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Skunks usually don’t try to evade an approaching dog. Instead, they will hiss, growl, and stamp their feet to warn the dog off. They have utter confidence in the ability of their chemical bomb to drive away all predators. If the dog keeps its distance, the skunk will usually retreat at a dignified pace. But an incautious dog will get sprayed, and the closer he managed to get, the worse will be the coating of the putrid smelling, oily liquid. Skunks are members of the weasel family, and the second most common carrier of rabies. These cute striped animals are equipped with two internal glands, located at the base of their tails that contain a thick, volatile, oily liquid that contains highly odorous components called thiols. Skunk spray is notoriously difficult to wash away-even with the well-known home remedies of tomato juice, Fels Naptha laundry soap, douche, mouthwash, white vinegar, and on and on. None of these work very well. Enter our hero from Illinois, Paul Krebaum. Paul formulated a compound that could change thiols into other chemicals. The formula is very simple, but cannot be bottled; it will explode any bottle you try to put it in. The recipe is given below. Remember it for the unhappy time when your dog meets that cute black and white in the field. This recipe can be increased for larger dogs.
1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
Mix in bucket or bowl; it will be fizzy. Follow this bath with a thorough rinse.
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Cross Roads Search and Rescue of
Illinois, Inc. |
