by Heather Hamel

Created on: April 07, 2010

Products and ideas to remove skunk odor from your pets has come a long way since tomato juice. That solution just leaves your pets smelling like skunk and tomatoes. There are also a few products sold online and through veterinary offices, but it can be costly, and frustrating for both you and your pet to figure out which ones really work. 

There are some products that most people usually have in their homes that will create the right chemical reaction to break down the oils from the skunk odor. Have everything you will need for the bath all set up before you mix together this recipe. Use right away after mixing, or it won’t work as well. You want to get it on your pet while it’s still bubbling. 

This recipe makes enough for a regular sized house cat, or a small dog. Mix a large bottle (32 oz) of hydrogen peroxide (the kind you get at a drug store in a brown bottle – the mild 3% solution) with 1/4 cup baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid soap. Make sure you wear gloves and sponge the mixture on the animal, being very careful to keep it away from the eyes, nose, and mouth. It will really burn if any gets in the eyes. Only leave on for 3 or 4 minutes. Rinse the animal well.  Repeat if necessary, with a fresh batch of this deodorizer, and finish off with a good conditioner for the fur, as this will be very drying. It is possible that the peroxide might lighten the color of your pet’s fur. If you are worried about bleaching the fur, or if you don’t have peroxide handy, white vinegar could replace the peroxide. 

If your pet was sprayed in the face, apply carefully with a soft wash cloth, which makes it easier to avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth. Your pet’s eyes are probably already burning from the spray of the skunk. Once the solution you are using has been rinsed off thoroughly, concentrate on rinsing the eyes with clear tepid water. 

For your house leave out the soap, just mix the vinegar or peroxide with baking soda into a spray bottle and spray around your house while it is still bubbling. Place equal parts white vinegar and water to boil on the stove to boil and it will take some of the smell out of the air. 

If the skunk is living on your property, put mothballs where he resides, and it will likely leave. 

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