B&B Happy Goats....journal

[greybeard]

I have never had the pleasure of dealing with that, but they use tomatoe juice to deal with skunk spray. I would try it. I am interested if it works.

Tomato juice doesn't work on skunk spray. Like many people, I've tried it. It will mask the skunk smell a little but once the tomato smell wears off, the skunk smell remains. It doesn't work on dogs, cats, calves, children or vehicle tires either..btdt. But, don't take my word for it.

https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/skunk-spray-tomato-juice1.htm
https://scienceline.org/2006/07/ask-cosier-skunk/
http://housewifeplus.bangordailynew...ce-does-not-remove-skunk-smell-but-this-does/
https://www.thespruce.com/getting-rid-of-skunk-odor-2656337
https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/skunk-tips-for-dogs/
https://www.villageveterinary.com/de-skunking/

 

[WILLIFORD]

Well that's good to know. In all your research to invalidate my suggestion, did you happen to look for any information that might help with the problem.

 

[greybeard]

Well that's good to know. In all your research to invalidate my suggestion, did you happen to look for any information that might help with the problem.

The tomato juice thing has been around quite some time, as shown by the age/dates on of some of the articles--at least one is over 10 years old. IIRC the skunk spray problem has also been discussed several times at BYH before.

The solution/instructions for getting rid of skunk spray is included in each of the links with some making a few variances.
Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and some liquid detergent such as Dawn.

Generally,
1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide + 1/4 cup of baking soda + 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid dish detergent. Stir until baking soda is dissolved, do not shake vigorously.


I will not recommend humans actually bathe (immerse) in this solution. I used a wash cloth to wash parts of my body that was directly exposed to skunk scent, but did dribble it on my hair and shampooed with it. Then a good hot soapy shower. Can't say I came out smelling like a rose, but did not smell like a skunk.
Your results may vary.
(Do not attempt to store this. It will build up pressure and force the lid off)
Will it work for goat odor?
I have no idea.

 

[Rammy]

View attachment 54577
Tomato juice doesn't work on skunk spray. Like many people, I've tried it. It will mask the skunk smell a little but once the tomato smell wears off, the skunk smell remains. It doesn't work on dogs, cats, calves, children or vehicle tires either..btdt. But, don't take my word for it.

https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/skunk-spray-tomato-juice1.htm
https://scienceline.org/2006/07/ask-cosier-skunk/
http://housewifeplus.bangordailynew...ce-does-not-remove-skunk-smell-but-this-does/
https://www.thespruce.com/getting-rid-of-skunk-odor-2656337
https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/skunk-tips-for-dogs/
https://www.villageveterinary.com/de-skunking/

I beg to differ. I have used HOME canned tomatoe juice for years if one of my animals, or even me, got skunked. It works. You have to leave it on forv15 to 30 minutes. And you saturate the pet down to the bone. Let it soak. It does kill the smell. After the pet soaks you give them a good bath to wash it out. Long procesd but it works.
We use that hydrogen peroxide stuff at the animal hospital and it doesnt work worth a bleep.

 

[Bruce]

We use that hydrogen peroxide stuff at the animal hospital and it doesnt work worth a bleep.

Having been fortunate to never had a skunk problem (*) nor buck in rut problem (**) it would be nice for others not so lucky to fully understand this discrepancy. Did the "hydrogen peroxide stuff" include the baking soda and dish detergent?

I'm sure the dish detergent is there as a surfactant. Not sure what the baking soda and H2O2 do.

* likely because I've never had a dog or outside cat
** likely because I've never had a goat

 

[Rammy]

Yes, it is the baking soda, peroxide, and dawn mix. Hate it cause it makes the dogs coats feel like straw. It doesnt take the stink out at all in my opinion. Whenever Ive used the tomato juice its worked great. The longer you leave it on the better. Worked every time. But you have to use home canned juice, not that processed store stuff. Mom would get so mad at me for using like 6 quarts of juice on my cat. After getting skunk bathed 3 times because he didnt learn the first 2 times, he learned to stay away from skunks.

 

[greybeard]

Having been fortunate to never had a skunk problem (*) nor buck in rut problem (**) it would be nice for others not so lucky to fully understand this discrepancy. Did the "hydrogen peroxide stuff" include the baking soda and dish detergent?

I'm sure the dish detergent is there as a surfactant. Not sure what the baking soda and H2O2 do.

* likely because I've never had a dog or outside cat
** likely because I've never had a goat

Chemistry is not only part of what makes skunk musk so smelly, but also it is used to help get rid of the odor. William F. Wood of Humboldt State University in California, who studies the chemistry behind skunk odors, recommends scrubbing pets that have been sprayed in a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide bath. According to his research, these two agents oxidize thiol, adding oxygen onto the sulfur and changing the functional group into sulfonic acid. Such acids do not trigger olfactory receptors in the brain to sense a “bad” smell, but there is a risk that the chemical reaction may bleach a pet’s fur.

While the urban legend of using tomato juice to treat skunk smells won’t bleach your animal, it also won’t rid it permanently of the pungent fumes. Tomato juice does nothing at the chemical level to oxidize, and therefore nullify, the effects of thiols, however it does mask the musk odor temporarily. Other commercial deodorizers include Neutroleum Alpha, which has a minty smell, and Freshwave, which smells like tea leaves and is actually used to deodorize oil tankers, can also be used as a musky cover-up.
https://scienceline.org/2007/03/ask-leach-smellyskunks/

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Cowboy got sprayed by a skunk last night. Something else on my to-do list.

 

[Latestarter]

Well... it stands to reason as the subject has become active, that it would affect someone... Why not you WH? It seems you don't have enough on your daily plate and need a few more things to occupy all that spare time you have!

 

[Bruce]

Cowboy got sprayed by a skunk last night. Something else on my to-do list.

PERFECT! Thank you Cowboy for volunteering to be the scientific test case here. Wash one side in home canned tomato juice and one in the H2O2, baking soda and dish detergent mix. Let us know how he comes out.