How To Remove Skunk Spray Odor From Your Dog and Cat

 
did your dog or cat get sprayed by a skunk? never use dawn dish soap, use these safe natural remedies to treat symptoms and skunk spray odor
Did your dog or cat get sprayed by a skunk? The smell can be overpowering.  The toxic effects of skunk spray on your dog and cat can be minor to serious. The musk can ruin fabrics, carpets and furniture. In this article you'll learn how to use safe natural remedies to treat your dog and cat's symptoms and remove skunk spray. You'll also learn why you should NEVER use Dawn Dish soap.
 
★ 7 min read
 
In this article:
1. Did your Dog or Cat Get Sprayed by a Skunk?
 
2. Skunk Spray Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
  1. Skunk spray chemical burns
  2. Symptoms of emotional distress
  3. Gastrointestinal upset
  4. Respiratory issues
3. Natural Remedies to Remove Skunk Spray and Treat Symptoms
  1. Treatment for Eyes
  2. Treatment for Nose
  3. Treatment for Face
  4. Treatment for Gastrointestinal upset - diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
  5. Support for Convulsions and Seizures
  6. Support and natural treatment for Toxic Shock
  7. Natural Remedies to remove Skunk Odor
  8. Why you should NOT use Dawn Dish Soap

1. Did Your Dog or Cat Get Sprayed by a Skunk?

If your dog or cat has the unfortunate experience of being sprayed by a skunk, it is important to neutralize and remove the spray as quickly as possible - the longer the musk is on your dog (cat) the more complications can occur. Once the musk starts to dry it gets more difficult to eliminate the odor and the strong organic chemical properties of the musk can cause skin irritation, eye issues, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory and neurological issues.

The all-natural skunk spray removal home remedies provided below are effective, simple and fast to make.  I recommend that you purchase (and keep on hand) the ingredients. When disaster strikes you can act quickly to resolve your dog's or cat's discomfort - and the assault on your own sense of smell.

The method used to remove skunk spray odor from a dog or cat depends on where your dog or cat got sprayed - body, eyes, mouth, nose. Home remedies are provided further below. Your dog or cat may experience a range of side effects after getting sprayed, or if more fortunate - you may only have to neutralize the skunk-spray odor.

Skunk spray is a musk that includes seven natural components. Six of the seven are naturally occurring organosulfur compounds called thiols. Thiols are odorants - they emit strong odors. We humans, with our +/- 3 million olfactory senses, can smell skunk-musk in concentrations at, or greater than 10 parts per billion. Contrast our sensitivity with a dog’s 300 million olfactory senses and you can begin to understand just how much of a sensory impact skunk musk can have on your dog’s and cat's olfactory senses! The thiols in skunk musk are so strong that they can cause some pretty severe (but typically temporary) side effects and adverse reactions.

2. Skunk Spray Side Effects and Adverse Reactions 

skunk spray side effects reactions and natural treatment for dogs and cats

Skunk Spray Chemical Burns
Chemical burns can result from spray that hits the less furry parts of your dog’s and cat's body such as the eyes, nose and mouth and if not rinsed away, the organic chemicals present in a skunk’s spray can cause:
  1. The formation of ulcers on your dog’s or cats' skin
  2. Temporary blindness
Symptoms of Emotional Stress and How to Help
Your dog (cat) may exhibit signs of emotional stress – may appear stunned or panicked in which case your response should be to direct your dog with deliberate grounded calm as an emotionally stressed response from you can serve to send your dog deeper into a state of anxiety.  Just focus on getting your dog (cat) cleaned-up.

Gastrointestinal Upset 
GI upset may result in one or all of the following:
  1. Nausea
  2. Vomiting
  3. Diarrhea
Respiratory Issues
  1. Breathing difficulties – particularly for asthmatic dogs and cats
  2. Nasal irritation

3. Natural Remedies to Remove Skunk Spray, and Treat Symptoms

Natural, Simple Safe Effective Treatments
 
skunk spray natural treatments and remedies for dogs and cats experiencing skunk spray side effects
3.1 Treatment for Eyes
Gently and thoroughly rinse your dog’s (cat's) eyes with slightly warm water – do not use hot water.
 
If irritation and inflammation continues after rinsing with warm water, follow-up the warm water rinse with an eye-health supporting anti-inflammatory herbal rinse.

