How to Deskunkify Your Pet

This rural skunk bath recipe was sent to me by one of our B&B guests who awoke to that undesirable aroma wafting about our place, one August morning. Our pet did not fall victim to the midnight marauder , but just in case, our guests send me their tried-and-true recipe for deskunkifying their pets.

What You'll Need

Tub large enough for your Pet
1 teaspoon Liquid Soap
1/4 cup Baking Soda
1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Cold Water to Rinse
Gloves and/or Gas Mask, optional

Instructions

Step 1: It's best to situate the tub near a water hose out-of-doors or set up in an enclosed out-building. Figure out a gentle way to keep your pet in the tub, while keeping yourself mostly out of it, while your friend endures this humiliating deskunkifying procedure.

Step 2: Mix the ingredients together and apply to your pet (probably best with gloves, and a gas mask). Let the solution sit on your pet for a while, long enough to soak into the fur and soap up the skin. Keep the concoction clear of pets eyes and your own!

Step 3: Rinse the soapy solution off your pet with cold water.

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Comments

10/20/2008 9:33 am

Danielle T. says:

I use AirZyme concentrate by EcoDiscoveries.

www.ecodiscoveries.com

The website says

If your furry friend is less than fragrant, he may need something stronger than soap. AirZyme will help wash out the worst odors. Here’s how one of our customers did it. These instructions are based on a large Labrador Retriever.

What you will need:

Large washtub, utility sink, or bathtub with a closable drain
Large water scoop
2 oz AirZyme concentrate
Tepid water
Quality pet shampoo
Curry comb or grooming brush
Plenty of towels

1- Fill tub with 5-7 gallons of tepid water. (Remember, enzymes break down in heat over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and most pets prefer lukewarm anyway.)
2- Stir in 2 oz AirZyme concentrate. The water will be brownish.
3- Add your pooch. Using the water scoop, soak the dog down to the skin with the AirZyme water. Rub the curry comb or brush all over the skunky fur.
4- Soap up with your normal shampoo.
5- Pour over a few scoops of the same AirZyme water and brush through. Repeated until you have rinsed the soap suds from the fur. This step is done when the AirZyme water and the dog have reached half-soapy equilibrium.
6- Drain the tub.
7- Rinse the dog with fresh water all the way down to the skin. Make sure the dog rinses clean. If you leave the enzymes on his skin, they could cause dryness.
8- Condition if desired.
9- Attempt to towel off dog before he gets the chance to shake off all over your bathroom.

If your pet drinks his bath water, he make experience diarrhea. Please discourage this. Always use common sense precautions with all cleaning products, even green cleaners. If your dog has open wounds or skin abrasions, please do not let AirZyme come in contact with the area. Many of the enzymes in AirZyme are similar to those naturally occurring in your dog’s body. AirZyme is not tested on animals.