SKUNKED! WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR DOG GETS NAILED.

It’s that time of year again, when critters are out and about. Magic decided to start off Memorial Day on the right

paw and stuck his nose where it did not belong. And the skunk told him off, just the way you can expect.

Why Skunks Stink

Skunks have musk glands on each side of the anus. These glands are equipped with retractable ducts. They can take

aim and spray the stink a distance of 10 to 15 feet, so even standoffish pets are liable to get nailed.

Skunk spray contains thiols, an organic compound composed of a sulfur atom attached to a hydrogen atom attached

to a carbon atom. The same types of compounds create stinky breath or flatulence. Thiols have a lingering rotten egg

odor, and the skunk’s oily secretion makes it difficult to get rid of. Skunk spray is so pungent, a concentration of one

in 10 parts per billion can make humans gag. Just think how obnoxious or downright painful the smell is to your

pet’s nose.

Eliminating Odor

A bath alone generally won’t do the job. The oily secretions can be difficult to wash away, and the thiols are

impossible to perfume or wash off. Usually a commercial de-skunking solution will be needed, one that incorporates

odor neutralizers specially designed to eliminate the pungent aroma. I have on hand some Z Air, a product I’ve

loved using around the litter box. Who knew it’d be so effective for skunk smell, too!

It’s best to use the odor neutralizer on the dry fur. Because he’d already rolled in wet grass, Magic already was

pretty soaked so it took a bit more of the spray to work. Please be sure any product you use says it’s safe for on-pet

application! Skunks typically nail dogs on the chest and face, so care must be taken when applying around the eyes.

I sprayed on a paper towel and then rubbed the soaked paper on the pertinent spots. Once we’d applied the product

and let it set for 2-3 minutes, I washed it off with a dog-safe shampoo.

We’re lucky that Magic loves baths. Well, not the baths so much, as the rinsing off and playing in the water. Here’s

a fun video of his favorite hot weather games.

https://youtu.be/CMwCnVgXceY

Perform clean up outside, too, or you’ll need to deodorize your entire house after scrubbing the pet. Wear

comfortable, disposable old clothes and gloves because your dog will transfer odor to you during the bathing

process. Trust me on this!

Oh, and do NOT let the dog back into the house until after the bath. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with the skunk

smell in the air and potentially your carpet and furniture when the dog tries to rub off the odor. Currently I’ve got a

Fresh Wave candle burning, and a CritterZone odor neutralizer running in addition to spritzing odor neutralizers

around the kitchen.

AMY’S TOP TIP: Keep your dog on a leash until you KNOW that there are no skunky intruders nearby to tempt

your dog to nose-poke.

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