Moufettes dans le jardin

My Dog Got Sprayed by a Skunk... Help!

There must be something skunky going on because we’ve been getting all sorts of calls recently from frantic people whose dog had just been sprayed by a skunk. Should they wash the dog with regular soap? With a mix of tomato juice & hydrogen peroxide? Read on for the no-fail method that we always recommend to get rid of the skunk smell.

No-fail method to get out skunk smell from dog

The following method removes skunk smell from a dog – quickly, safely and completely – in just 3 easy steps. The key is to act quickly and use the right products.

We recommend Purodora Skunk Odor Neutralizer Duo For Pets. This duo will completely eliminate skunk smell quickly while being safe for your dog.

Did you know?

All products in our My Furry Best Friend line are non-irritating and dermatologically tested. This also applies to our Purodora Skunk Odor Neutralizer Duo For Pets.

How to get skunk smell off dog in 3 easy steps:

Skunk ready to spray dog

Step 1: Remove any excess yellow liquid skunk spray from your dog’s coat with a clean cloth.

BE SURE TO DO THIS STEP OUTSIDE. (Believe us: You don’t want to let that skunk smell inside your house.)

Oh-oh. Dog got inside before you noticed? See how to get rid of skunk smell in house.

Why it’s important to act quickly.

Skunk spray is highly corrosive and can cause serious burns to a dog’s tongue, mouth and throat. Even if your dog didn’t get sprayed directly in the face (it often happens), there’s a good chance it will try to lick off the spray. The last thing you need right now is an emergency visit to the vet.

Washing your dog outside to leave the skunk smell outside the house

Step 2: WHILE STILL OUTSIDE, remove most of the skunk smell from your dog (pre-treatment).

Note: The goal of this pre-treatment step is to eliminate enough of the skunk smell so that you can comfortably bring your dog inside to bathe it – without having to worry about making your home stink of skunk.

  • Generously spray Purodora Skunk Odor Neutralizer for Pets all over your dog. Apply enough to completely wet the dog’s coat.
  • Be sure to also treat the dog’s head, which is usually the area that gets the brunt of the spray. Take care to avoid spraying your dog in the eyes, nose & mouth. Most people find it easier to dilute a clean cloth with Purodora Skunk Odor Neutralizer for Pets and carefully wipe the face.
  • Massage the product deeply into the entire coat. Let the product work for 10-15 minutes, then immediately move on to the next step. Do not rinse off.

Pro Tip

Always move on to step 3 immediately after completing step 2. Purodora Skunk Odor Neutralizer for Pets and Purodora Pet Shampoo & Skunk Odor Neutralizer need to work together to get rid of skunk smell completely.

Dog is washed after getting sprayed by a skunk

Step 3: Eliminate 100% of the skunk smell from your dog.

  • Apply Purodora Pet Shampoo & Skunk Odor Neutralizer to your dog’s entire coat, working it into a rich, thick lather. (If you’re not producing a thick lather, use more product.)
  • Again, be sure to carefully clean your dog’s head. You can apply the product to the face with a clean wet cloth diluted with the shampoo.
  • Let the product work for 20 minutes. If your dog had lots of skunk spray on its coat, you can leave the product on 10 minutes longer.
  • Rinse thoroughly and dry the coat with a towel or hair dryer.

And you’re done! Unlike some remedies, which often see the skunk smell return when the weather gets humid and rainy, this method gets rid of the skunk smell for good. And best of all, it’s safe for your dog (and for you!).

Before you let your dog go back outside…

How to Get Rid of Skunk Smell Outside the House

So, our dog skunk remedy worked like a charm, but now you’re noticing skunk smell outside your house? It’s often the case. We recently heard from someone whose dog got sprayed by a skunk right on the balcony and his whole backyard reeked of skunk.

Good news: We have a no-fail solution for getting rid of skunk smell outside the house, too.

We recommend using Purodora Disinfectant & Animal Odor Neutralizer. This concentrated odor neutralizer does a fantastic job of eliminating skunk smell from all sorts of surfaces, including lawns & gardens, concrete, brick, wood and more (think: balconies, siding, gazebos, etc.)

Did you know?

Skunk spray can absorb deeply into porous material such as concrete, making the smell very difficult to remove. You might need to repeat the Purodora Disinfectant & Animal Odor Neutralizer treatment a few times, but don’t lose hope. The product will eventually seep deep enough into the material to reach all of the odor-causing molecules and get rid of the smell completely. Don’t worry even if you need to do several treatments. The product won’t damage porous materials or even vegetation.

If your grass, shrubs or flowers smell of skunk:

  • Dilute 3 Tbsp of Purodora Disinfectant & Animal Odor Neutralizer in 4 cups of warm water.
  • Spray the affected area and allow to air dry.
  • If needed, repeat the treatment as needed.

If your balcony or siding smells of skunk:

  • Dilute 3 Tbsp of Purodora Disinfectant & Animal Odor Neutralizer in 4 cups of warm water.
  • Spray the affected area and allow to air dry.
  • If needed, repeat the treatment as needed.

Take a deep breath!

We know that a skunky dog (or backyard) can be panic-inducing. We’ve got your back, with safe and effective solutions for all your odor problems. Got a question about our products? Write, call or live chat with us. We’re always happy to help!

Purodora odor neutralizers are available online and at many pet supply stores. Check out our Find Us section to find the retailer nearest you.

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