Skunk Hours

Spring and early Fall are the seasons when your dog is most likely to have encounters with the night-prowling skunk. Time-tested approaches for ridding dogs of pungent skunk odor include tomato juice or mixtures of 1 to 2 teaspoons of ammonia per quart of water or 1 pint of vinegar per gallon of water.

Another remedy is to mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Work the solution thoroughly into your dog's coat, then rinse with water. The peroxide mixture reacts with sulfur molecules in skunk spray to form odorless sulfonic acid. Two cautions: be prepared to use the solution immediately after mixing because it has no shelf life; and don't overdo it with the peroxide because it could bleach your dog's coat.

Don't expect complete or immediate results with any deskunking concoction. Unpleasant odors may linger for days, especially when your dog's coat gets damp. Your best bet: leash-walk your dog during "skunking hours."