Skunked!

If any of you have pets that go outside, here's a little tidbit for you! My old coonhound, Barney never met a skunk he didn't feel the need to chase. Barney spent many nights outside wallowing in self-pity and skunk odor. I tried everything on the market and even the stuff from the Vet...nothing would work.

Fast forward ten years. Our tom kitty, Tigger...fearless an animal if there ever was one decided to tangle with a skunk about 10 or 11 days ago. Full frontal assault...you could see the yellow spray on his pristine white throat and chest. Poor baby.

Well, he stunk so bad that you could smell him coming so that put the kibosh on his hunting. He stunk so bad that the dogs would bark at crazy like him so we couldn't put the habeaus grabbus on him. FINALLY, we snagged him this afternoon. Hubby (who is afraid of cats but won't admit it) put on elbow high leather gloves and his heaviest winter coat. He was the cat wrangler. I got to put my hands near the mandibles of death and mayhem. Wooo hooo.

A very good friend of mine emailed me a tried and true deskunker potion....let me tell you...it worked and it worked beautifully. It was pretty harmless and cheap to boot (although I would have gladly payed bookoo bucks for something that worked). Here is what we did:

Mix:
1 qt hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup baking soda
2 tbsp Dawn dishwashing liquid

Soak offending critter in said solution as long as critter will tolerate. Rinse. Repeat if necessary.

I mixed a gallon of it and put it in a bucket. Hubby held a very unhappy Tigger by the neck and rear end and partially submerged him. We did not put any of the solution on his face or head...he didn't stink there and I was afraid it would be too hard to rinse. I sloshed the solution on him and rubbed it in as best I could while dodging the stray swipe or claw.

He is now recuperating from the humiliation by hiding under my bed. Our 7 month old Mastiff puppy is *trying* to help him, but Tigger is in no mood for puppy kisses no matter how well intended.


The whole point of this missive is to hopefully help anyone that ends up with a pet that gets skunked!

Michelle in Michigan