Whether you live in a suburban jungle, in the heart of the city or out in the sticks, the odds of encountering a skunk increase in the warmer months. Skunks are generally less active in winter months and usually hibernate for short periods of time. In the warmer months, they tend to be most active around dusk or dawn, but they may be out at other times of the day or night foraging for food.
Skunks are know as opportunistic omnivores, which means they can thrive on a variety of foods and will eat whatever is available including pet food left outside, garbage and goodies from compost heaps. Normally, skunks prefer to live in a den they dig in the ground, but they will also happily take up residence in a tree stump, wood pile or garden shed, beneath your deck and even in the crawl space beneath your home.
Skunks are naturally very docile creatures and normally only resort to spraying as a last defense. They often try to scare off potential threats by stamping their feet, hissing, and arching their tails high above their backs. However, mother skunks are very protective and will spray at the first sign of danger. Skunks are capable of ejecting their spray across a distance of up to fifteen feet!
The foul-smelling spray is actually a secretion produced by glands that line a pair of specialized sacs located in the anus. The chemical composition of skunk spray is complex, but in order to neutralize the smell effectively, it is important to understand a little about its nature.
The secretion is actually yellow oil that will stick to most surfaces. Being oil, it does not mix with water. Chemically, skunk spray contains many compounds that readily become gas, which is what stinks. One of these compounds, when mixed with water, becomes even more pungent in smell (i.e., when your pet gets wet!)
To neutralize the odor, you need to break down the oil. Chemists have helped to develop many commercial products that are very effective in eliminating skunk odors. Unfortunately, many skunk encounters occur late at night when stores and veterinary clinics are closed, meaning you can’t buy these products when you really need them. What can you do at home? First, let’s debunk the old wives’ tale of tomato juice…It does not work and makes a huge mess. Instead, there are some homemade recipes (such as three to four parts hydrogen peroxide to one part baking soda, with a teaspoon of liquid dish soap (such as Dawn) that can be applied in a pinch to reduce the odor. To be effective, the solution must be applied ‘fresh’, or still bubbling, and must be applied to sprayed areas.
*NOTE: NEVER use solutions containing peroxide near the eyes and be very cautious applying the solution around the mouth. Peroxide may also bleach your dog’s fur and any materials it may come in contact with (such as your clothes or furniture).
When using the homemade product, it is common to notice the ‘eau de skunk’ smell every time your dog gets wet over the next couple of months. This rarely occurs when a commercial odor eliminator is used correctly.
The best advice…Avoid contact between your dog and any resident skunks in your area, not only for the sake of your nose, but also for your pet’s sanity. He may think he smells wonderful, but he can’t understand why he can’t sleep in your bed tonight.
Come in and meet the caring doctors and staff at VCA Highlands Animal Hospital, 3451 Elkhorn Boulevard North Highlands, CA 95660 916-332-2845