thing that worked was a skunk candle. You can get at pet shops. Somehow removes smell.

Let your dog run around the house and roll over on all the furniture and rugs and eventually the smell won't be on the dog.

I love r9.

That skunk in the op’s photo looks like a baby skunk. It’s very cute. Too bad it stinks.

I’ve only ever heard of the tomato juice bath.

R6 has the right recipe. I took care of it immediately with 3 rounds of the peroxide, baking soda and not-fucking-around type of Dawn for my super fuzzy Sheltie. When I took him in for grooming the next week, groomer was impressed.

The real problem is the spray goes all over. So if you don't clean every bit of dog, include mouth, he still smells.

I love dogs.

OP, order a couple of bottles of Nature’s Miracle. As R14 said, it works. It’s not exorbitantly expensive. Even if you have a few bottles of it delivered with one day delivery, getting rid of the odor is worth the expense.

I'll wash it for you.

Aww skunks are so cute they live in my neighborhood. They’re not afraid of humans so I can get pretty close

Tomato juice

No one asked about your hair rinse, Rueben!

OP: Be extremely careful when taking the upthread product advice. NATURE'S MIRACLE is commonly used to neutralize pet stains on household surfaces. DO NOT USE THE "STAIN & ODOR REMOVAL" FORMULA ON YOUR ANIMAL.

However, Nature's Miracle does have a product called "Skunk Odor Removal" intended for direct application to the dog, and they also make breed-specific pet shampoos.

R14, R22 (and everyone, self included) Please be very exact when suggesting products/treatment for our pets; none of us wants to be responsible for causing harm to or endangering a pet's health.

^^ species specific

OP, don't wait around because soon your furniture will reek of skunk. Take him to a dog groomer asap and be prepared for them to shave off his fur. It's late spring anyway but if he gets cold, put a sweater on him.

You DO NOT have to shave the dog's fur. Groomers know what they're doing. In the case of a double-coated dog, shaving its fur can be extremely harmful.

Fabric softener and then vodka as we all do in our Motherland Russia.

I always have a few bottles of the Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover for dogs in my house. Don’t waste your time in tomato juice and other concoctions.

One of my dogs got sprayed 5 times. The first time I was pretty clueless and didn’t treat him right away which lead to me having to throw out some rugs and a fabric sofa that were destroyed by the lingering smell.

It’s best to act fast and if you can, don’t let your dog inside the house until you get the skunk odor remover.

Put the beast outside

HOW ABOUT CALLING THE VET???

r34

While it isn't harmful to call a vet, it isn't necessary. A skunk spray is very unpleasant but it doesn't kill the animal or harm it. It just makes the animal uncomfortable.

Unfortunately dogs, being dogs don't seem to learn skunks are to be left alone.

After the tomato juice bath, get a burlap bag, a big rock and a rope. Do you live near a river, ocean or lake?

"While it isn't harmful to call a vet, it isn't necessary"

I understand. Don't call the vet for advice, call THE DATALOUNGE!!!

Fels-Naptha soap is supposed to work on skunky dogs, too.

On Rugrats, they used borscht. Whip some up and try that.

Cute picture, OP! Your doggie is adorable.

Why don't dogs ever learn that skunks are NOT to be messed with?

My Frenchie thought that skunk odor was perfume, she got sprayed twice. Local pet store had treatment after gallons of tomato juice failed. She still smelled like skunk for about 6 months each time though. I still let her sleep in my bed. It was that, or listening to that drown turkey screech that let loose when they’re upset.

My dog was sprayed over a holiday weekend long ago. I tried tomato juice myself with no effect. I called the vet’s office and the vet called me back and she said rather than bring the dog in I should just go get some Vagisil and apply liberally. So I went to CVS, bought a big bottle and covered my big chocolate lab in it. And it worked. No more skunk smell. Let that sink in.... vagisil takes away skunk odor. Think about what that says about its normally intended destination...

Get a new dog.

Do not let your dog in your house until you have bathed it. Most Insurance plans do not cover skunk claims

OP, I read your post quickly and I thought you wrote "...BAKING him in tomato juice or sauce,..."

That stopped me in my tracks. LOL

I hope your pooch is smelling better by now :)

[quote] I read somewhere that prepared douche was an excellent neutralizer, so I went to CVS and bought six or eight Massengill douches.

He’s hoarding! I want to speak to a manager...NOW!

[quote]She still smelled like skunk for about 6 months each time though.

That is because you didn't get every inch of her scrubbed. You have to clean between the toes, in the nose, under their fingernails, including the declaw, in the ears, brush their teeth and gums and it's hard to get EVERY place..

R7 You left out the LA. It's: À la recherche du temps perdu.

How am da dawg?

[quote] I read somewhere that prepared douche was an excellent neutralizer, so I went to CVS and bought six or eight Massengill douches. I put them on the counter to pay for them and the clerk looked puzzled, perhaps because guys don't usually buy an armload of prepared douches. "They're for my dog," I explained."Oh," she said. She asked no questions and I volunteered nothing further.

So THAT'S why I haven't been able to find any!

Tomato juice. Dawn washing up detergent mixed with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Repeat ad infinitum.