Have you ever seen one of these? 
I had the pleasure once, but as I was inside, we didn’t get a face to face chat. I guess that was a good thing as skunks have a mean habit of spraying those that approach with a stinky smell. I have no problems being stinky, in fact, I kind of enjoy it. I guess it really upsets the humans though.
Skunk spray isn’t only stinky, it can also pose a danger to your pooch or kitty. Sometimes the spray can get in the curious animal’s eyes causing irritation. If your pet has been sprayed (trust me, you can tell by the smell) and you notice red eyes, tearing, eye rubbing, and above average blinking, they most likely got some in their eyes. As always, a call to your pet’s vet is the most important step to take especially since the oil from the spray can cause other complications like conjunctivitis. After the okay from your vet, you can use sterile saline eye wash to rinse out your pet’s eyes. Now, my mom uses saline solution because she has these little rubber things called contacts. That solution is contact specific. Make sure you use saline eye wash, not the stuff for contacts.
Another thing to check for is wounds. Though a skunks first defense is the spray, they do have sharp teeth and claws. If you see anything, even if it’s little (a small wound could indicate a bite with causes inner damage that isn’t seen from the surface), call your vet. As skunks can also carry rabies, calling your vet is a very important step.
Now, what about the smell? If you don’t already know, water can make the smell even worse and the use of tomatoes doesn’t always work. There is another home remedy that is very useful for not only skunk smell, but any other stinky odor that winds up on your pooch. Just mix 4 cups of hydrogen peroxide with 1/3 cup of baking soda and a little glop of Dawn dish detergent. Give your pet a bath using the mixture instead of shampoo and let it sit on your pup for four or five supervised minutes.
There are times I wish I could have met what I now refer to as the stinky kitty (even though they are more like weasels than kitties), but hearing all the stinky stories make me change my mind. Not because of the smell, of course, but because if I get sprayed, I’ll have to have a bath. I hate baths!
Happy tail wags!
