An Unpleasant Predicament

In recent days, I was subjected to the unpleasant experience of a skunk spraying itself just outside my front door. Even though none of our pets were outside at the time, I have a sneaking suspicion that the sound of the dogs barking is what provoked the skunk to spray its urine all over the yard. It seemed as if a skunk had been inside our home and sprayed in each of the rooms because the odor was so strong. After that, we could tell the skunk kept coming around for at least a week or so after that. When the dogs were upset, they would start sniffing the air, and both of us would be able to smell him. After doing some research, we found out that it was the mating season for skunks and that this is the time of year when they are the most active. In order to avoid having any kind of direct interaction with the skunk, we made sure to either keep the animals inside or confine them within a fenced-in area nearby.

Check your pet’s eyes, nose, and mouth thoroughly if it turns out that they were sprayed by a skunk. This is the single most important thing you can do in this situation. Skunks have a habit of going straight for the face, and the chemicals in their spray can irritate and inflame the skin. If the chemicals are breathed in, they can cause irritation to the lining of your pet’s respiratory tract and throat. If he gets sprayed in the face, he should immediately flush out his eyes, nose, and mouth with water. Take him to the vet if his eyes are red or if you see him rubbing them after he has been rinsing them. The veterinarian will be able to examine his eyes to ensure that they have not been damaged and will be able to recommend an ointment to help soothe any irritation.

The next thing you need to do is get rid of the odor. There is no guarantee that dousing your pet in tomato juice will solve the problem. Use shampoo designed specifically for dogs or cats instead. However, the most effective natural deodorizer is a concoction that consists of one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, one cup of baking soda, and one quart of hydrogen peroxide diluted to a concentration of three percent. After he has been thoroughly soaked with the mixture, you should make sure to rinse him.

Home remedies aren’t the only way to get rid of skunk smell on pets; there are also commercial products that can be purchased that work much better. There are shampoos and sprays that have been developed specifically to counteract the offensive odor caused by the chemicals in skunk spray. You can get these from the veterinary clinic or the pet store in your area. If you follow the instructions on the packaging of these products, your pet should be free of the odor of skunk in no time. It is possible that you will need to trim some of the hair off of long-haired pets. This is especially true if their hair is tangled or matted, as this type of hair is more likely to trap smells.

The most effective way to deal with skunk spray is to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. During the mating season, make sure that your pet is either on a leash or contained within a yard that is enclosed by fencing. However, keep in mind that skunks can be more of a problem than just a smelly one. Skunks have sharp teeth and claws, and if they were to fight with your pet, they could easily injure it. They even carry diseases that can be passed on to your pet if they get close enough. If you want to protect your pets from skunks and other wild animals that may carry mange, you should keep them close by.