Client guide · Home care

Getting skunk smell off your pet

dog or cat

In our region, run-ins with a skunk are common. Its defensive spray soaks the coat with a sharp, stubborn smell and irritates the eyes, nose, and mouth. The good news: a simple home recipe neutralizes the odor far better than the old tomato-juice trick. Here is how to use it, while protecting your pet's eyes.

The recipe The procedure Frequently asked questions

This guide is a home-care support tool. It does not replace personalized advice from your veterinarian. For any questions, contact us at 514-223-1197.

Guide contents

1The recipe and supplies 2Before you start 3The wash, step by step 4After the wash 5What about tomato juice?6Frequently asked questions

What you need

The recipe and supplies

Ideally, wash your pet outside so you do not contaminate the house. Store-bought deskunking products exist, but the home recipe below is simple and very effective.

Old clothes and towels that can get dirty
Rubber gloves
A water source
The deskunking solution (recipe below)

Home recipe

In a bucket, mix just before use:

1 L (1 quart)3% hydrogen peroxide (household or medical grade)
60 mL (¼ cup)Baking soda
5 mL (1 tsp)Dish soap

Never 30% peroxide

Use only 3% hydrogen peroxide (the kind from the pharmacy). Industrial 30% peroxide is corrosive and dangerous to skin and eyes.

Never bottle this mixture

The peroxide foams and releases oxygen: in a sealed container the pressure can make it overflow or burst. Mix in an open bucket, use it right away, and discard any leftover. Do not store it.

Also handy (from the pharmacy)

Cotton balls (to plug the ears if the head needs washing) and a lubricating eye ointment (Lacri-Lube or similar), very useful if the face was sprayed, which is common.

Expect more than one wash

It sometimes takes two or three passes to beat the smell. Clothes hit by the spray will also need several washes to smell fresh.

Before you start

Before you wet your pet

Three things to know before you begin.

Protect the eyes first

All three ingredients irritate the eyes. Right from the start, place a roughly 1 cm strip of sterile lubricating eye ointment (over the counter) in each eye, then keep the eyelids closed during washing and rinsing.

Possible bleaching

Peroxide is a bleaching agent. On a dark coat, the fur may lighten where treated, especially if the solution sits for more than 10 minutes before rinsing.

Bitten? That is an emergency

Before worrying about the smell, look for scratches or bites: a skunk can bite, and some carry rabies. If your pet was bitten or scratched, see a veterinarian right away (see the FAQ).

The wash

The wash, step by step

Put on your old clothes and rubber gloves. Work outside if you can.

Eyes or mouth irritated? Rinse at once

If the eyes or mouth were hit, rinse them with clear water immediately, before anything else. For the mouth, keep the muzzle pointed down so the water runs out rather than being swallowed or inhaled.

Check for injuries

Look your pet over for scratches or bites, including near the eyes. These may need veterinary care.

Protect the ears

If the head or face were sprayed, place a cotton ball in each ear to keep the solution away from the eardrum.

Apply the solution to the sprayed areas

Soak a cloth or sponge with the solution and saturate the affected areas. Work it well into the coat. Avoid the eyes and mouth; around the face, wipe carefully with a cloth.

Let it work for about 10 minutes

Wait around ten minutes for the solution to neutralize the smell.

Much longer, and the peroxide may lighten a dark coat.

Rinse thoroughly

Rinse with plenty of clear water. Repeat the application once or twice if needed, until most of the smell is gone.

Shampoo and dry

Finish with a nice-smelling dog or cat shampoo (and conditioner if needed). Rinse, then dry your pet completely.

Afterward

After the wash

Your pet smells fresh again? Almost. One thing to know:

Smell coming back when your pet gets wet?

That is normal. The odor can return on and off when the coat is damp (in the rain, for example), for 2 to 3 weeks, then it fades on its own.

Other methods

What about tomato juice?

You have probably heard of the famous tomato-juice bath.

Recommended

Peroxide, baking soda, dish soap

The most effective method, and the one we recommend.

Less effective

Tomato juice

Can help a little on the sprayed areas, but clearly less effective. It has largely been replaced by the recipe above.

FAQ

Your questions, our answers

The most common questions after a run-in with a skunk.

Does this happen again? Do dogs learn their lesson?

Sadly, many dogs are repeat offenders with skunks. It is best to prevent encounters and, when that fails, keep this recipe handy.

Is skunk spray dangerous to my pet's health?

Under normal circumstances, the main risk is to the eyes: the spray causes eye irritation but almost never permanent damage. That is exactly why we protect the eyes from the start.

Don't skunks carry rabies?

Some skunks carry rabies in many regions. Rabies is not transmitted by the spray, but a dog close enough can be bitten, and a bite can transmit rabies if the skunk is infected. Prevention is the best protection: if you know there are skunks around or you can smell them, keep your dog on a leash and your cat indoors. If your pet was bitten or scratched by a wild animal, see a veterinarian immediately. Report any animal suspected of having rabies to your local wildlife service. And above all, keep your pet's rabies vaccination up to date.

More panic than danger, usually

Skunk smell is stubborn, but rarely dangerous: with the right recipe, well-protected eyes, and a little patience, your companion will smell presentable again. The real thing to watch for is a bite. At the slightest doubt, and to keep rabies at bay, call us and keep the vaccination up to date.

Bitten, scratched, or an irritated eye?

If your pet was bitten or scratched, or an eye stays red or painful after the spray, our team can examine it quickly.

Book an appointment 514-223-1197

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