How to Get Rid of the Skunk Smell on Dogs

Skunk spray gets its infamous smell from an organic compound called thiol, which contains high levels of sulfur, a chemical element with a putrid odor akin to rotten eggs. The thiol in skunk spray is so powerful that humans can smell it up to half a mile away.

Skunks produce this pungent liquid in their anal glands and can shoot it up to fifteen feet away. It takes the animal up to ten days to refill its glands with liquid after a single spray. If you and your dog stumble upon a skunk, there’s a chance it might be depleted of spray. Nevertheless, it’s always wise to keep a safe distance to avoid encounters.

If a skunk sprays your dog, the scent can linger for up to three weeks. The thiol in the liquid binds to proteins in your dog’s skin and fur, making it difficult to remove from their coat once it dries, so it’s vital to act quickly in the event of a smelly encounter between your dog and a skunk.

The old trick of giving your dog a tomato juice bath to remove the skunk smell isn’t effective and only masks the odor rather than removing it. Follow these steps to remove the skunk smell from your dog effectively.

1. 1. Act quickly. The faster you act, the less time the skunk oil has to dry and set into your dog’s coat.
2. 2. Set up your de-skunking station. Set up your de-skunking station outside your house to protect your home from the unpleasant odor. Tie your dog up securely outside of the house while you gather cleaning supplies.
3. 3. Check your dog’s eyes for irritation. Examine your pooch to see if any skunk spray hit them in the eyes. Promptly rinse their eyes with cool water or a dog-safe eyewash solution if you notice redness or signs of irritation.
4. 4. Choose your deodorizer. If you have a commercial skunk odor remover or skunk shampoo, simply follow the directions on the product label. For a safe DIY home remedy, gather the following ingredients: one teaspoon of mild dishwashing soap, one-quarter cup of baking soda, and a quart of three percent hydrogen peroxide solution (any higher than three percent may burn your dog’s skin).
5. 5. Mix the ingredients in a bucket. Mix the liquid soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide solution in a bucket. Prepare this homemade skunk odor remover the same day you intend to use it because it might explode if left to sit in a closed container. Prepare the solution fresh and discard it immediately after use.
6. 6. Wash your dog carefully. Wearing a pair of rubber gloves, carefully wash your dog with the deodorizing solution. Use a washcloth to gently lather and massage the cleaning solution into their coat. As you wash your dog, be extra cautious to avoid getting the solution into your pup’s eyes. Learn how to give a dog a bath.
7. 7. Let the cleaning solution sit for five minutes. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach your dog’s fur, so pet owners with dark-haired pooches may consider letting the solution sit for less time (though less time means some skunk oil might linger on the dog).
8. 8. Rinse your dog. Using warm water, thoroughly rinse the cleaning solution off your dog.
9. 9. Wash again using standard dog shampoo. To ensure you’ve removed all traces of the cleaning solution from your dog’s coat, wash and rinse your canine friend once again using their regular pet shampoo. Finish the process with a thorough towel-dry.
10. 10. Test to see if the process worked. Give your dog a quick sniff to confirm that the cleaning process was successful. If the skunk smell still lingers, you may need to take your pup to a professional groomer. If you get some skunk smell on your own clothes during cleaning, wash them with your regular laundry detergent and a half-cup of baking soda.

Dog owners can take some preventative measures to decrease the chance of a skunk spraying their canine companion.

1. 1. Leave your outdoor lights on. Skunks are crepuscular animals, meaning you’ll often find them outside during twilight hours, moonlit nights, or overcast days. To deter them from entering your yard, leave on your outdoor lights or purchase an automatic light that turns on when it senses motion.
2. 2. Make a DIY skunk deterrent. Surrounding your property with mothballs, citrus peels, or ammonia-soaked rags can deter skunks from lurking around your house. Make sure to place the deterrent in a location where your dog cannot access and eat it.
3. 3. Remove potential food sources. Skunks enjoy scavenging for food, so eliminate any potential edible treats around your home that may attract them. Remember to place lids on your trash bins, pick up fallen fruit lying on the ground, get rid of berry bushes, and bring your dog’s food dishes indoors.
4. 4. Watch your dog at night. Nocturnal skunks find ways to sneakily enter fenced-in areas, so think twice about letting your dog out alone in your enclosed yard at night. During the evening, accompany them outside and keep a close watch on their activity. And when you bring your pooch with you on hiking trails, keep them on a leash to prevent them from wandering into a skunk’s path.

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