If you’ve ever had a skunk unload its fumes onto your dog, you know how bad the smell can be. While tons of products and home remedies claim to remove skunk odors from your pet, few of them do so.
So, we have here a list of reviews of skunk shampoos and smell removers for dogs that are available on the market. These products are worth keeping on hand for the dreaded day that you need them.
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Control Shampoo & Conditioner |
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Best Value
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Thornell Skunk-Off Shampoo |
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Premium Choice
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Hyponic De-Skunk Pet Shampoo 500ml |
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Alpha Tech Pet Inc. SkunkAway Skunk Odor Remover Dog Spray |
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Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Skunk Odor Eliminator |
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CHECK PRICE |
The 10 Best Skunk Shampoos for Dogs
1. Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Control Shampoo & Conditioner — Best Overall
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover is the best overall skunk shampoo for dogs. It removes skunk smells from your pet’s hair while conditioning their skin and coat.
What stands out the most about this shampoo is that it removes the skunk odor rather than just covering it up. After use, all that’s left of the skunk smell is a “light and refreshing scent; your dog won’t smell like roses, but they won’t smell like skunk either.
- Effective
- Removes skunk odors instead of masking them
- Safe for use around children
- Easy to use
- May need a follow-up with regular dog shampoo
2. Thornell Skunk-Off Shampoo — Best Value
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
To get rid of the skunk smell fast and without breaking the bank, we recommend Thornell Skunk-Off Shampoo as the best skunk shampoo for dogs for the money. This reliable odor-removal shampoo removes skunk stink and leaves your dog smelling fresh after use.
This product needs to be applied before you wet down your dog in order for it to work best. While this isn’t difficult, it’s a crucial step, and this shampoo frequently gets bad reviews because of ill-followed directions. When done properly, this can be a highly effective method of cleaning the skunk smell off your dog.
- Quickly banishes odors
- Leaves behind a fresh smell
- Non-toxic
- Removes smell instead of covering it up
- Must carefully follow directions
3. Hyponic De-skunk Pet Shampoo — Premium Choice
| Grooming Feature: | Hypoallergenic, deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
If your pup has allergies and skin sensitivities, this Hyponic De-Skunk Pet Shampoo is worth a try. This formula is additive-free and uses natural products instead of deodorizing chemicals, making it less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. It’s gentle enough to use on puppies, too (most skunk odor removers are recommended for adult dogs only).
The biggest downsides to this product are the price tag and the smell that it leaves behind. This shampoo is expensive compared to other products, but it’s worth it if it removes skunk odor and prevents your dog from having a reaction. There is also a strong floral scent left behind after using this shampoo. It’s tough to criticize it for that, though, because it successfully removes skunk odor without any chemicals, and this is a hard thing to do. The strong residual smell will fade after a few days, and anyone who has dealt with skunk stink will agree that it’s a small price to pay.
- Effective
- Hypoallergenic
- Safe for puppies
- Expensive
- Strong remnant odor
4. Alpha Tech Pet Inc. SkunkAway Odor Remover Dog Spray
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Powder/Liquid |
Alpha Tech Pet Inc. SkunkAway Odor Remover Dog Spray offers a powder odor remover product in a spray bottle. It becomes a powerful, fragrance-free formula that can do away with skunk smells for good when mixed with water. It neutralizes odors on your pet, you, furniture, carpet, etc., rather than covering them up, so you can pinpoint any areas that haven’t been deodorized sufficiently. This is a good product to try if your dog doesn’t love baths because it can be sprayed and left on. There’s no requirement to shampoo your pup once you’re done.
The only downside to this product is that it’s only good for 7 days once it’s mixed with water. You’ll need to purchase another bottle after you’ve used it if you want to keep some on hand.
- Neutralizes odor
- Odor-free
- Spray-on formula
- Shelf life of 7 days once mixed
5. Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Skunk Odor Eliminator
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Skunk Odor Eliminator is a non-toxic, eco-friendly odor eliminator that is safe for your dog but strong enough to stop skunk smells. This product neutralizes odors instead of covering them up by breaking down the molecules in skunk spray that cause the stink in the first place. As a bonus, Skout’s Honor donates a full day’s worth of meals to an animal shelter every time one of its products is purchased, so you can feel good about the money that you’ve spent.
This product has to come directly into contact with the skunk’s spray to be effective, so it works when used immediately after the incident. If the skunk spray has dried on your dog’s coat, you will have a much harder time eliminating the smell. You’ll also need to follow up with mild dog shampoo, and most users find that it still takes several applications to get rid of the odor completely.
- Eco-friendly
- Non-toxic
- Company donates part of proceeds to animal shelters
- Must come directly in contact with the wet spray
- Needs follow-up with shampoo
- Requires multiple applications
6. Tough Stuff SKUNKED! Deodorizing Dog Spray
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Spray |
Tough Stuff SKUNKED! Deodorizing Dog Spray contains over 70 different essential oils designed to make your dog smell better after they’ve been “skunked.” It leaves behind a fresh fragrance and can also be used on any water-safe material that needs odor removal.
