rlb
Well-Known Member
This is the "I'm bored because I've been locked on the deck all day after getting skunked" look, taken 2 weeks ago.
We had been going for morning walks first thing, ~5:15, and with the waning daylight that put us out just before twilight. With that, we had 3 skunk sightings earlier in the week, 2 of which were in our driveway. So I was being a bit more cautious before letting her off the leash after the walks, but apparently I wasn't cautious enough that morning.
Once we got into the yard I gave a quick look around then unleashed her. She instantly made a beeline to the corner of the yard and I knew what was up before I even got the flashlight pointed over there. When I got some light on them, I saw the skunk with my dogs jaws around its neck. They tussled a bit, and then separated and I saw the skunk's tail pointing straight up so I knew what was next. The only thing I could think to do was chuck my flashlight at them (I sure as hell wasn't going over there). A few seconds later she came trotting back to me and the smell hit me when she was about 5 feet away. It made me instantly gag, not sure how I didn't yak.
So what do you do? Apparently time is of the essence in bathing after getting sprayed. I used the peroxide/baking soda/dish soap method mentioned here within 20 minutes and I think that helped a lot. I couldn't take the day off, but I managed to break away around noon to pick up some Natures Miracle skunk odor remover. It was about 6 hours between being sprayed and the second bath, but I think the combo methods worked well. She got a lot in the face, which I couldn't really wash well, so that was the biggest source of lingering odor. But by dinner time I let he back in the house. She wasn't totally odorless, but it wasn't to the point of stinking up the house.
The natures miracle was really thin (like water) so I went through a whole bottle in one bath. I headed back to a different store for more, but came back with De-skunk odor destroying shampoo. This stuff is an actual shampoo so it's thick and was much easier to work with, especially around her snout. After the second bath things were much better, but she still had a stinky snout. I think it may have been much more effective immediately afterward.
2 weeks later and her snout barely smells, but it's still there (gotta get really up close and personal). Going forward, these will be products that I keep on hand. I have a feeling this wont be the last time....