OMG – The dog has met up with a skunk!
It’s that time of year when we’ll have visits from feral skunks. Once the sun goes down, our dog begs to be let outside. This wouldn’t be a problem but you would think after being sprayed a couple of times, our dog would avoid repeating the stinky experience. Apparently, our dog thinks skunks are great play things.
Wouldn’t you think
Wouldn’t you think after the first four or five times of being sprayed, she would learn but never do it again. The upshot is we’ve gotten really good to de-skunking our pup. This is the treatment we have had the best results.
De-skunk recipe
Mix up one quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and one or two teaspoons of liquid soap (we use Dawn dishsoap). Then pour the solution onto the affected area and massage it all the way down to the skin. Let it sit for about five minutes, than rinse thoroughly with clear water. Repeat if necessary.
Tips
One – Don’t let the dog into the house or tent until completely de-skunked
Two – Check there is no skunk around before letting the dog out again.
Three – Don’t let your dog get skunked
The best way to keep your dog from getting skunked is to ensure the critters don’t den on your property. To make your backyard less appealing to a skunk, close garbage cans tight and, if your dog eats al fresco, take the bowl back inside as soon as he is finished. Skunks are opportunistic eaters who won’t be able to resist these easy pickings.
Open spaces under porches, elevated sheds, open garages, and rock and wood piles are also appealing real estate for dens, so do your best to keep those areas closed off. Skunk dens are characterized by a depression dug in the dirt, cleared of grass and foliage, leading down into a space under a rock or wood pile, or beneath a covered space such as a porch or shed.
