Smell is one of the most powerful senses we have. Aromas can instantly transport someone back to their grandma's kitchen or to the scene of first love with a whiff of perfume. Bad aromas have an equally powerful impact, a fact I was reminded of very early one morning a few weeks ago.
My friend's dog, Libby, was staying with us overnight and she and my own rambunctious pup were jumping at the back door to go out. I let them out and went to retrieve my glasses. Before I could make it down the hallway, Libby came bursting back into the house with wild, bloodshot eyes and a red muzzle. She streaked past me and began frantically rubbing her face on the couch. Her face was so red that at first, I thought it might be blood, but as I took her by the collar, the stench of rotten horseradish and burning rubber that stung my eyes told me all I needed to know. Libby had been sprayed by a skunk.
I'd always heard that tomato juice was supposed to remove skunk smell, but this seemed like even more mess to deal with, and anyway, I didn't have tomato juice on hand. As soon as my vet's office opened, I called for advice on what to do. She told me to mix up a solution of one quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and one teaspoon of dish detergent. Mix it up and use it right away, she cautioned, as it can build up pressure in a closed container and explode. The solution will foam up. Lather it onto the dog and let it sit for five to 10 minutes, then rinse off.
This could be easier said than done, depending on the dog. However, Libby, a pampered red-nosed pit bull rescue, was absolutely perfect as I dabbed a sponge soaked in the tingly solution around her face. She delicately licked her nose as I carefully rinsed her off.
I used the same solution of peroxide, baking soda and dish detergent to clean anything else that came into contact with the skunk odor. It's important to test fabrics for colorfastness first as the peroxide can have a lightening effect. If you look closely at my couch, you can tell it's been deep-scrubbed in spots, but at least the smell is gone. It was a full three days later before my kids declared the house skunk-free. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, I hope you can benefit from what I learned that day.
Time is of the essence
Thiols, the compounds responsible for the stench, are detectable by humans in concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion and will linger in the air for hours even after the source of the smell has been removed. The faster you can neutralize the smell, the better. Products like Nature's Miracle Skunk-Odor Remover work well, but if you don't have them on hand right after getting sprayed, they're not as effective.
Fresh air is your friend
If it's a dog that's been sprayed, do your best to keep the dog outside until it's been washed so the smell doesn't get into the house. Leaving washed blankets and clothes outside on a clothesline for a day or two is likely the most effective and inexpensive, though time-consuming, way of removing the odor.
Know your neighbors
Striped skunks, the most prevalent variety in central Illinois, are nocturnal mammals that live in grassy pastures or forest edges and have become well-adapted to urban living, explained Becky Croteau, an avid forager and retired biology professor. Skunks mate in early spring, so they're especially active during this time. Unlike the lusty cartoon skunk Pepe Le Pew, actual skunk must doesn't waft about them in a cloud, but rather is a targeted defensive mechanism that can be shot out at distances of up to 10 feet. "Their spray is so putrid because it's their only defense system," Croteau pointed out.
"Now, in early April, skunks are denning with their babies. Consequently, they're a little more wary, so if your dog runs into them, they're going to get sprayed," cautions Croteau. "However. they don't just outright spray, they give a warning first: they arch their back, they raise their tail and they stomp on the ground. If one does that to you, your best bet is to back away slowly. Don't raise your arms and make a fuss, but just back away slowly and don't turn until you're at least 10 feet away. If you do that, you probably won't be sprayed. Unfortunately, it's hard to teach a dog to do that."
Although they are often much-maligned and sometimes feared, Croteau explained that skunks are actually an important part of the food web and can be a gardener's best friend. "Skunks are omnivores, and they like to eat worms and insect larvae and underground critters like moles, so they can actually be beneficial to gardeners and farmers because they feed on a lot of agricultural pests," she said. Ultimately, skunks are shy creatures and generally harmless. When left alone they can coexist with humans quite amicably, though not necessarily with dogs named Libby.