How to Remove Skunk Odor from a Cat or Dog

You know that a skunk was in your yard recently when Fido or Fluffy come in smelling, well, like a skunk. De-skunking a pet is serious business, as this smell can not only be an attack on your sense of smell, but it can also make your cat or dog ill. Fortunately, there is one veterinary recommended method for successfully removing 'eau de skunk' from your pet.

Effects of Skunk Spray on a Pet

The most obvious symptom of skunk spray is the scent. However, this scent can be more irritating to your sense of smell. For both you and your pet, there can be irritation of the eyes and the other mucus membranes such as the nose, mouth, throat and so forth.

Unfortunately, skunk spray can also cause your dog to become extremely nauseated, resulting in vomiting.

Removing Skunk Odor from a Cat or Dog

Everyone's heard of bathing in tomato juice; but for a pet, that might not be reasonable. Further more, many veterinarians note that tomato juice does not work as effectively on pets as it does on their human counterparts.

Before trying any home remedies, including this one, be sure to thoroughly soak up any remaining liquid using paper towel. This will help prevent the remaining liquid from being asborbed into the pet's fur. Dab and blot, but try to avoid rubbing, as this will only cause the spray to go deeper into the fur and skin.

Pet Education recommends using a concoction of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap. Combine 1 teaspoon of liquid soap with 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide (Pet Education recommends using 3% hydrogen peroxide.)

First, wet the pet thoroughly (though be aware that wetting the pet down will inevitably make the scent seem worse.) Once the dog or cat is wet, you can work the hydrogen peroxide mixture into the pet's fur. The veterinarians at Pet Education recommend leaving the mixture in for 3 to 4 minutes, and also notes that it may take several tries to fully remove the scent. As always, take caution not to get the mixture into the pet's eyes, as it can be severely damaging.

Lastly, all though this mixture is extremely effective, it can have unwanted effects on a pet's fur. The color of the fur may become bleached, but this will resolve itself through normal shedding and hair regrowth.

If you are concerned about your pets fur being permanently damaged (as some pets do not have fur that sheds and grows back as quickly as others,) then you may want to consider trying an over-the-counter treatment option instead. Many pet stores carry skunk spray remedies that can be shampooed or sprayed into the fur and then rinsed out after a certain period of time. As always, be sure to follow all instructions as noted on the chosen product.

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Additional Information:

Pet Education: Removing the Smell of a Skunk from Your Pet

About.com: How to Remove the Skunk Smell from Dogs

Wise Geek: How Do I Remove Skunk Odor from a Dog?