My Pet World: Owner believes dog is skittish on stairs because he sees a ghost
Q: We can hardly go outdoors without smelling a skunk. Moreover, our dog has now had two close encounters, which created a stink so bad in our home we needed professionals to come in and de-skunk. Do you have any advice? --D.D, St. Paul, MN
A: It's that time of year. Here's a "recipe" that I've historically offered. And you can find it in a myriad of places online.
1. Get a clothespin -- that's for your nose.
2. Wipe your pet down with a solution of one-quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup sodium bicarbonate and one-teaspoon liquid dish soap.
3. Dunk your stinkin' pet into a bath of two parts tomato juice and one part lukewarm water.
This "recipe" works fine. However, I developed it 20 years ago. Today, you can do better by purchasing one of an array of manufactured products specifically made to shampoo skunked dogs. Your best bet may be Fresh Wave Pet Shampoo (www.freshwaveworks.com, and various retailers). It's all natural, and actually zaps odors rather than masking them with another odor. Simultaneously, you can treat the 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).
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