Has your cat or dog been sprayed by a skunk? Many have heard that a bath in tomato juice will help your pet get rid of the skunk smell but tomato juice just doesn’t work. Skunk spray is actually an oily substance, and the best way to get rid of the smell is to use something on your pet that will remove the oil. There are many specialized skunk odor removers, but Dawn dish detergent works great and most people already have some at home. If your pet has been sprayed, try to start cleaning your pet as soon as possible to avoid letting the skunky smell ‘sink in.’

Step One: Brush out Skunky Fur with Slicker Brush

Before you begin, brush the animal’s hair out with a slicker brush if your pet has medium to long fur. This will help comb out some of the skunk spray oil. Make sure to clean the brush thoroughly with Dawn detergent after the brushing because you will need it again at the end of the cleaning process.

Step Two: Wash Pet and Rinse 2-3 Times

The majority of the skunk spray is generally on your dog or cat’s face, including their eyes. Make sure to carefully wash their face and body with Dawn detergent and water. To help prevent water from getting into your pets eyes, ears or nose when rinsing the face, tilt the dog or cat’s head downwards and lightly cover its nose and ears as you rinse. For a small head or a pet that is hard to work with, you may want to use a sponge to wash your pet’s face and head.  There are also some people who will use a mixture of 16 oz Hydrogen Peroxide, a box of baking soda, and a few tablespoons of Dawn detergent for the first washing.

It’s advised that your wash your pet again with Dawn after rinsing them thoroughly with cool water. Some people will even wash their pet a third time with a special or fragrant shampoo, but it’s not really necessary.

Step Three: Towel Pet Off and Let Air Dry if Possible

Towel your pet off well. Your pet will probably dry itself on its own but you may want to use a hair dryer if your pet has long fur. If at all possible, try to find another to dry your pet’s fur because the washing process will already dry out their skin, and the heat from a hair dryer can dry out the skin even further.

Step Four: Brush out Fully Dried Fur with Slicker Brush

When your pet is fully dry, brush their fur thoroughly again with the cleaned slicker brush from before. Wash and dry any animal bedding or areas that have been touched by skunk essence before letting your pet near them again.

Your pet will still have traces of skunk smell, especially around the face and even in their eyes which can’t be directly cleaned. This smell will gradually disappear over time but you will be past the worst of it.

Watch your pet closely for the next couple of days. Some pets can have bad reactions to being sprayed by a skunk. If your pet seems tired or you think something is not right, call your local Simi Valley veterinarian right away for advice.

Founded in 1988, American Veterinary Hospital is a full-service, small animal veterinary hospital which provides comprehensive medical, surgical and dental care for your pet. American Veterinary Hospital commonly sees pets from Simi Valley, Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley including the communities of Northridge, Chatsworth, Thousand Oaks and Morepark. If you are interested in making an appointment at our veterinary hospital, contact us at 805-581-9111 today or request an appointment below!