Skunk Odor Removal
Skunk odor removal is an important concept to any one who has experienced the smell on their dog when bathing their animal in the tub. Skunk odors are very pungent, foul-smelling, and really hit the nose in a way most odors do not. To make your dog more pleasant to be around when you are in public, you need to find a solution that will remove any reminders that your dog got sprayed by a skunk.
First, be sure to keep your dog outside of the home. What some may not know about skunk odors is that they are easy to get on but hard to get off. As a result, it will take several days (if not weeks) before your dog is free of a skunk smell. You do not want the same smell permeating your home or make you nauseous or sick. For those with bad allergies, pet dander is difficult enough to handle without a skunk odor mixed in the equation.
Once you place the dog outside, check his or her eyes to see if there is any redness or irritation from the skunk gas. The same eye drops that work for human eye redness will work for your dog. If need be, apply human eye drop solution into your dog’s eyes to make him or her comfortable and able to see.
The obvious step in pet odor removal is to wash the dog. You will need a pair or rubber gloves and some dog shampoo. Be sure to wash the dog a few times if you need to before drying him or her. The wash is a great part of removing the skunk smell: those who are not thorough in washing their dogs tend to battle traces of a smell even after the shower. Take the time to wash every part of the dog at least a few times—and repeat if you must.
Next, you will need many cans of tomato juice. Your next job is to use several cans of tomato juice on your dog. Tomato juice is a powerful solution that will remove traces of stench that may still exist on your dog after the shower. Since the smell is pungent enough to remain for days, you do not want to chance it by not using enough tomato juice cans. Several, perhaps anywhere from 5 to 10 may be a sufficient amount for your dog. The larger the dog, the greater the number of tomato juice cans. Similarly, the smaller the dog, the smaller number of tomato juice cans. A baby Chihuahua will not need the same amount of tomato juice cans as a grown German Shephard will. If you wash the dog and smell skunk odor, wash him or her again and again until you feel confident that the skunk odor no longer lingers. You may have to do this daily before the odor leaves, but it is worth it to eliminate any trace of a skunk smell.
Other ways of getting rid of skunk smell on dogs involve using hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and regular dish soap. Use 3% peroxide on your dog, with one-fourth of a cup of baking soda and a small amount of liquid soap. Once you mix this concoction, rub it over your dog and wash away. Another suggestion of dog washing ingredients consists of dawn dishwashing soap with peroxide and baking soda. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are common ingredients when dealing with removing pet odors, but the type of soap differs according to preference.
Once you wash your dog in a proper mixture that eliminates the scent from your dog, you will need a pet odor remover solution for your home. If your dog has been in your home for any length of time after skunk sprayed him or her, chances are you will have an odor that will remain for a while. You need a solution that will eliminate the nasty smells from your carpet, kitchen, living room, and even your home furniture (since your pet likes to lay on the couch, sofa, and home rugs). You must see to it that you clean your furniture often, since your dog may attract another skunk odor again (even if he or she is not sprayed directly). Febreze is an excellent furniture freshener you can buy at your local grocery store to fight couch odors.
An excellent idea to remove pet odor from your home is to use carpet or floor deodorizers in cleaning your home. Sprinkle your deodorizer on the floor, perhaps give it some time to sink into your carpet or floor, then vacuum over it. This will allow a nice smell to reside in your carpet, fighting the skunk odor that may exist. Air fresheners such as Oust or Glade plug-ins may be worthwhile for someone who desires to keep skunk scents to a minimum. Another option for skunk removal in your home is to steam your carpet. Steaming is a process by which heat eliminates bacteria that create odors in your home.
Skunk spraying can create an offensive odor and seemingly harmful to you and your dog’s way of life; however, there are effective means of skunk odor removal that will allow both you and your dog to get back to a normal, outdoor routine.