Our Two Outside Dogs
By CatsandDogs
@CatsandDogs (13963)
United States
February 1, 2011 3:14pm CST
Got sprayed by a skunk! They're both inside a fence but somehow a skunk was able to spray them! Oh the smell is awful! I guess it must've came too close to the fence and the dogs went to check it out and that's how they got sprayed. UGH!! I went out to give them fresh water, a couple of milk bones and of course some attention and couldn't stand the smell of them! Then I realized the smell is in my hands and so of course I washed my hands but the smell wouldn't go away! OMG! So hubby told me to use tomato sauce for it will get rid of the smell. I couldn't get a can of it opened fast enough! LOL I rubbed it all over my hands once and rinsed it off and did it again but this time with soap in the mixture and it worked like a charm! So if you ever run into a skunk and/or get it on you, use tomato sauce! It worked for me!
Now being that it's winter time, we can't put the tomato sauce on the dogs because it's too cold. It's suppose to rain like mad tonight but still, I don't want to put my dogs through that even though the rain will rinse them off. They have a couple of dog houses to get into and one is right big which has a heater inside but still, I don't feel comfortable doing that to them. Do you think it's safe? I don't want them to get sick but there again, they'll get wet from the rain because they don't care if it rains or shines, they get out and in the middle of it regardless of what kind of weather we're having then they'll go back inside their warm dog house when they want to.
Wish we could be so tough! lol
7 people like this
11 responses
@lisa0502 (1724)
• Canada
1 Feb 11
I would have to say that it all depends on temperature. I would not do it if it gets real cold out. With our outside dog we bring him in in the winter and bath him then once he is almost dry or dry he goes back outside. In the summer months he gets a bath outside or at the doggie wash. So it all depends on weather.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
1 Feb 11
Our dogs are big dogs.... they're German Shepherds. They're not coming inside our house especially the way they smell. I'd be gagging for sure! lol I think I'll wait till Spring to give them a bath and it'll be outside with the hose. By then the smell will have disapated. Hopefully anyways.
@AmbiePam (85469)
• United States
2 Feb 11
My dad lived in the country, and he got sprayed by a skunk once when he and his brothers and sisters were out picking blackberries. They used tomato juice, and it didn't work. But of course they didn't use tomato sauce like you did. The juice was the only tomato like thing they had. I'm glad to know now though that tomato sauce works. Plus some soap.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Feb 11
Ohhhhhh your poor dad!! 
I know I liked to have gagged when I smelled my hands! I can't imagine having it all over my body! That is a REAL nightmare! Poor guy! Tomato sauce works like a charm! The first time was just plain ole tomato sauce then I mixed the two, soap and tomato sauce together and washed my hands in that and it worked GREAT! So now you know! lol
I know I liked to have gagged when I smelled my hands! I can't imagine having it all over my body! That is a REAL nightmare! Poor guy! Tomato sauce works like a charm! The first time was just plain ole tomato sauce then I mixed the two, soap and tomato sauce together and washed my hands in that and it worked GREAT! So now you know! lol1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Feb 11
tomato juice will work if you shake it up; so its thisk and use on of the better brands as I used it to unskunk smell myself and save my brand new jacket too. my e yes got the brunt and my nom's quick thinking in washing my eyes out with dilute boric acid solution it cut the acid in the skunk soray and really it saved my sight as that stuff burns and could have scarred my eyes.
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb 11
Oh Dear the poor Babies lol
I have never come across a Skunk I don't even know if we have them in the UK lol, but I do not think there will ever be a chance of Gissi getting sprayed, but if we did have them oh yes he would be sprayed because he would go up to it all wagging Tail to sniff lol
I am glad you got the poor Babies sorted lol
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
18 Feb 11
They don't stink anymore! lol We had a rainy day so hubby doused them with tomato sauce and it did the trick! Chloe has some of the sauce still in her hind quarters even though it's been done about two weeks ago. lol Silly girl she is!
I sure hope you DON'T have any skunks there! They're horrible little creatures when they spray! But that's their defense mechanisium but wish it weren't!
But that's their defense mechanisium but wish it weren't!
