Answer: This is a situation that most dog owners have faced (or will
face) at some time. And the recommendations for the odor elimination
run the gamut from expensive commercial products to banning the dog to
the outdoors for a long period of time. While the use of tomato juice
is still recommended by some, its use has been relegated as ineffective
by others with this explanation: "Tomato juice does not work to
neutralize or deodorize skunk spray. Bathing an animal in tomato juice
seems to work because after lengthy exposure to strong odors, the human
nose quits smelling the odor (olfactory fatigue). When this happens
while bathing a pet in tomato juice, the odor of tomato juice can easily
be detected. A person suffering olfactory fatigue to skunk spray will
swear that the skunk odor is gone and was neutralized by the tomato
juice. Another person arriving at this point will quickly tell you that
the skunk smell is still present."

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Other recommendations include using a mixture of 50% Woolite and 50%
water. Spray or pour on sprayed animal, let set for 5 minutes, then
rinse thoroughly. Repeat as necessary until the animal is fresh
smelling and fluffy.

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Use Listerine or any other antiseptic mouth wash. Apply to the affected
areas, let it soak for a few minutes and rinse. You can repeat this as
necessary. Avoid getting this in your dog's eyes. If your dog is sprayed
in the face, which is very likely, use a washcloth or paper towel to
carefully apply any cleaning solutions.

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Use a mix of 3 tablespoons household ammonia in 1 gallon of warm water.
Apply to the area that was sprayed. Let set for 15 minutes. Reapply,
if necessary, after sniff test remembering the olfactory fatigue
factor. Wash dog to remove the ammonia solution.

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The remedy most mentioned and with the best testimonials is this one
invented by Paul Krebaum, an Illinois chemist:

1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide

¼ cup of baking soda

1 teaspoon of dish soap

Mix the ingredients in a large bowl. Wash the dog with this mix while it
is still foaming. It is the oxygen which reacts with the thiol in the
skunk stink to neutralize the odor. If it sits around, it will become
ineffective because the oxygen boils off.

Apply the mixture to the affected areas, let it set for about five
minutes and rinse. If you need to repeat the process, you must create a
new solution, as the chemical reaction quickly expires. Avoid getting it
into your pet's eyes, nose and mouth.

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For information on Skunk Control see the Extension article at
http://tcebookstore.org/tmppdfs/14394323-L1901.pdf.

Also see the previous Q&A's at
http://www.plantanswers.com/breakout/qa5851.html and
http://www.plantanswers.com/breakout/qa2529.html.