Dog got skunked? Here's what to do.

Life in Ulster County, in beautiful Upstate New York is glorious in the Summer however it comes with some unsavory problems.  If you own a country house or even a house in the suburbs, brushes with nature are a common occurance.  Sometimes they are at the hands or rather wheels of your car, and other times, they may be in the form of some trouble your animal gets into.  I live in Ulster County, in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York, about 100 miles north of New York City.  I live in a 100 year old farm house on 5 acres surrounded by farms and...fox, racoons, deer, bear, coyotes, honey bees and skunks.  While out walking today, Lola, my 4 years old lab cross pulled the leash from me and went after a skunk.  Not knowing whether she got hit or not, when we were walking back I leaned down to smell her and a piercing small burned my eyes.  I can only  imagine what Lola feels like. 

We went online and here's what we found:

1. As soon as you realize your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, don some rubber or latex gloves and old clothes and look her over for bites or scratches. Also check her eyes for redness or discharge. If any injuries are found, you should contact your veterinarian before proceeding.
2. Time is of the essence here - the longer you wait to begin the process, the harder it will be to remove the stench. Get set up for bathing your dog outdoors or in an easy to clean area of your home (laundry room, bathroom, etc). If indoors, open a window to save your nose!
3. Apply a small strip of eye lubricant (such as Puralube) or 1-2 drops of mineral oil to your dog's eyes. This will help protect the eyes in case any of the solution splashes or drips in.
4. In the plastic container, combine 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid soap. Add lukewarm water if needed (for larger dogs). Mix ingredients well. The solution will fizz, as a chemical reaction is occurring. Use immediately - do not store.
5. Do not soak your dog with water prior to bathing. Promptly begin cleansing the affected areas thoroughly, massaging the solution deep into your dog's coat. You may wish to use a sponge or washcloth. Avoid getting the solution in the eyes, ears or mouth.
6. Allow the solution to remain on your dog for at least five minutes (longer if strong odor persists).
7. Rinse your dog well with lukewarm water. Repeat steps 3-5 as necessary until odor is gone.
8. Dry your dog well and give her a treat!

Tips:

1. NEVER place the solution in a closed container or spray bottle, as the pressure will build up and the container could burst. This could cause serious injury to you and your dog.
2. DO NOT use higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or substitute baking soda with "similar" products. The altered chemical reaction could cause severe injury to you and your dog.
3. Be certain you use fresh hydrogen peroxide, as it becomes less concentrated over time. If you are unsure how old your hydrogen peroxide is (or if it is expired) get fresh bottles just in case.
4. The solution can be used to remove skunk odor from clothing and other fabrics. However, it can have a mild bleaching effect on some materials. In addition, your dog's coat may become slightly lighter as a result of the solution. If this happens, it should resolve over time. Don't worry, your black dog will not become a platinum blond!
5. To help avoid future meetings between skunks and your dog, try to prevents skunks from becoming attracted to your property. Do not leave food outside, including bird seed and fallen fruit from trees. Make sure garbage cans are well-secured. Placing moth balls and ammonia-soaked rags around your property might deter skunks from approaching. In addition, keep your dog within eye shot and keep her from running into wooded areas unattended.
   
   Learn more about skunks from Veterinary Medicine Guide Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM:
   
   Source:  The Skunk Remedy Homepage
   Project Wildlife
   

For other (Un)Real Estate matters and all things country contact:
Sharon Klein
Broker/Owner
Hudson Valley Homes and Land
www.HVHomesAndLand.com
Sharon@HVHomesAndLand.com