You'll Need:
  1. An eye dropper. 
  2. Organic tea bag – choose one of the following: chamomile tea, eyebright tea, green tea, rooibos tea.
  3. Preparation: 
  4. Brew the tea and allow the tea to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm. 
To Use: 
  1. Use an eye dropper to place 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until inflammation or discomfort clears.
3.2 Treatment for Nose
Carefully rinse your dog’s (cat's) nose with warm water 
 
3.3 Treatment for Face
Rinse your dog’s (cat's) face with warm water.
 
3.4 Treatment for Gastrointestinal Upset - Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
Encourage your dog (cat) to drink clean water.
Diarrhea
Nausea and Vomiting 
  • If your dog (cat) vomits after being sprayed with skunk must don’t be alarmed.
  • Vomiting is your dog’s (cat's) natural response to expel the musk compound that he/she inadvertently inhaled and / or ingested.
  • Make sure that your dog (cat) has fresh water to drink after he / she has finished vomiting.
3.5 Support for Convulsions and Seizures
If you your dog gets sprayed in the mouth – he/she may experience a seizure. If your dog (cat) is having a seizure do NOT introduce any fluids – including water, into his/her mouth. Although it is natural to want to rinse/wash the spray out of his/her mouth by doing so you can cause inhalation of the fluid into his/her lungs – this is cause pulmonary aspiration. Pulmonary aspiration can cause serious issues such as inflammation of the lungs, pneumonia and death. In the case of convulsions ensure your dog is not near any sharp-edged furniture/objects, make sure your dog cannot fall /roll off the surface he/she is on (i.e. due to a change in ground/floor level); keep hands away from your dog’s mouth, keep other dogs, animals and people away until the convulsions have stopped.

3.6 Support and Natural Treatment for Toxic Shock
If your dog (cat) ingests a large amount of skunk spray your dog may go into toxic shock – this situation is most likely to occur if your dog has been sprayed in a very confined space such as an underground burrow. When a high concentration of thiols enters your dog’s upper respiratory tract the thiols can cause an explosion of red blood cells – this can cause anemia. 

In addition to acquiring possible anemia, your dog’s renal system may be under attack. The renal system is the body’s major toxin filter – the high concentration of thiols can over-burden the liver and kidneys. 

The powerful skunk thiols can also cause inflammation of your dog’s mucus membranes, and the production of large amount of mucus. 

Organic chamomile tea can help reduce inflammation of the mucus membranes, reduce mucus production, and help dissolve excess mucus build-up.  Organic peppermint can also help to thin-out and break-up excess mucus. A few drops of 100% pure, organic ginger juice can be added to the room temperature chamomile or peppermint tea to further reduce inflammation and sooth the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. 

To support the liver and kidneys, you can also give your dog or cat organic milk thistle tea that has been cooled to room temperature. 

Organic chlorophyll is a helpful substitute for red blood cells until the body has time to rebuild, and pureed or juiced organic beet root can help the body increase red blood cell count as can other select nutraceuticals and of great importance – a truly appropriate diet.

3.7 Natural Remedy to Remove Skunk Odor

In 1993, Illinois chemist Paul Krebaum discovered a simple, effective formula to neutralize the thiols present in skunk spray.

Prior to Pauls’ discovery, tomato juice or vinegar where typically used to combat the odor of skunk spray on dog fur. Tomato juice or vinegar may temporarily mask the thiols, but neither actually eradicate the odor from your dog’s fur and skin.  Paul’s formula creates a chemical reaction that neutralizes the thiols, changing them to odorless acids.

The following recipe is based on Paul's original formula.

Home Made Skunk Rinse Recipe, Skunk Odor Neutralizer

You'll Need
  • 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • ¼ cup of baking soda – also known as sodium bicarbonate
  • 2 teaspoons of 1natural liquid dish soap (not detergent)
  • If you have multiple dogs to treat or a very large dog makes sure you double or triple the recipe
  • 1 bucket/pail
Preparation
  • Combine the three ingredients in an open bucket
  • Do not put this solution in a closed container as the 3 ingredients do create a chemical reaction that can cause a closed container to explode
  • Do not try to store the solution as it will lose its active chemical properties that break-up and neutralize skunk odor
  • Make the solution when it its needed and use it immediately after mixing the ingredients together
Use
  • Do not use water to pre-dampen or wash your dog’s (cat's) fur
  • Apply the skunk-rinse formula directly to your dog’s (cat's) fur
  • Massage into his/her coat continue for five (5) minutes
    When applying the solution to your dog’s head – avoid getting in eyes and ears – you can use a cloth or sponge to apply
  • After five minutes thoroughly rinse the solution off of your dog’s (cat's) fur and skin, taking care to avoid solution run-off into eyes
  • Repeat the solution application – massage for five minutes – rinse
  • If your dog stills smells from the skunk spray – repeat the application, massage and rinse one more time.
 1I recommend using a toxin-free dish washing soap.

3.8 Why You Should NOT Use Dawn Dish Soap

Don't use conventional dish soap such as 2Dawn. 
 
In fact, the manufacturer of Dawn Dish soap warns people NOT to use dawn dish soap on pets.
 
Toxins from conventional dish soap enter your dog and cat's blood stream via absorption through the skin. 
 
All Dawn dish soap products contain toxins and carcinogens. 
 
Learn about the:
  1. Ingredients in Dawn Dish soap.
  2. Health issues caused by the toxic ingredients in Dawn.
  3. Natural alternatives and recipes.
Go to this article.
 
 
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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld
Photo credit: dog bath photo at top of article by Cindy Shelby, photo of skunk by Bryan Padron

 


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