On Saturday the Cowboy encountered a skunk and came off the worse for it. Ever since then I have eagerly sought remedies for his condition.
- There is general agreement that tomato juice Does Not Work, although I recall using it to good effect on the late great Jake.
- A normal bath was no help at all. Skunk overpowers the nicest doggy shampoo.
- A disaster cleanup technician recommended ammonia for the dog, and smoke bombs for the skunks, who seem to have taken up residence under the deck . . . or in the crawlspace, but I haven’t been able to deal with that possibility yet, so I’m still officially in denial. I pondered that solution for a day or so, worried about putting the dog in an ammonia bath.
- Neighbor Arleen Westhoven, a certified dog lover and a naturalist, recommended a potion she said would absolutely do the trick, so off I went to buy lemon juice, extra baking soda, Dawn dish detergent, and hydrogen peroxide. “Equal parts,” she advised.
∞
I inventoried my supplies and decided to make two cups of the stuff for the first experiment. Half a cup of baking soda – check. Half a cup of hydrogen peroxide – check. Half a cup of lemon j–whoa! The potion bubbled up like a middle school science experiment gone wrong, and flowed over the bathroom counter and across the floor. The Cowboy looked very dubious. Miss Sadie hid under my desk.
I persisted. Skunked dog is not a nice aroma. A new potion was brewed, this time in a larger container, with the lemon juice added last. It still bubbled up convincingly, but this time it stayed in the cauldron – er, pyrex bowl. Plop the Cowboy in the tub. Work quantities of potion through his fur. Wait a bit. Sniff. Rinse. Repeat. Most of the day was occupied with potion brewing and application. The deck rail is festooned with drying towels and dogwashing clothes. The Cowboy still smells of skunk, with a nice overlay of lemon. He is bearable. My son says that, as with so much in life, the only real cure is time. He is probably right.
Torch Lake Views 
Leslie Smyers
August 30, 2008
OH MY GOSH!
uphilldowndale
August 30, 2008
I don’t know how it smells, we don’t have skunks over here; but if there were a cure other than time, you can bet some one would be selling it, for loads of money!
Gerry Sell
August 30, 2008
I knew the wolves were gone–and the bears too I think?–but I’m astonished that England is bereft of skunks. They’re quite pretty, actually, fluffy, with black fur and an attractive white stripe. I have some I could let you have quite cheaply. Let me know . . .
Katy
September 1, 2008
Picture me at 6am in the suburbs taking Kramer the Aussie outside quickly so I can catch a 7:30am flight. Kramer and I see skunk at the same moment. He wins. I lose. Scene 2: me in my underwear in the driveway throwing cans of stewed tomatoes on Kramer’s head. Kramer shaking wildly. Stewed tomatoes on underwear clad woman screaming profanities at dog now out of sight in bushes. Scene 3: Heads turning at airport at a peculiar odor wafting from an otherwise normal looking business traveler. Odor persists through several days of showers and chemicals. Scene 4: Kramer happily greets owner home from her travels. All is forgiven. Until the next time. Which there was.
Gerry Sell
September 1, 2008
Oh my, Katy. The NEXT TIME??!!?? No. The Cowboy and I will have to come to an understanding, else I will follow your example and throw cans of tomatoes at his head. There’s a song in here somewhere – or at least another verse for Louan’s “Singing in the Nude.” Something about swearing in the underwear – and underneath our business suits we’re all, well, skunked . . .
uphilldowndale
September 2, 2008
No, no skunks, we have badgers which look just as pretty (if you can see in the dark,as they are nocturnal and shy) but they have the big advantage that they are odourless.
On Cowboys behalf, can I ask, do you have cartons of tomatoes in the US, or at least a tin opener.
Gerry Sell
September 2, 2008
Badgers. I admire badgers, and very much wanted to see some in England, but didn’t. Next time.
We do indeed have cartons of tomatoes, and bushel baskets full right now in Antrim County. What do you think, Katy? Should we give the pooches a break and open the cans first?
(I can see it now – Torch Lake Views will be condemned all over the blogosphere for advocating dog abuse. If only you could see the fluffy-and still smelly-miscreant lounging on the sofa right now.)