My Pet World: New products good weapons against skunk smell

Q: We can hardly go outdoors without smelling a skunk. Moreover, our dog has now had two close encounters, which created such a terrible a stink in our home that we needed professionals to de-skunk the place. Any advice? -- B.H., Grand Rapids, MI

Q: Last month, Windsor, our Boxer-mix was skunked, and our entire family -- not to mention Windsor -- suffered for days. Tomato juice and water helped some, but not enough. Do you have a recipe for getting the skunk smell off dogs? -- J.A., Minneapolis, MN

A: I once offered the following recipe, which is still posted many places on the Internet:

First, get a clothespin -- for your nose. Now, wipe your pet down with a solution of one-quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup sodium bicarbonate and one-teaspoon liquid dish soap. Next, dunk the pet in a bath of two parts tomato juice and one part lukewarm water.

This "recipe" works adequately, but I developed it 20 years ago. Today, you can do better by buying one of many commercial products specifically made to clean skunked dogs. For my money, your best bet is Fresh Wave pet shampoo (www.freshwaveworks.com, and various retailers). It's all natural, and actually zaps odors rather than masking them. Simultaneously, treat your house with Fresh Wave crystal gel, soy candle and/or Fresh Wave spray.

So, you never need to deal with skunk spray again, don't leave your dog outdoors unsupervised, particularly in the evening (since skunks are nocturnal).

----

Q: My 65-pound, 9-year-old English Setter mix has some arthritis. We give him Previcox (a non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug or NSAID). A co-worker with an older dog, as well as the veterinarian, said aspirin is actually just fine for those aches. Care to weigh in? -- L.W., Red Wing, MN

A: "Arthritis is very common in larger, especially older dogs," says Los Angeles, CA-based Dr. Jeff Werber. "Drugs like Previcox are specifically made for dogs, and definitely my preference for long-term use. Certainly, aspirin can help in a pinch, and is safe to use at the right dosage, but not as safe when used for an extended period of time."

Of course, any NSAID, even those specifically for dogs, can cause adverse reactions, some potentially serious.

"It's important to do blood-work prior to giving the drug to insure the dog is a good candidate, to offer an appropriate dosage, and then to periodically check to insure the dog is doing well on the drug," Werber says.

At 65 pounds, your dog could be overweight, which puts more strain on joints. If so, speak with your veterinarian about weight loss.

Movement is actually a good thing for most arthritic dogs, whether a gentle walk or swimming. Hydrotherapy can help enormously. Weber says other techniques, including acupuncture, can also help. Also ask your veterinarian about supplements like glucosamine/chondroitin, and omega 3 fatty acids. A change in diet can also make a difference.

----

Q: We recently acquired a 6-month-old Chihuahua. Rocky has an undescended testicle. We're worried about surgery for this condition because it's more serious than a typical neuter. We're having a CT scan done prior to the operation. We've been warned about torsion of the undescended testicle. How worried should we be about this surgery? -- E.N.P, via cyberspace

A: Any surgery carries risks. However, Dr. Kate Knutson, immediate past president of the American Animal Hospital Association, says this sort of surgery is done all the time and is nearly always uneventful. Doing the CT scan prior makes perfect sense if you're that concerned.

Typically, a male puppy's testicles descend from his abdomen into his scrotum by the time he's two weeks old. Sometimes, one or both testicles don't drop, remaining somewhere between the abdomen and scrotal sac. That retained testicle (called cryptorchid) must be surgically removed, because leaving it inside the dog's body could have unfortunate long-term consequences.

The torsion you refer to is when a testicle wraps around its own cord. This is very painful, and can cause complications, but is not likely to occur during surgery.

"The surgery is more invasive than a typical neuter, but within 7 to 10 days the dogs are usually well recovered and running all over the house," says Knutson, of Bloomington, MN.

========