
Author TB Thompson DVM has been a licensed, practicing veterinarian since 2000.
I got a very interesting email from Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 the other day about a dog who got sprayed by a skunk.
Now, I practiced in the Southeastern part of the U.S. for years and have seen my share of “skunked” dogs. I fondly remember working overnight emergency clinic shifts and hearing the staff implore callers not to bring their dog to the clinic for skunk spray treatment. Then they’d give them a recipe for a homemade anti-skunk shampoo and breathe a sigh of relief.
You see, every time a skunked dog walked in the front door, within a few minutes the eye-stinging odor spread throughout the entire building. And in most cases dogs were still healthy except for runny eyes. The best solution was to simply bathe them and wait for the lingering odor to wear off.
Skunk Toxic Shock
Most dogs who get sprayed by a skunk have relatively mild symptoms that may include excessive tearing and redness of the eyes, drooling and shaking their head. However, skunk spray can occasionally cause life-threatening problems for dogs.
In the story from PPH, the dog in question had a very uncommon reaction to being sprayed by a skunk. As they told it, the dog was a Jack Russell terrier who chased a skunk into a big stack of hay bales. The skunk got away but it sprayed the dog first.

The dog apparently got stuck in the stack of bales for several hours. By the time his owner found him, he was “cold and purple.” A purple/blue color to the gums and skin can indicate poor circulation and/or poor blood oxygenation.
Some call this “Skunk Toxic Shock” which occurs in rare cases, according to the toxicologists at Pet Poison Helpline.
WF Wood explained in The Chemical Educator journal that there are thiol compounds in skunk spray. These smelly organic chemicals can damage a dog’s red blood cells. The damaged cells make it so the cells can’t carry oxygen, hence the purple color of the dog’s skin in the story. The condition is most likely to occur when a dog is sprayed in a closed area like a skunk den (or a stack of baled hay).
The dog was hospitalized and treated for several days. He was so anemic he eventually required two blood transfusions! The good news is that he made a full recovery with this careful treatment.
What to Do If Your Dog Gets Sprayed by a Skunk
Editor’s Note: NaturalPetsHQ.com is supported by readers and may earn for purchases made through links in this post.
This story is a good reminder that we need to be careful any time our pets are exposed to even normally mild toxins like skunk spray.
If your dog gets sprayed, keep him in an open area with good airflow. Wash him well as soon as possible to decrease the concentration of the toxic compounds in the skunk spray. You can use a commercial product such as Skunk Off if you have it on hand or try this homemade formula we used to share with clients at the emergency clinic.
Anti-Skunk Spray Shampoo for Dogs
- 32 fl. oz./1 liter fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of liquid soap (dish soap or hand soap)
Mix ingredients well in a large glass or plastic bowl or bucket. Rinse the dog well with water then apply the mixture to the coat, rubbing it in well. Wait 5 minutes then rinse well.
You can also put it in a spray bottle for easy application.
CAUTIONS:
- Be careful not to get it in the dog’s eyes.
- Don’t store the mixture in a bottle as it will explode.
- Keep away from open flames as the mixture is flammable.
- Discard unused mixture as it does not store well.
This anti-skunk remedy will reduce the odor and make it less likely to cause severe symptoms. You can repeat the anti-skunk bath every few days.
However, it can take several weeks for the odor to completely fade. Don’t worry, you’ll probably get used to it after just a few days ; ).
When to See a Veterinarian
If your pup shows symptoms like trouble breathing, weakness or vomiting after being sprayed by a skunk, take him to the nearest veterinary clinic immediately.
Pet Poison Helpline is an amazing resource in cases of skunk spray toxicity and can be reached at (855) 764-7661.