by Arden Moore
Lucky to Have Avoided Them
I feel like I’ve won nature’s lottery. Why? None of my dogs, dating back to my childhood Beagle mix named Crackers to my current duo of Kona and Emma have ever been sprayed by an agitated skunk. I count myself lucky.
Far too many of my friends share how they dashed online to find an effective de-skunking recipe to rid the coats of their dogs and cats from that stubborn, offensive sulfuric skunk spray.
Phew!
Being Sprayed is a Common Occurrence
“Being sprayed by a skunk is a relatively common occurrence for pets, especially those who live in rural areas,” says Renee Schmid, DVM, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of veterinary medicine at the Pet Poison Helpline. “Most exposures result in a pet who is covered in a strong smell, as well as skin and eye irritations.”
When confronted, skunks employ a four-step strategy. First, they try to escape their predators. Second, they try to scare away their predators by hissing and stamping their feet. Third, they position themselves in a U-shape, aiming their raised rear ends toward their predators. Fourth, they release the stinky spray capable of traveling up to 10 feet to strike predators in the face.
Again, phew!
De-skunk Recipe
Veterinarians at VCA Animal Hospitals offer this homemade de-skunking recipe and tips:
- Mix 3 to 4 parts 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to one part baking soda. Add a teaspoon of dish detergent in a bucket.
- Dampen your pet’s coat with a hose or shower head.
- Apply the bubbling mixture to your pet’s coat.
- Keep this mixture away from your pet’s eyes and mouth.
- Be aware that peroxide may bleach your pet’s fur and leave stains on the towels and your clothing.
- Give your pet a second bath with pet shampoo and rinse thoroughly.
- Consult your veterinarian as you may need a commercial odor neutralizer product to get rid of the skunk odor completely.
Be aware that a skunk that bites or claws your dog or cat could transmit diseases, such as canine distemper, canine hepatitis, intestinal roundworm, leptospirosis and rabies. Please make sure your pet is current on his vacations to reduce his risks. Definitely have your pet examined by your veterinarian following a skunk attack.
In rare cases, however, Dr, Schmid reports that the intense compounds in skunk spray can result in oxidative damage to red blood cells.
She explains, “This leads to anemia and a condition called methemoglobinemia, which doesn’t allow oxygen to be delivered throughout the body as normal. It can become life-threatening.”
Bottom line: practice skunk prevention. If you detect that awful skunk smell in the air, do not head in that direction with your leashed dog. Also, skunks tend to be more active at dawn and dusk, so pick daylight hours to take a walk in the woods with your dog.
Skunk-Proof
Finally, make your yard less beckoning to skunks by blocking access under your porch or deck, removing piles of brush and tree leaves and branches from your yard and make sure your trash cans have well-fitting lids.
Facts About Skunks
In the United States and Canada, the most common type is known as the striped skunk.
Skunks range between six and 10 pounds.
The average lifespan is short with skunks in the wild living only between two and four years.
Skunks do not roam. They stick within a two-mile radius of a water source.
Homes for skunks include brush piles, under porches and tree hollows.
Skunks are omnivores. They eat grubs, insects, frogs, lizards, eggs, berries, mushrooms and leaves. They can safely eat poisonous snakes because skunks are immune to snake venom.
A group of skunks is called a surfeit.
Learn more
You can learn more on ways to keep your cats and dogs safe by visiting http://www.propethero.com. Consider taking our veterinarian-approved online pet first aid/CPR course. Enter this code: CPR – ARDEN MOORE and receive a 10 percent discount! And, if you are interested in becoming a Pro Pet Hero instructor, please click on the BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR button on the home page for more details.