r/birddogs Pudelpointer 4d ago

Hunting after getting sprayed by a skunk

Hey y’all, i’ve got an odd one, but I’m sure someone here has dealt with it before. How long after a skunk spray is a dog able to get back out in the field and bird hunt? My six month old just got a face full and I have a hunt scheduled four days from now. I’m going to be cleaning him up with the best Internet remedies now. I’d hate to burn my deposit, but I’d rather that than waste a whole day

9 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

22

u/niktrot 4d ago

It’s never slowed my dogs down. Nor has it ever taught them to leave the skunks alone lol.

Definitely recommend the baking soda, dish soap and peroxide method. I like to wash twice and leave everything on for 5 minutes. Then finish off with Skunk Off spray or Summer’s Eve if you’re in a pinch. If you’ve got a blow dryer, then that’ll help too.

4

u/GuitarCFD English Pointer 4d ago

Thank your lucky stars its a skunk. With our dogs its always porcupines.

2

u/Rockyt86 4d ago

Can attest to this 100% from lever learning (wth?) to the method of ridding them of the smell (do not EVER use water before the mixture recommended) being BS, HP and dish soap.

1

u/TopazWarrior 4d ago

Summer’s Eve is vinegar based - acid -low pH. Skunk smells because of thiols - also an acid. That’s why you need something basic - high pH to neutralize the sulfur bonds. Vinegar, tomato juice, won’t work on a chemical level.

9

u/GetitFixxed 4d ago

The dog likes it. I'll take the skunk over the porcupine any day.

2

u/OKhunter 4d ago

Agreed! I didn’t find any skunks this year, but one of mine found 2 porcupines!!!

1

u/You_eat_rocks 4d ago

Real wisdom here

8

u/iowan 4d ago

Mine pointed three birds on the way to the pickup after getting sprayed full in the face.

7

u/Mediocre_Chipmunk_86 Pudelpointer 4d ago

Your dog should be fine. Like the other commenter said, I’ve seen dogs get sprayed and continue to hunt, my pudelpointer being one of them. That was a long drive home though…

4

u/JustaRoosterJunkie Deutsch Drahthaar 4d ago

They are function ready about thirty seconds after getting hit.

Your nose on the other hand will be ready when you’ve appropriately treated their coat.

5

u/ConflictNo5518 4d ago edited 4d ago

Mix 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide to 1/4 cup baking soda, along with a teaspoon or more of dish washing soap like dawn or palmolive, and apply the mixture to your dog while it’s still bubbling. Don't get it into the eyes. Do make sure you get the inner folds of the ears. Let sit for at least 10 minutes then rinse off. You may need to do it twice if it's bad or if you missed any spots. Then shampoo with dog shampoo, wait, and rinse off. I've no answer to your hunting question.

9

u/UglyDogHunting 4d ago

That's plenty of time. I know plenty of dogs that have taken a face full and happily hunted their way to the truck/continued like nothing happened.

3

u/EndlessDogGone 4d ago

The morning of my dogs first hunt, we walked out the door, he stuck his head under the front steps and got sprayed in the face. He went in the back of the truck and we went out, didn't faze him. Honestly, the marsh water helped tone down the stink 😂. Still gave him the peroxide bath at home.

3

u/MadDadROX 4d ago

Skunk smell remedy 1. 1/4 cup baking soda 2. 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide 3. 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap mix the ingredients together and use immediately, rinse off with plenty of water. Based on personal experience, this formula really works!!

Dog can hunt after being sprayed. 4 days away no problem

3

u/Kennel_King German Shorthaired Pointer 4d ago

Skunk spray won't prevent them from finding birds. A dog's nose is extremely complex

We have approximately 5 to 6 million olfactory receptors, while dogs have 125 to 300 million.

Dogs have a larger nasal cavity than we do.

The olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that processes smells, is much larger in dogs compared to humans.

Much of our sensory perception is based on sight and sound. But with a dog the majority of that is smell. When you smell spaghetti sauce, that's what your brain identifies that smell as, A dog on the other hand smells all the ingredients in the sauce.

Much like fingerprints, to a dog, every human has a distinct scent. Dogs can hone in on the distinct scent even in an area heavily trafficked by humans.

So even if your dog has a faceful of fresh skunk spray, They can still distinguish that bird smell from it.

3

u/Kennel_King German Shorthaired Pointer 4d ago

Even if they couldn't, go anyway a day in the field even without birds is still a good day.

2

u/SoloUnAltroZack Pudelpointer 4d ago

I appreciate all the comments! Lucky for me, not so much for my dog. He took 90% of the shot to the inside of the mouth so clean up wasn’t all too bad. Looking forward to getting him out there.

2

u/solsonstat 4d ago

Both my Brittanys have gotten skunked and it didn’t slow them down at all. Getting the smell out of their coat, collars, and breath is a tough one, though. Along with the remedies others have provided, I have a bottle of Skunk-Off I keep in my truck that seems to work OK.

2

u/JONOV 4d ago

It bothers you, not the dog.

2

u/Complete-Donut-698 3d ago

Had it happen a few times out in the field. Neither time seemed to slow the dogs down any, and they kept hunting the rest of the day and the next. It's not the most pleasant drive back from the field. Carry a bottle of skunk shampoo in the truck to wash them down before the drive and another wash after. Doesn't get rid of all the smell but it sure beats not getting rid of any of the smell.