This product works great as a deodorizing spray. It leaves your dog smelling clean rather than overly perfumed and can be a great option for dogs that don’t like baths. However, since this product contains essential oils, you’ll have to be careful about children or other pets getting into it, as it has the potential for toxicity if ingested.
- Effective
- Leaves your dog smelling clean
- Easy to use
- Requires careful storage
- Toxic if ingested
7. De-Skunk Odor Destroying Shampoo for Dogs
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
De-Skunk Odor Destroying Shampoo for Dogs is a dog shampoo that contains a powerful de-greaser in order to break down the oils of skunk spray and eliminate the stink. While it can be applied to furniture, clothes, and carpet, it’s safe for dogs and contains ingredients that won’t irritate your pet’s skin or negatively affect their coat.
For the best results, you must apply this product as soon as possible after the incident, so it’s recommended to buy it even if you don’t currently need it. The shampoo also has to stay on your dog’s coat for 3–5 minutes, which may be difficult to accomplish if your pet is (understandably) agitated, but it’ll be worth it to de-skunk your pup. That said, you may need to apply multiple times and follow up with your dog’s regular shampoo to fully get back their normal doggy smell.
- Contains powerful de-greaser
- Can also be used on furniture, clothes, and carpet
- Won’t irritate skin
- May need multiple applications
- Has to stay on coat for 3–5 minutes
8. UltraCruz Z-Skunk’R Dog Spray
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Spray |
UltraCruz Z-Skunk’R Dog Spray is a foaming dog shampoo with a hose applicator attached. To deodorize your dog, you simply attach the container to your garden hose and start rinsing. It provides a deep clean and is pH-balanced with added moisturizers to prevent skin dryness. The essential oils leave your dog lightly scented afterward.
This spray is designed to provide ultimate convenience for cleaning skunk-sprayed dogs, but whether it actually does is dependent on your individual circumstances. If you have plenty of yard space, this is an easy way to use your hose to clean at a distance and avoid your dog transferring smells to you during a bath. If you’re an apartment dweller with a skunky dog, this isn’t the product for you. A strong odor-removing shampoo made for use in a tub is a better choice.
- Convenient
- Attaches to garden hose
- Moisturizes your dog’s skin
- Allows you to clean at a distance
- Not for apartment dwellers
9. Professional Pet Products Skunk Odor Pet Shampoo
| Grooming Feature: | Hypoallergenic, deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Liquid |
Professional Pet Products Skunk Odor Pet Shampoo is a hypoallergenic product that can be used on dogs of any age that have sensitive skin or allergies. This shampoo is tough on odors but gentle on the skin. Since there aren’t many hypoallergenic skunk odor removers available, this alone makes it worth a try for dogs that need hypoallergenic products.
The lack of chemical ingredients in this shampoo means you may need to use the rinse-and-repeat principle while cleaning your dog. You can expect to have to lather your pet several times before fully relieving the skunk smell. While it might be time-consuming, it won’t irritate your dog’s skin, and it won’t leave any smell or residue behind, so we think that it’s worth giving it a try.
- Hypoallergenic
- Safe for puppies
- Natural ingredients
- Needs multiple applications
- Odorless
- No residue
10. Smelleze Natural Skunk Deodorizer Granules
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing |
| Product Form: | Granules |
Smelleze Natural Skunk Deodorizer Granules helps combat chemical thiols, the compounds that make skunk spray smell so awful. This product is environmentally friendly, and safe for pets and people. It’s non-toxic and completely odorless, so you won’t have to worry about replacing one awful smell with another.
The biggest downside of Smelleze is the method of application. It doesn’t require mixing, so you’ll have to pour the granules onto your dog’s coat, let it sit, then wash it off with a shampoo. The granular formula can make it extremely difficult to break down skunk odors on the underside of your dog. Smelleze is best used for skunk odors that your dog transfers to other spaces, such as carpet, upholstery, or your vehicle.
- Non-toxic
- Environmentally friendly
- Odorless
- Hard to apply to some parts of your dog
- Works better for transferred odors
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Skunk Shampoo for Your Dog
Skunk spray has an odor that is particularly difficult to get out. It can linger for several weeks if you don’t take action quickly. If your dog’s curiosity has gotten the best of them, and you find yourself with a skunk-smelling pup, we’re here to help you get that odor out in the fastest and easiest way possible.
Useful Tips for Removing Skunk Odor
- Act fast! When it comes to skunk odor, the quicker you deal with it, the more likely you are to get it out. The more time the spray sits on your dog, the harder it will be to remove.
- Do everything in your power to prevent the smell from spreading. This means keeping your dog outdoors and not letting them into your vehicle or your house. It’s best to assume that everything that your dog touches will adopt their new smell.
- Fabric can hold onto skunk smells indefinitely, especially clothing. If your clothes have been heavily skunked, whether it’s from rubbing against your dog or being sprayed directly, you may want to consider discarding them.
- Don’t forget to wash yourself thoroughly with hot water after using skunk remover. The smell will wash off your skin better than it does clothing, but don’t let it linger.
Which Is Better: Spray or Shampoo?
