Removing Skunk Odor
If your rottie is skunked, you may have heard that using tomato juice will clean it right up. The tomato-juice myth has been around for a long time, even though it doesn't work. The truth is that the person who is bathing the dog in tomato juice gets used to the skunk smell (their olfactory senses have been overloaded) and eventually can't smell it. Other home remedies, such as douche or dandruff shampoos, won't remove the smell either. Instead, purchase a good commercial skunk odor remover or use this do-it-yourself remedy:
1 quart hydrogen peroxide
¼ cup baking soda
1 tsp dog shampoo
Mix it together, and wash your rottie with it. Be careful and keep the solution out of his eyes. Rinse thoroughly. Throw out any leftover solution because it can explode if kept in a container. This really works, and he might end up smelling better than before he got skunked.
Skunks are carriers of rabies. If your rottie catches and kills one, you may have more trouble than just the skunk odor. Handle the dead skunk with rubber gloves and bag it. Have the state health department check it for rabies, and talk to your vet about getting a rabies booster for your rottie.
