Another sure sign of spring in New England is the emergence of skunks. For some unknown reason, dogs are attracted to them (kitty?).  The fact that skunks don’t move very fast makes them irresistible to dogs. You would think with a dogs heightened sense of smell, they would avoid a skunk like the plague. but no, they investigate with all the diligence of a detective.  If they are lucky, the encounter ends with each party going their own way, but if my dogs are any indication of how this most likely plays out, the neighbors now know someone got sprayed.

The funny thing about skunks is the spray is so powerful, it overpowers your sense of smell.  You will get that whiff of skunk, call your dogs to the door, smell them, and decide it was the next door neighbors dog who got blasted.  That is until you realize that your dog’s head is wet.  You smell your hand, nope, no skunk smell there. yet people a quarter mile away can smell it.  It’s amazing stuff that Eau De Skunk.

Now what?

Run to the grocery store and buy bottles and bottles of tomato juice?  Don’t waste your time and money.  That was your grandmother’s remedy…and it didn’t work.  Today, there are much better remedies that leave your dog (and you) odor free, and it’s much, much cheaper.  There is the baking soda and peroxide wash but you will have to mix it up in a container and that takes time and is pretty messy.  Fortunately there is a company that makes a product especially designed to eliminate skunk odor. Thornell (http://www.thornell.com/product/skunk-off/) makes products especially designed to eliminate skunk odor. They sell a spray and soaker that is your first line of attack, then there’s a shampoo that eliminates all traces of skunk.  The difference with this product is once the dog has been treated, the smell will not return, even when the dog gets wet again, as is the case with the home remedy. The Pet Pantry sells Thornell’s Skunk Off and now is the time to pick up a bottle just in case.

The Pet Pantry can bathe the dog here, if you would like, although we recommend you use the soaker/spray first to kill the odor then bring your dog in for the shampoo that will eliminate the last traces of Pepe Le Pew.