Skunk oil is one of the worst things many people will ever smell in their life. It is so bad that it will actually burn your nose when fresh-if you've ever smelled it before, you already know the feeling. And if Hennessy somehow found a skunk and accidentally provoked into a defensive spray, it will turn into a smell-crisis you'll never forget (and him either!). You need to get that stench out of his coat, and fast!
The most important thing to remember is that the sooner you act, the easier it will be to remove the smell. Keep Hennessy outside, change into clothes you can throw away, and put on some rubber gloves. You don't want the oil to touch you or else you'll smell as well, and getting the smell of yourself will be an additional crisis. If Hennessy has long fur, see if you can cut off portions of his hair that have been sprayed, eliminating the need to wash more than necessary-it'll grow back and is well worth its removal. You can also use paper towels (or an old towel, in a pinch, but you'll have to toss it in the trash after) to try to absorb some of the oil from his fur. Once you've rid him of as much of it as possible, you'll need to wash the area thoroughly.
No Ordinary Bath
Skunk stench is so famous because it is so difficult to remove. Soap and water won't cut it. If you know anything about oil, you know that it doesn't wash away with water. And skunk oil is a very special kind of oil. If you don't have any special skunk cleaners on hand (which if you do, get them out now!), you can use the Paul Krebaum recipe. You'll need hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and some dishwashing soap.
Grab a bucket and mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda and a squirt or two of grease-fighting dishwashing soap. It should fizz and bubble as you mix it because of the baking soda's chemical reactions. If Hennessey is a big dog, you might need to add some warm water to the mix to get more volume.
Once mixed, grab a washcloth or sponge and scrub, scrub, scrub. Cover the entire affected area and give him the most thorough washing you've ever given him in your life. When you're done with the first round, rinse him off with water, and repeat. Make sure to be careful not to spread the oil to unaffected areas of fur by touching him anywhere else. Keep repeating until the smell is gone (you may need to do it five times). And above all, keep this mixture away from his face and eyes. If he got sprayed in the face, you'll need to exercise extreme caution if you want to use this solution, making sure none gets in his eyes, or it will burn him.
If you can't seem to get the entire stink off him, know that although terrible, it isn't permanent and will fade with time (though some people say their dogs smelled for years). A typical human fix is to soak in a bath of tomato juice, so you may want to try this afterwards, though if Hennessey is white, it will dye his fur.
If you live in an area where skunks are abundantly present, it would be a good idea to invest in a bottle or two of cleaning agents designed specifically to remove skunk oil from dog fur. Two of the popular products are Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover and Earth Friendly Skunk Odor Remover. These products will be your best solution if and when Hennessey gets skunked, as they've been carefully formulated for that specific purpose. It probably goes without saying that in the future, it'd be best to keep a close eye on Hennessey when he's outdoors and to not leave any food outside that would attract skunks to your home. You don't want a repeat of this stinky situation!
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