What's That Smell?

Spring is rapidly approaching.  Can't you smell it in the air?  I mean that tell-tale sign that spring is coming soon....SKUNK!

It's 10pm.  Time to go to bed. "Honey!  Don't forget to let the cat in before you
come up!" Meanwhile, downstairs, a commotion can be heard. "What is all that noise down there?" Then, as you approach the top of the stairs to see what is going on, it hits you.  That nasty, malodorous stench that can only be one thing - SKUNK!  But how did it get in the house? It's didn't!  The cat did! Poor little skunky kitty trying desperately to escape the smell; all the while rubbing up against the walls, the furniture, YOU!  Your only solution at 10:00pm is to get rid of the cat, sell the house and start over!  But wait, that's not going to work.

Why do skunks smell so bad?  Everyone knows that the skunks spray is its form of defense.  But what you may not know is that a skunk can hit its target up to ten feet away!  So the poor little kitty never had a chance!  But here is a bit more info that you may not know (source www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com) "Six different compounds of sulfur and hydrogen make up the smelly skunk musk. The two musk glands, located near the skunk’s anus, can squirt or spray musk up to ten feet. The odor especially permeates hair or fur, including wool clothing, because it reacts with animal protein, making it smell even worse. But that’s just the beginning. Only three of the compounds stink when first sprayed by the skunk, the other three have a delayed action that kicks in when they contact water, which makes washing counterproductive. That makes you really smelly, really fast."

There are a number of skunk odor removals that you can buy at the local store.  Be aware though - a lot of them have highly toxic chemicals (that's what gets rid of the stink!) and may be harmful not only to your pet but also to you.  Most veterinarians have products available that can be purchased and are much better for the both of you.

A common home non-toxic, eco-friendly remedy can be made to take care of the problem. The most popular solution is made from hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap.  This combination basically neutralizes the chemicals causing the
smell.

Basic recipe is:  1qt 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and a tsp. of liquid soap. 

Simply mix the ingredients together and soak your pet in the solution making sure to keep it out of their eyes.  Rub it through like a shampoo.  Rinse  completely with water until all the solution is out.  You can wet your pet down first to make the solution easier to penetrate but remember, it may be a bit more stinky before it gets better!

Note - Remove all your jewelry before using the solution as the combination may discolor it.  It can also temporarily discolor your pet’s fur but that will go back to normal.  For larger pets you may need a double portion.  And don't forget to do this in clothes that you may not want to keep!

Happy Spring!