Remove Skunk Odors Forever

Anyone who’s dealt with trying to remove skunk odors from their dog, home, car, or anything else understands how urgent it is to get rid of the horrible smell a skunk can leave you with. Our dog, Atticus, seems to be one of the dog’s who just doesn’t learn from being sprayed once (or eight times) before. During these experiences, we’ve tried nearly every skunk odor removal recipe, home remedy, and product and thought we could save you some time, effort, and misery by sharing our findings.The first product we’ll be reviewing is Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Removal.

Scientifically Flawed?

Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Removal product falls into the “enzyme-based” odor removal products. The idea of behind enzyme-based products is to literally attack odor-causing bacteria with live enzymes, similar to how an anti-biotic works to kill germs. While this might sound great, the truth is the science behind Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Removal is extremely flawed and, in our opinion, very misleading for a several reasons.

Skunk Odors Aren’t Caused by Bacteria

An enzyme odor remover is based on the idea that bacteria is the source of the odor. While this may be the case in other odor problems, particularly urine odors, the odors created by skunks’ spray are made up of 7 different organic compounds that are released skunks’ anal glands. The odors are not bacteria driven. Rather, skunk spray odors are created by combining specific chemicals together, which are mostly sulfur based and the reason why people say skunk spray smells like rotten eggs. Because skunk odor isn’t created by bacteria, an enzyme based odor remover is ineffective.

Enzymes vs. Alcohol

In order to for an enzyme odor removal product to work, the enzymes must be alive; literally. One of the disadvantages to enzyme-based cleaners is that the odor eating enzymes are very sensitive and easily killed. (For example, exposure to light will kill them, which why they’re never stored in clear bottles.)

In the case of Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover, one of the active ingredients is alcohol. (In fact, there’s more alcohol in the product than enzyme solution.) The alcohol actually kills the live enzymes as soon as they’re mixed in the bottle, making the product more of a masking agent than an odor removal solution.

Alcohol Based Odor Solutions and Your Pet

Another problem with alcohol as an ingredient in Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover is that it’s not good for your pet.

Painful When Used on Cuts and Scrapes

When we first used Nature’s Miracle skunk product, we were surprised when Atticus, our dog, suddenly start crying, yelping, and scrambling in the bathtub. It was only later that we figured out that it was because we were unknowingly pouring alcohol on open wounds, i.e. small scratches and cuts he’d gotten on his nose from his encounter with the skunk. If you’ve ever had alcohol poured on a cut, then you know just how bad it can hurt.

Dangerous When Contacting Dogs Eyes

Alcohol should never be put in contact with a dog’s eyes. Not only will it not feel good, it can cause injuries to the cornea. Often times when dogs are sprayed by a skunk, they get hit right in the face, so it extremely easy to get Nature’s Miracle product in your pup’s eyes.

Dries Out Skin

As you probably already know, alcohol is a very drying substance. (This is why the active ingredient in Swimmer’s Ear is alcohol; to dry up the water deep in the ear.) Although some more than others, dogs coats and skin are usually sensitive. Saturating your pet with an alcohol-based solution can lead to extremely dry skin, shedding, and leave the coat and fur in pretty bad shape. Imagine what your hair would look and feel like if you used alcohol as a shampoo! That’s exactly what you’re doing when using Nature’s Miracle to de-skunk your dog.

Ingredients

Water, isopropyl alcohol, nature’s enzymes, natural citrus scent.

Getting sprayed by a skunk is a traumatic experience for your dog. Fortunately, in most cases, it’s more of a smelly nuisance than a harmful situation. Careful measures can reduce the symptoms and odor.

When a skunk feels threatened, it sprays a fluid that’s stored in its anal sacs. The oily liquid contains organic compounds that produce the potent, characteristic odor. Unfortunately, skunks often targets the face of its opponent, in this case your dog.

The first thing to do when you discover your dog has been sprayed is to check him for injuries. Any serious cuts or scratches should be addressed by a vet. Usually a skunk will try various other methods of defense before spraying a pup, so it’s not uncommon to find scratches, scrapes, or cuts, especially on the dogs nose. If only spraying occurred, determine what parts of the dog’s face or body are affected.

If your dog’s eyes were sprayed, this may cause irritation, watering or even temporary blindness.  Getting sprayed in or around the mouth produces foaming or salivating. The overpowering odor can temporarily affect your dog’s sense of smell. Pawing at the face is common and indicates irritation.

Rarely, chemicals in skunk spray can cause more serious symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, respiratory problems, lethargy, weakness and anemia. If these occur after the dog is sprayed in the face or mouth, see a veterinarian immediately or go to an emergency veterinary clinic. Medical attention is also warranted if there are signs of redness, swelling or tissue damage in or around the mouth or eyes.

In most cases, treatment involves simply removing or neutralizing as much of the spray as possible to reduce irritation and odor. For eyes, dog owners can use an over-the-counter eyewash made for humans. The mouth can be rinsed with cold water mixed with white vinegar. Some dogs don’t like the taste of vinegar, so he or she might try to reject it, but your canine friend will thank you later.

There are several products on the market specifically made for removal of skunk odor. As an alternative, mix one quart of hydrogen peroxide, one cup of baking soda and a tablespoon of dish detergent. Massage this mixture into your dog’s fur and let it sit for several minutes before rinsing off. Repeated treatments may be necessary.

In most cases dogs that are sprayed by skunks won’t experience any longterm health effects. It’s likely that they’ll stink worse than they feel. But, you should take a skunk spraying incident seriously until you’r sure your dog doesn’t have any allergic reactions to the chemicals in the skunk’s spray.

When your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, we of course you want to blame the skunk. But, often times, it’s the dog whose at fault. Dog’s are curious creatures who enjoy chasing small varmints like squirrels, chipmunks, and…yes…skunks.

The Skunk is Afraid of the Dog

When a dog playfully noses a skunk in the bushes while barking, wagging it’s tale, and creating all kinds of other commotion, the skunk feels threatened and enters survival mode. And, as you know, when animals get scared they use whatever natural defense mechanisms they have.

In most cases, the skunk will try a variety of other scare tactics before spraying. They will often first try stamping their feet, hissing, and agressive posturing with their tales. However, if the dog persists then the skunk turns, lifts it’s tail, and sprays that horribly offensive odor, often right in the dog’s face. (An interesting side fact…skunks only have enough “odor juice”, technically called mercaptans, to spray 5-6 times within a 10 day period.)

In some cases, the spray is somewhat accidental and an uncontrollable action. If a dog, especially large dogs, catches the skunk by surprise and he doesn’t have time to take the “spraying position”, the skunk will simply spray without lifting it’s tale. In these cases, the dog will still stink but nothing like if it was a “direct hit”.

So, when your dog comes trotting in the house, reeking of rotten eggs, sulfur, and whatever else, aka sunk spray, realize that it might not have been the skunks fault. After all, the reason a skunk sprays a dog is not out of joy; it’s because the dog scared the heck out of him.