If you have 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 actually 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)

The 10 Best Skunk Shampoos for Dogs

1. Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover — Best Overall

Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover is the best overall skunk shampoo for dogs. It removes skunk smells from just about everything and everyone, including your dog, yourself, your clothing, and your vehicle. If it has been contaminated, Nature’s Miracle can clean it.

What stands out the most about this shampoo is that it removes the skunk odor rather than just covering it up. After use, there is no lingering scent; your dog won’t smell like roses, but they won’t smell like skunk either. It should be noted that this skunk odor shampoo needs to be followed up with a regular dog shampoo for a thorough cleaning. So, your dog will need a good bath even after the stink is gone.

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2. Thornell Skunk-Off Shampoo — Best Value

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. 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 is a highly effective method of cleaning skunk smell off your dog.

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3. Hyponic De-skunk Pet Shampoo — Premium Choice

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 unlikely 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.

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4. Alpha Tech Pet Inc. SkunkAway Odor Remover Dog Spray

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 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.

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5. Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Skunk Odor Eliminator

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 it’s 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.

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6. Tough Stuff SKUNKED! Deodorizing Dog 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 it’s much easier to saturate their coat with a spray-on product than having to put them in the bath. 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.

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7. De-Skunk Odor Destroying Shampoo for Dogs

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.

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8. UltraCruz Z-Skunk’R Dog 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.

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9. Professional Pet Products Skunk Odor Pet Shampoo

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’ll 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.

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10. Smelleze Natural Skunk Deodorizer Granules

Smelleze Natural Skunk Deodorizer Granules helps combat chemical thiols, the compounds that make skunk spray smell so awful. This product is easy to use, 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.

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 up to a month 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

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.

How Long Does Skunk Odor Last?

The stinky smell of skunk spray can last 3–4 weeks if it’s left untreated. The longer you wait, the longer it lasts. 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:

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 smell free in no time.

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Featured Image Credit: oritslama, Pixabay