AMY'S ARTICLES

SOLVING SKUNK SPRAY STINK

My neighbor Judy phoned me the other day about her dog, Murphy. The social pooch tried to make friends the night before with a local black-and-white critter, and still carried the aura of rejection. Murphy stunk from skunk.

Skunk musk is made up of chemical compounds called thiols, the same stuff that makes decomposing meat and feces smell bad. This natural protection works well for skunks because putrid odors repulse most animals to prevent them eating spoiled food that could make them sick.

Judy probably could smell her skunked dog up to a mile away, but poor Murphy had to deal with the odor at ground zero-and a dog's sense of smell is as much as 60 times more sensitive than yours.

Outside roaming dogs are the most common victims because they're more likely to meet skunks during rambles through the woods. But skunks also invade urban settings, and love to swipe cat food-they'll often use the pet door into the kitchen. The hot weather prompted Murphy to nap on the outside porch, putting him in the skunk's path.

But even cautious pets become long-distance targets. Musk glands on each side of the skunk's anus have retractable nipples able to spray the stink 10 to 15 feet to reach and repel an inquisitive pet. A direct hit in the face can irritate the eyes and even cause temporary blindness. If your pet's eyes look red or watery, use a stream of contact lens solution or water from the hose to rinse them.

Skunk musk is very oily and sticks to the fur like glue and requires more than plain soap and water to remove the odor. Commercial cleaners like Skunk Kleen or Skunk Odor Eliminator are available from pet supply stores.

When Judy called, she'd already doused Murphy with that old standby tomato juice. We don't know why this works, but it does help neutralize skunk odor. First shampoo and thoroughly rinse, then towel most of the wet off before applying tomato juice (or the paste) until he's sopping. Tomato paste works particularly well around the face because it won't drip into the ears or eyes, and stays in place. The tomato needs to soak on the fur for at least 10 to 20 minutes-as long as the pet will hold still--and then wash thoroughly. It may take several treatments to get rid of the stink, and light colored pets can temporarily turn pink or orange from the tomato treatment.

Professional groomers swear by Massengill brand douche to eliminate skunk odor. Mix about two ounces of Massengil with a gallon of water for small to medium size pets-double the amount for larger dogs. Pour the mix over the pet and make sure it soaks into the fur thoroughly. Wait 15 minutes, and then rinse with plain water. Follow with a bath with his regular shampoo.

The best de-skunk recipe can't be purchased in stores, though. Paul Krebaum, a chemist, figured out how to transform the thiols into other compounds that don't smell. His recipe churns out huge amounts of oxygen and that neutralizes the odor. Krebaum never patented the formula because it can't be bottled for resale. It will pop the lid off any container because of the gas that's generated, so only mix up as much of the solution as you can use at one time.

Choose an easy to use container like an empty milk jug and mix one quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, with ¼ cup of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and one teaspoon liquid soap-pet shampoo will work. Apply to the pet's already wet coat while the mixture bubbles, and leave it on for three or four minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.

Judy followed the tomato rinse with the chemist's concoction, and says her dog Murphy once again smells like his old sweet self. It remains to be seen if he's learned his lesson and will steer clear of skunky visitors in the future.

Also review the article "Out Darn Spot!" for more information about cleaning products that may prove helpful for skunk encounters.

© 2005 Amy D. Shojai