You may have noticed that this list of skunk shampoos for dogs contains a mixture of regular shampoos and sprays. One isn’t necessarily better than the other; it’s about your circumstances and the one that you can use the fastest when you find yourself with a skunky canine.
Old clothes and rubber gloves are essential for application. In some cases, you will be best served to spray your pup first, then follow up with a good de-skunk shampoo. Regardless of the product directions, you should always give your dog a good bath afterward using their regular shampoo to avoid drying out their skin and coat.
Our Favorite Products
Selecting the right shampoo and conditioner makes the world of a difference when grooming your pup. Our favorite products are the duo by Hepper. The Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is formulated with aloe and oatmeal to soothe skin and hydrate the coat. The Pet Conditioner works at eliminating tangles and taming frizz and static. Both products are pH-balanced and formulated with pet-friendly ingredients, free of harsh soaps, chemicals, and dyes. Give this duo a try to heal and nourish your dog's coat, and leave them with an irresistible just-left-the-spa cucumber and aloe scent.
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!
How Long Does Skunk Odor Last?
The stinky smell of skunk spray can last several weeks if it’s left untreated. The longer you wait, the longer it tends to last. If you are an avid hiker or camper or live in an area where your dog may regularly come into contact with skunks, it’s best to purchase a skunk odor remover before you need it. It’s one of those emergency products that you should risk wasting money on even if you might never need to use it. If the situation arises, you won’t have time to run to the store.
How Do You Remove Skunk Smell From Humans?
If your dog’s exploration has led to you getting skunked too, there are a few things that you can do:
- Prevention is better than a cure. If you see a skunk, avoid agitating it, as these animals only spray when provoked. If your dog is chasing a skunk, you may have to let your pet take the hit to avoid having to remove the smell from both of you.
- If you’ve been sprayed in the face, flush your eyes immediately with cool water.
- Address the smell outside whenever possible. If you have to go inside to get to the bathtub, don’t touch anything on your way there.
- Folklore suggests bathing in tomato juice, but this won’t actually help. Your best option is a skunk-odor remover. Many of the options in this list are also safe for humans; just be sure to check the label.
- Repeat your bath as many times as necessary with an odor eliminator until you have removed the smell. It won’t always be totally eliminated, but the rest will wear off naturally.
Does Tomato Juice Get Rid of Skunk Smell?
As far as home remedy recommendations go, this one is pervasive. A quick Google search will give you all kinds of homemade recipes for ridding yourself or your pet of skunk smell. Tomato juice, beer, and dish soap are among the top-recommended products to neutralize skunk odor.
Despite its popularity, tomato juice (and similar options) simply does not work. Neutralizing skunk stink requires breaking down the odor-causing compounds in the spray, which is best done with a skunk-smell remover.
Persistent Is Key
Skunk odors are pervasive no matter what odor-remover product you choose. But if your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, know that it isn’t the end of the world and that the smell will go away. In fact, it’s unlikely that the smell will be completely eradicated the first time, with even the best odor remover. Most dogs will need a few washes for the smell to fade, and yours may still have a lingering odor for a while.
Regardless, the important thing is to act quickly and keep scrubbing until you can at least co-exist with your pet, then scrub some more, and follow up with a good bath even after the stink seems to be gone. When it comes to skunk smells, persistence is the best strategy.
Conclusion
The top recommendation among these reviews of skunk shampoos for dogs is Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover. This effective odor neutralizer is safe for pets, humans, and fabrics. The best value for the money is Thornell Skunk-Off Shampoo. It’s highly effective at removing odors; just make sure to follow the application directions carefully. If your dog needs a hypoallergenic option, we recommend our premium choice, Hyponic De-Skunk Pet Shampoo. While it comes with a higher price tag, this skunk shampoo is gentle enough to use on puppies or dogs with allergies.
Having your dog encounter a skunk sounds like a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be. Arm yourself with a good skunk shampoo, and your dog is sure to be odor-free in no time.
Featured Image Credit: oritslama, Pixabay
Contents
- A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)
- The 10 Best Skunk Shampoos for Dogs
- 1. Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Control Shampoo & Conditioner — Best Overall
- 2. Thornell Skunk-Off Shampoo — Best Value
- 3. Hyponic De-skunk Pet Shampoo — Premium Choice
- 4. Alpha Tech Pet Inc. SkunkAway Odor Remover Dog Spray
- 5. Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Skunk Odor Eliminator
- 6. Tough Stuff SKUNKED! Deodorizing Dog Spray
- 7. De-Skunk Odor Destroying Shampoo for Dogs
- 8. UltraCruz Z-Skunk’R Dog Spray
- 9. Professional Pet Products Skunk Odor Pet Shampoo
- 10. Smelleze Natural Skunk Deodorizer Granules
- Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Skunk Shampoo for Your Dog
- Useful Tips for Removing Skunk Odor
- Which Is Better: Spray or Shampoo?
- How Long Does Skunk Odor Last?
- How Do You Remove Skunk Smell From Humans?
- Does Tomato Juice Get Rid of Skunk Smell?
- Persistent Is Key
- Conclusion