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
2 Feb 11
I'm sorry cats, if I had any tips I'd give it to you, but I am afraid, tomato juice and vinegar are the only way to lessen the smell. I say lessen, because years ago when my dalmatian got sprayed, (fortunately it was summer time) I washed her twice in tomato juice and even rinsed her coat with vinegar, and though she smelled good enough to come inside, there was a distinct lingering of skunk for months afterwards.. So either bring them in and bath them, or leave them outside, is the only options I have for you..Or if you are worried about the cold, you can try to use a hair blow dryer on them to dry their coat quicker..
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
2 Feb 11
Or maybe because she was close when she got it..I about saw it happen, see I let her out and immediately she saw this skunk. Being that she was deaf, I couldn't tell her to stop unless she was looking at me, so she took off after it, cornering it up against our house. I came around the side just in time to see my dog step back and swipe at her face, the smell told me everything I needed to know and I ran back inside..Like I said, it was summer, and this was at 9 or 10 at night, so I made her stay outside all night..She usually slept inside, but I think she understood I was not bringing her in, so she just laid out in her doghouse quietly all night long.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Feb 11
Really? It didn't work for your dalmatian? That's strange because it worked like a charm on my hands. But there again, dogs and humans are different and maybe that's why? I'm going to wait till spring before giving them a bath.... outside with a water hose. lol I can't let them inside and stink up my house. Oh noooooo. lol
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
2 Feb 11
OMG. poor babies and you to. maybe someone can give some advice for cleaning them sooner. because they are still going to run to you for loving, every time you go out. and what about their house? wont it hold the smell? a heated dog house? i never knew. whats it heated with?
cool. 
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Feb 11
Hi bunnybon! The smell will eventually wear off but for now we'll just have to keep them at arms length. When I was a kid, we had two large dogs outside and one would get sprayed by a skunk every now and then. At that time, we didn't know what to do to help him so we didn't do anything and the smell went away on it's own in about a month or two. It was AWFUL! lol BLA!
The dog house has a door so that we can get inside as well as a doggie door on the bottom for them to go in. We'll have to open it up to air it out. It has lamanate floors so the smell should be easy to remove.... hopefully.
It's heated by small portable space heater that hubby put in there and in such a way that they can't get to it, wires and all are covered. We also have a window unit for air conditioning too. Hey, it gets hot here in North Carolina! lol
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
2 Feb 11
wow, your babies are so well taken care of! that is so cool. rich dogs.
1 person likes this
@Milkypink26 (324)
• Philippines
1 Feb 11
Hello. Poor dogs.
Does skunk's spray really smells bad?
I'm not sure if we have those here though.
I've seen on one movie that an actor is using tomato sauce when he was sprayed by skunks. However, I've read some articles and said that tomato sauce doesn't work with dogs. I'm not sure really as I have never been there.
I also found articles on removing the smell of dog, you might want to check. :)
www.burbmom.net/dog-vs-skunk-a-home-remedy-that-works/
www.wikihow.com/deskunk-your-dog
by the way, I love the picture of the dogs! :)
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
2 Feb 11
Oh yeah, the smell is super bad Milkypink. Occasionally when we are driving and go past where a skunk sprayed, even in the car with the windows up, I have to hold my breath..
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Feb 11
OMG YES!! Skunk's STINK to high heaven! Like carmelanirel said, she has to hold her breath even with the windows up, I do too and/or I'll put my face into a cloth of some sort to take a breath. It's horrible! Have you ever seen a skunk before? I've attached a picture of one for you to see. They're cute little creatures but don't ever get near one! They will turn around and spray you! UGH!
Thanks for the links! Very much appreciated! And thanks for your comment about my dogs!
