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Dog Grooming
How To Remove The Odors of Dog Skunk Spray
If you own a dog, you can relate to the various dog odors that human noses can be assailed with. Unfortunately, one of those odors that we all tend to take several steps back with is that dog skunk spray smell.
Perhaps this is your first introduction to this perturbing problem or maybe you've had prior experience dealing with your dog being hit with skunk spray. In any case, what should you do? Here are some tips to help clean and "de-skunk" your favorite pooch.
1. You should deal with the situation immediately while the spray is still wet, if possible. If allowed to dry, the skunk smell will somewhat seal into the fur. Every time your dog gets wet, you'll smell that skunk odor again and again.
2. Keep your dog outside if possible. Once the odor gets into the house it could take weeks to remove that dog skunk spray smell from the air. If it's not possible to take your dog outdoors (it's raining or too cold, etc.), move them into the bathroom and open the window (although you need to be aware that the skunk odors will more than likely linger in the house).
3. Always check your dog's eyes immediately in case the spray has hit them in the face. “It won't make him blind, but it's very painful,” says Veronika Kiklevich, D.V.M., who is an instructor and head of community practice division at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman. You can help relieve the irritation by using saline eye drops designed for humans. If you don't have any eye drops handy you can also use a drop or two of olive oil as an alternative.
4. Wash your dog thoroughly with either special dog shampoo for removing skunk odors, pet shampoo or a mild baby shampoo. Do so outdoors if you can. Wear rubber gloves or latex gloves so that the smell doesn't transfer to your skin. Rinse and repeat the washing. You may have to do this 2 or 3 times. After you finish the shampooing and rinsing of your dog, be sure to completely dry off your dog's fur. Once dry, THEN it will be time for you to apply the tomato juice as outlined in Step 5 below. NOTE: Additional solutions are supplied at the end of the article that you may wish to try instead of the tomato juice.
5. Tomato juice is the most popular choice that people try for skunk odor removal. Experts are not sure just how it works, but pouring tomato juice on your dog and rubbing it in does wonders for chasing away that dog skunk spray smell. However, some people have found that tomato juice doesn't work at all on their dog. I'm not sure why. In any case, pour the tomato juice generously onto your dog's fur (don't skimp on this part) and rub it in thoroughly within the coat. Let it soak for approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse the tomato juice out completely. Repeat if necessary. A word of warning: If you have a dog with white or very light colored fur, they may be somewhat "pinkish" for a period of time due to the tomato juice. Be assured, the color will fade in time. However, one of the solutions below may be more to your liking in this case.
Additional Dog Skunk Spray Removal Tactics
So what if you don't have any tomato juice in the house? Here is another solution that works just as well and is used in place of Steps 4 and 5 above: Mix equal parts of water and baking soda together. Add some dog shampoo or liquid soap detergent. This will create a paste that you can apply to your dog. If you would like a more liquid consistency, just add more water until you get the desired thickness. Carefully lather the mixture thoroughly into the dog's fur and allow it to remain for approximately 10 minutes. Keep the solution out of your dog's eyes! Rinse and repeat if necessary.
Another solution that many dog owners swear by is to mix 1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 1/4 cup Baking Soda, and 2 tablespoons dish detergent in a large bowl (do not use a sealed container as this mixture will explode). You must use this immediately while it is still foaming as it is the oxygen in the bubbling mixture that removes the skunk odor. So get your dog situated and in place for cleaning before putting this mixture together. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
To remove lingering dog skunk spray smells in your home, place small bowls of vinegar throughout the house. Vinegar absorbs odors really well!
Author: Rose Smith - http://www.caringforcanines.com
| View(417 Time) - - Post Date: 2007-01-14 18:25:30 |
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The Importance of Grooming Your Dog
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