Unstinking a Skunked Dog – A Product Review

Recently a uskb-list member posted an inquiry about de-skunking a dog. The most recent edition of The Whole Dog Journal just came in the mail, and they have an article entitled, “Unstinking a Skunked Dog.” They rate some of the products available and state, ” Where have these products been all of our lives? They are a million times more effective than tomato juice, and available at your local pet supply store.” The publication is not supported by any advertising sales in an effort to safeguard their editorial independence.

They rated each product by giving it 0 to 4 paws. Zero has no redeeming value and a four paws rating is as good as it gets. My brief summary of the article is below.

One Paw = De-Skunk (Synergy Labs, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954 525-1133)
When they opened it, it had a bad chemical smell that was so replusive, they refused to put it on the dog.

Three Paws = Pet Odor Eliminator ( Beaumont Products, Inc. Kennesaw, GA (800) 451-7096 citrusmagic.com)
The skunk odor did fade as the dog dried, but it was not completely gone. However, you did have to really lean into the dog’s coat to pick up the smell.

Three Paws = Pureayre Odor Eliminator (Clean Earth Inc., Bellevue, WA (425) 881-5482, pureayre.com)
The product has a mild peppermint fragrance. It did bring on the skunk smell again when it was applied, but improved the odor as the dog dried. It is labeled as child-and pet-safe.

Four Paws = Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover ( Eight in One Pet Products, Hauppauge, NY (877) 880-8855
Unlike some other products it did not sting the person’s eyes or skin, and the dog did not seem to mind it at all. The smell was eliminated and the coat was nice and soft. They were very impressed with the “gauranteed or your money back” statement. Their advise was, “If you live in an area where skunks are a hazard, buy and keep Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover on hand. It’s amazing.”

Carol Kearney
www.uskbtc.com/heritage