We begin this week’s “RUFF TAILS” featuring a beautiful 4-month-old Shetland Sheep dog named Monty.
Monty came to us 2 months ago and he is the youngest and the largest of his litter of 8 brothers and sisters.
Monty is a very confident lad with a curious nature and already a bit of a stubborn streak.
Monty met with Paul (and us) 2 weeks ago and is starting to show that he can pay attention, do what he is asked to do, and walk nicely with us.
He likes to snuggle with us on the couch, have his tummy rubbed, and has already become a loveable member of our family.
Welcome to Doggie Dialogue
We know when our dogs get “skunked” our first instinct is to quickly bring our K9 into the house and bathe them. However, it is recommended to keep your dog outside when they get skunked, while you remove the skunk spray from your K9’s coat.
When beginning this process please keep your K9 safely contained in your yard and away from the skunk. The skunk oil on your K9’s coat will linger in the air until your dog gets cleaned up. (instead on lingering in your home)
What is skunk spray? Skunks produce the spray in their anal glands as a defense mechanism against predators and it contains sulfurous chemicals.
Since skunks can spray this liquid as far as 15 feet it’s common for dogs to get sprayed directly in the face.
The first step to take when your K9 has been sprayed is to check their eyes. If your K9’s eyes are red or irritated, flush them immediately with cool water.
Second step, wash your K9 outside. Most people use a tomato juice bath, but for effectiveness we recommend a top-rated skunk shampoo made for dogs. Today there are many effective de-skunking products on the market.
Paul has always made his own skunk shampoo using 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. (No stronger then 3%) When this solution is mixed use it immediately. Paul uses rubber gloves and works the solution into our dog’s coat. Do not leave this solution on their fur too long, since peroxide can bleach the fur. Rinse completely, avoiding the eye area. Remember you may have to repeat the process more than once. When bathing is complete, towel dry your dog off and let them finish drying in a warm room.
Remember to wash your own clothes using your regular laundry soap and half a cup of baking soda to help remove the odour.
NOTE: If making your own skunk shampoo, DO NOT store D.I.Y. solutions in a closed container, it can explode.
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