With the weather warming up, our pets, especially dogs will start exploring more and getting into trouble with the local wildlife.
Here are some tips to help get rid of the smell if your dog has had a run in with a skunk.
The first thing to do if it looks like your dog got sprayed in the eyes is to rinse them with a saline solution or water.
Then take him outside for a thorough bath. According to Prevention magazine's master groomer and vets, the best anti-smell approach is equal parts dish washing detergent (Dawn or Palmolive), 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, making sure you avoid your dog's eyes. Use rubber gloves to do this to protect yourself from the scent.
After washing, rinse him thoroughly with equal parts red wine vinegar and water. The vinegar may tint the fur a pink color but that will wear off. Let the vinegar dry on the coat to absorb the odor. You can rinse it off in 6 to 12 hours or just let it wear off naturally.
When it rains and your dog gets wet, the skunk smell may come back. Keep a spray bottle of the vinegar and water solution to spray on when the odor returns. It could take a few months to completely get rid of all odor.
