[caption id="attachment_48388" align="alignleft" width="150"] Photo: pawfun.com[/caption]Although any warm weather is conducive to skunk activity, it seems that recently I have seen and smelled more of them. Yesterday, my friend's little westie, Lily, had the dreaded run-in with a skunk. There are various commercial remedies on the market as well as homemade odor removers, but the best advice I can give you is to act fast. Left unattended, the smell could possibly last up to 2 years.
TIPS BEFORE YOU BATHE YOUR PET
1. Put on old clothes that you can dispose of afterward.
2. Keep the animal outside so that the odor does not get into the house.
3. Put on rubber gloves.
4. If your pet has long hair, consider trimming away affected area.
5. Use paper towels to absorb as much of the oil as possible.
6. Use care in wiping the oils because they can spread and make the problem worse.
Now it is time to decide what remedy to use to bathe your pet. There are some commercially produced products as well as several home remedies. I can’t personally vouch for any of the products; however, after consulting some of my friends, I decided to list what worked for them.
Homemade Remedies
*Tomato juice: An old time method with limited success. Soak the animal in several cans of tomato juice. Work it in and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. Then rinse.
*Mouthwash: Another old time remedy. Follow the same procedure. Soak the animal; then rinse.
*Peroxide, Baking Soda, Dish Soap: 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide,1/4 cup of baking soda, 1 tsp. of strong liquid dish soap. Mix all ingredients and soak your pet thoroughly. Rinse.
Commercially Available Products
*Natures-Miracle-Skunk-Odor-Remover
*Clean-Green-DeSkunk-Remover-16-Ounce
If your pet is the victim of a skunk, be sure to try one of the odor removal remedies. Braxton's Animal Works carries several varieties.