I need help. All responses are greatly appreciated. At night there are skunks that come around our house and this is not good because we have 2 dogs. My dog has been sprayed by a skunk 3 times in his life and I'll tell you there's only one thing that smells worse than a dog that gets sprayed by a skunk and that's when a dog rolls in a dead one(trust me I know). Now the worse thing about this is sometimes(rarely) my dog will cry to go out in the middle of the night(and I've come to learn it is not a habit but a way of saying I need out NOW) I would normally get up and let him out. However I can't let him out if there's a skunk and it breaks my heart because I know he needs to use the bathroom and he'll cry all night until he's allowed out, he hasn't messed on the floor since he was 6 months old. I really am at my wits end I don't know what to do all I know is that I need to do something or I won't get any sleep(from the dog crying all night.) Does anyone know how to get rid of skunks, I 've heard mothballs but do they work and are there any other suggestions?

The skunks that visit my back porch to eat with my many raccoon friends are coming up due to the food I leave out for them to eat. If you have any food at all outside this is what they are after. Mothballs can be used though. Fortunately my dog has not been sprayed by them and they have not sprayed the porch as they get along well with the coonie families that visit me. You could leave a bright porch light on also as I noticed that the skunks would run down the porch steps when I turned the light on even for a minute.

Thanks.

Here one cure for those curious creatures:

Mix Cayenne (red pepper), Cajun Seasoning, Cinnamon, and any other hot spices you may have.
Make about 1/4 of a plastic sandwich bag full of the mixture. Mix well in the baggie.
When the skunk is nowhere around, empty the contents of the bag, in his trail, or in the entrance to his burrow.
The skunk gets the mixture on his paws, when he eats or cleans himself, and soon, he will no longer be comfortable at your home and will leave.

WikiAnswers - How do you get rid of skunks (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_get_rid_of_skunks)

Hope this helps your situation.

Thanks gem

Hi Rex's Momma,

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Last summer was horrible for Niki. She got sprayed straight in the face 5 times, and I got it one of those times too! Soooo not a good thing! I know you live in the country, but try and call whatever the nearest city is in NS. and call city hall and ask for the animal control division. I can't say for sure, but I know most provinces will supply skunk traps, if they are a nuisance. They are humane traps, and they drop them off and if you've caught a skunk, they will come pick them up.

I'm a little worried though, since you do live out of the city. If you don't get any help speaking with the city animal control, then call the humane society, and ask what your other options are. I don't think it is within your budget, but you could also call a local pest control company, and get some tips from them.

Make sure all garbage is kept where the skunks can't smell, or get at it. And as Twinkie said, flicking the light on and off before Rex goes out is a little bit of help to scare them away, although it might just scare them enough to spray also. (that's just to get out of the door) Once you're outside with Rex, and make sure he's on his leash, make loud noises while you are out. Maybe banging a can, or even just talking loud.

I don't know how handy you are with making things, but the traps I had weren't really that complicated. They were just a big box, (mine were metal, but I'm sure they could be made of wood or other materials) with a trap door, and I would place sardines in it, and once the skunk got in, the door would shut, and it couldn't get out. As for releasing it... sorry, the city did that in my case, so I can't give much advice there. ;)

As for getting rid of the smell. What worked best for Niki, was a mixture of white vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda. It took several washes, but it did get most of the smell out. I would also sprinkle on lots of baking soda afterwards, and brush it through. Febreeze does not hurt them either, if there is still a lingering smell later on. Just don't spray it directly, just let it fall onto their coat.

One more thing I just remembered. There is a guy on this site that goes by the name of Skunkman. He loves skunks, and has had them as pets. You never know, he might be able to give you a few tips too! :)

Good luck, and I hope Rex doesn't get sprayed again. The last time Niki got sprayed, it was so bad that she had to be put on meds for her poor big baby browns, and I had to apply a special cream 3 times daily to her little brown nose! :(

Thanks a bunch starbuck. I like the idea of making noise and flicking the lights on and off. I hope rex doesn't get sprayed again but if he does I'll try what you have suggested. I've tried all different things but what works best was a mixture of pet shampoo and toothpaste.

thanx a bunch starbuck. I like the idea of making noise and flicking the lights on and off. I hope rex doesn't get sprayed again but if he does I'll try what you have suggested. I've tried all different things but what works best was a mixture of pet shampoo and toothpaste.

Hmmm... dog shampoo and toothpaste. Never heard of that one, but I will keep that in mind too! Hopefully *crossing fingers and toes* I will never have the need to do it again, but I know that it just take a second, and they get sprayed.

Oh, I should also mention, put a bit of polysporin on Rex's nose. The vet told me that when they get sprayed, their nose gets really sore (with Niki it was apparent) and they can lose the color in their nose, and it will just peel, and never get the color back. So polysporin works, or I actually got a cream from the vet, and I was going to tell you what it was, but the writing has worn off, and I can't see the name. Sorry! It wasn't expensive at all! I got some sort of "nose shampoo and the cream for about $7. But I'm sure if you just wash his nose with a gentle soap, and put on the sauve, it will work just as well. :)

The skunks don't seem to be to nice to poor niki.