In the summer, lots of people enjoy taking their pets camping with them, or spending a lot more time outside. While summer is the perfect time for hiking in the woods or barbequing in the backyard, there are always dangers of being outside at this time. Skunks also like to enjoy the summer weather, and may be roaming about near your pets. Naturally, cats and dogs are curious, and they may try to approach a skunk, only to get a smelly surprise. If your pet is sprayed by a skunk, you will want to follow these tips to bathe him or her and remove the stench.

Before you handle your animal, you should put on some clothes you don't mind throwing away. The skunk stench is almost impossible to remove from clothing, so it's best if you wear something you won't miss. The spray that the skunk showered all over your animal is actually a type of oil, so it is hard to get out of fabric. Don't let your pet lay on carpet or a bed after he or she has been sprayed. Anything that the animal touches while still wet with the spray will be ruined. You don't want the odor-ridden oils in your house, so keep your animal outside. Find out where the spray hit your animal. If you have a long haired dog or cat, you may be able to comb or cut out some of the oily substance.

You can use paper towels or disposable rags to soak up some of the spray before your wash your pet. Only wipe where the oils are located, because if you rub your dog all over chances are that you will spread the spray all over the fur and make the problem worse. When trying to wash the stinky liquid out of your animal's fur, don't bathe him or her in a bath or wash all over the animal's body. Oils spread easily. While you may wash the oil out of one section of fur, it might be slathered all over another section. Instead, just clean the affected area. You will probably have to wash your pet multiple times, but save the overall bath until the third or fourth washing. You may even want to take your pet to the groomers for a thorough professional cleaning.

The most important element of washing skunk spray off of your pet is immediate action. If you fail to begin the washing process until after the skunk oil has dried, then you may end up with a sulfuric-smelling per for up to two years. It will be especially bad whenever your dog gets wet. That's why you should first wash the sprayed area thoroughly with a dog shampoo. Do this multiple times, and then purchase a de-skunking product at your local pet store. There are some special cleaners that are perfect for removing this awful odor from your pet's coat.

If you cannot find any de-skunking products, you can try an old fashioned method. Historically, people used tomato juice to get rid of the stench. If your dog or cat has a white coat, however, the tomato juice could leave a stain that would take a while to remove. You can also try treating your pet's fur with mouthwash to take the scent away. Skunks tend to aim for the pet's head when they spray. Often a dog will sniff this stinky animal and then receive the punishment for doing so. If your pet inhaled the oil, then he or she may have eye, nose, or throat irritation. Rinse these areas with water if you believe that they were affected, and then observe your pet. If he or she paws at his or her eyes or nose, or refuses to eat, then you should contact a veterinarian. The irritation could lead to a condition or infection if you are not careful.