1 person likes this
@Milkypink26 (324)
• Philippines
2 Feb 11
@carmela: It sounded like its really an awful smell. I'm thinking if a fruit here we call "durian" has the same smell as the skunk. hehe
@CatsandDogs: Aw. Hope the dogs will be fine. Yes, I have seen those on movies, cartoons and such. :) Thanks for posting a picture for me. :)
I love dogs too and just get worried about other dogs.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Feb 11
hicatsanddogs oh yes even just plain old tomato juice will do the trick and I had reason to learn that. we had a big tom c at with unusaual black and white markings enough that some looked at him and thought he ew was really a skunk.he had the unfortunate habit on cold days of going into the hen house and curling up in a warm nest.okay it was getting dark and iI was sent to gather eggs.I came to the one nest where our big tom who looked like a skunk liked to surl up and sleep. I though it was him and grabbed him and oh my G od I got hit in the eyes with burning horrid skunk spray and oh my g how that stung. I ran to the house my dad behind me and he told my mom to wash my eyes out with warm boric acdd solution and she did. the burning stopped and I swear I believe she saved my sight too. so my new jacked got washed in tomato juice. and my mnom sort of wiped me all ove with the stuff too. but it got rid of that odor fast.
if you can get the skunk odor out of your dogs I would let them sleep in the house that one night.You could warm the tomato juice up just to make it luke warm, wash them down then let them in. pood dogs in an ice storm.wow
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
3 Feb 11
OMG! What a story Hatley! WOW..... It's funny that you thought it was your cat but not funny that you got hurt. It's a good thing that your parents knew what to do and in such a hurry! What a TRUE tale to tell!
My dogs are fine sweetie, we have a heated dog house for them as well as two outside dog houses so they can choose where they want to go into. The smell has dyed down a little bit, to a point where it's managable so I'm going to wait till Spring to give them a bath. By then the smell should be gone. Maybe.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
1 Feb 11
oMGOSH, THAT'S AWFUL. Glad u didn't get sprayed that would have been worse.I have always heard tomato juice would take the smell away. Thank goodness i have never had to try it, lol. Is there anyway u could blowdry the dogs if u do that? wouldn't have to have them completely dry because as u say they'll stand out in the weather no matter what. U don't need to be outside messing around in that weather to start with. U better take care of yourself, lady.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Feb 11
Tell me about it Jo! They really stink! They're too big to be brought inside and control so they're staying outside. Spring is coming and if the smell isn't gone by then, then we'll chain them up and give them a bath then. Tomato juice or sauce, what ever with tomatoes, it works like a charm! Don't worry, I'm thinking of myself first. I've been too sick and for too long, I'm not taking any chances. No way. Hugs!
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
1 Feb 11
When I lived with outside dogs my vet told me that tomato juice would work to get rid of the smell. You might want to call your vet and ask what to use in your particular circumstances. I don't know as the odor will dissipate all that much over time but you can always ask the vet. Good luck with your smelly doggies.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Feb 11
When I was a young girl, we had two outside dogs and one of them would get sprayed by a skunk every now and then and it would dissipate over time. It took a lot of time, something like a month or two for it to go away. If mine still stink come spring, they'll get their bath then.... outside. Yeah, I need that luck with my smelly doggies! 
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
4 Feb 11
Hi Cats! I have an outside dog that seems to suffer the heat more than the cold! In the winter I bathe her indoors, keep her in with the heater on until she is mostly dry and then I let her go out where she is happiest. In your situation I can see the urgency in getting rid of the skunk smell and although you have probably resolved the issue by now, I would suggest that unless you can bring the dogs inside for a bath you may have to wait until the weather warms up and do the tomato sauce and wash trick which by the way is something I didn’t know! I don’t come across too many skunks where I live but it sure is useful to know how to get rid of the smell!
1 person likes this
@virdell1 (57)
• United States
2 Feb 11
EWWWWW!! I'm so sorry your dogs were skunked! The poor things must be miserable with that skunk oil on them. Tomatoe juice is what my relatives have used to remove the smell from their dogs also. Others have used dawn dish washing soap because it does better at getting the oil out of the fur.
Hope you manage to get rid of the awful odor soon.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
3 Feb 11
Trust me, that's what we said too! Ewwwwww!! Then we ran back in the house! lol The smell was horrible! But it's dyed down a little bit to the point it's managable. We're going to wait till Spring to give them a bath. By then, the smell might be gone but they'll still get that bath which they so need.
