Has Your Dog Been Skunked ? by George Jones         For many dog owners one of life's most unpleasant experiences is that of your pet's being sprayed by a skunk.  Many people assume that this problem is limited to rural areas.  This is not the case; skunks inhabit urban areas as well.  In many areas the skunk population is relatively high, therefore skunk spaying is not an uncommon occurrence.
        In the event that your pet has been sprayed by a skunk, your first course of action will probably be to eliminate the odor.  There are several commercial products on the market to eliminate your pet's odor.  Many people rely on tomato juice.  This remedy may be old fashioned - but it works.  First bathe the dog in soap (shampoo) and water.  Rinse thoroughly. Squeeze out the excess water.  Next pour on tomato juice, straight out of the can.  Let the juice soak the dog's coat for about ten minutes.  Follow up the soak with a complete rinse.
        Prevention in many cases is a matter of minimizing the skunk contact risks, but nothing is 100% fool proof.  When outdoors keep your dog in site and under control.  Do not allow your dog to roam free.  Keep your garbage cans covered to reduce their attracting Skunks into your yard.  Finally, be sure that your dog's vaccinations are current.  Skunks are common carriers of rabies.
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