#Middlebury #Dog #Skunk
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: We were camping this weekend, and on our last day in the woods my dog, Jumper, had a run-in with a skunk. He is really rank. I tried washing him off in the lake, but it didn’t seem to help the smell at all. We had to drive home with this incredibly bad smell permeating the car. Jumper smells almost as bad today as he did on Sunday. How can I get rid of the odor? – Rick in Burlington, Vermont
DEAR RICK: That odor really lingers! Good job trying to wash Jumper’s coat in the lake as soon as possible; that may have helped a little bit. You’ll have to use a bit of chemistry to remove the oily skunk spray.
Tomato juice is recommended by many people, and it does have some effect because it’s a little bit acidic and can break up some of the oils. Its aroma also helps mask the skunk scent, at least temporarily.
Another cleaning recipe, found on the American Kennel Club’s website (www.AKC.org), mixes baking soda with mild detergent and household hydrogen peroxide (3% strength). The foaming mixture can be worked into your dog’s coat, left on for about five minutes and then rinsed away.
With any solution or recipe you use, be careful to not let it get into Jumper’s eyes, ears or nose. Many of the ingredients are irritants that can cause a lot of discomfort.
Deodorizing your car will take some extra effort. You can gently clean the upholstery, floor mats and headliner with a cloth dipped in a solution of water and baking soda. The baking soda will dry to a haze and will need to be vacuumed off. Follow up with a shampoo formulated for car interiors.
Send your comments, tips or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
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