VT: from personal experience with a long-haired dog hit by a skunk, the magic solution to get rid of the smell and clean him up is a pre-packaged, pre-mixed vinegar and water solution made by companies like Massengill. :true: This is from a recommendation by the dog groomer.
It is the acid in the tomato juice that neutralizes the smell. Vinegar is acidic and does the same thing. The diluted solution is gentler on the dog's eyes / ears / face (as opposed to straight vinegar). It comes in pre-mixed disposable squirt bottles for ease of preparation and disposal. The vinegar and water solution is a LOT less messy, gooey than tomato juice and you can pretty much just throw the dog in the shower (or in the yard now), wash him down with the "solution", hose him down, and dry him off with a towel.
We now keep a package of several bottles on hand for just such emergencies.
We used to use the tomato juice and that was really a freakin' mess. This stuff works so much better. Prude that I am, I hate buying it at the store, so I send the wife. Of course, I then have the task of cleaning the dog. She wins.
It is the acid in the tomato juice that neutralizes the smell. Vinegar is acidic and does the same thing. The diluted solution is gentler on the dog's eyes / ears / face (as opposed to straight vinegar). It comes in pre-mixed disposable squirt bottles for ease of preparation and disposal. The vinegar and water solution is a LOT less messy, gooey than tomato juice and you can pretty much just throw the dog in the shower (or in the yard now), wash him down with the "solution", hose him down, and dry him off with a towel.
We now keep a package of several bottles on hand for just such emergencies.
We used to use the tomato juice and that was really a freakin' mess. This stuff works so much better. Prude that I am, I hate buying it at the store, so I send the wife. Of course, I then have the task of cleaning the dog. She wins.
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