Don’t Panic – We Can Help By: Karlie RVT

As we get into the warmer weather, something that we tend to see quite a bit of is our patients getting a little too friendly with skunks.

Here is a little background information on our little visitors:

1) Skunks do not usually spray a target unless they are feeling scared or threatened. Even then, they do try to warn you and other animals that they are not happy before they start spraying. You can usually see them hissing or stomping their feet to try to get you to back off.

2)    Although skunks do not have very good vision, their sense of smell and hearing is excellent, which makes their aiming almost spot on.

3) Skunks are generally most active around dusk or dawn, as this is usually when they are on the hunt for food.

4) These little guys have the potential to be carriers of the rabies virus, which is just another reason why having your pets up-to-date with their vaccinations is so important.

5) Lastly, they are said to have the ability to be able to spray up to 5 meters. Gross!

 

If your pet does happen to get sprayed by a skunk, not to worry, we can help. There are two products that we always have in stock. One being a shampoo and the other a soaker. The Skunk-Off shampoo works exactly like any other shampoos you would you use, and you can use it as often as necessary. Keep in mind that the skunk smell does get stronger when your pet is wet.  Its main purpose is to break down the oils from the skunk’s spray to make it easier to remove the odor from the hair and skin of your pet. The soaker can then be used just like you would Febreze. You can spray it on the hair of your pet after a bath, as well as any clothing, carpets, or upholstery that have the smell lingering in them.

 

Every once in a while, it will happen that a skunk sprays your pet in the eyes. The spray acts like a tear gas, potentially causing temporary blindness and damage to the cornea of the eye. In cases like this, you can flush your pet’s eye out with a saline flush. If this does not seem to do the trick, then we would recommend having your pet seen by a Veterinarian.

 

If you happen to have any other questions or concerns, you can give us a call anytime. Hope you and your furry friends stay safe this summer!