Saturday, April 09, 2011

Skunked!

Mabel Lou here. Oh boy has it been CRAZY around here! My mom has been having a case of the mental fits again.

It alls started last week when for some reason, Mom decides it's backwards hiking day. She just does this from time to time... it's our usual hike but go in the way we usually come out. No biggie, Bart and I can adapt.
I rubbed my nose so hard, I took the skin off!

But near the end, Barticus the Farticus and I were snooping around the pond and Mom was much further down, near where we turn around. All of a sudden she comes hot footing out there. Honestly, she was moving so fast, legs flying everywhere. She was calling us to her and Bart went to see about her but I went to inspect what made her so scared. I mean...she's come out of there fast before but she's usually all baby talk and trying to get us to move on to the Big Creek but I knew, this time, Mom was scared!

I get down there and all I can see is the dumb looking black and white kitty. I tried to put her in her place for scaring my mom and she lifted her tail and sprayed some awful smelling stuff on my face! I turned around and started rubbing my face on my butt. I've never encountered a kitty quite like this one!

Just SOME of Mom's potions!

I finally caught up to Mom and Bart and suddenly Mom thinks someone has dumped a car in the creek cause all she smells is burnt rubber and metal. It took a while to make her understand...that was ME she was smelling! (Apparently Mom thinks black and white kitty spray smells like something different than it DOES!) Mom actually drove us to Bart's with her head out the window!

I heard her telling Auntie to come to the car and something about "skunked." Before Auntie came near the car, she made a stinky face and said, "Oh Mabel Lou! You did get skunked."
More of her potions! That red bottle is the Hairy Beast Professional shampoo that Mom thinks stinks so good... whatever!
Mom explained that the black and white kitty was really a creature called a skunk and that spray was telling me to back off! We later learned from our friend 'tilla's dad that the skunk kitty has SEVEN babies!!! So that's what had her so upset!

Anyway, back to Mom and her mental fits. We got home and she locked me outside and made a bunch of phone calls. The whole time she kept putting jars of all kinds of stuffs on the patio. And then, she turned on the water! Now, I love a good dip in the creek, but a bath is a whole other Oprah! I hate hate HATE them!
Me...tied to the Arbor. COULD YOU PUT THAT DANG CAMERA DOWN AND DRY ME OFF MOM???

Mom tied me up to the arbor and she washed me. And then she did it again and again and again and AGAIN! EIGHT FREAKING TIMES she washed me. And to add insult to injury, she did again the NEXT day. EIGHT MORE BATHS!!!!!!!!! And now, daily, she washes my FACE! I think she's just gone nuts! All because I played with a skunk kitty!
Me hiding in the dirt...hoping to get some of that shampoo off me.

Mom's got some more pictures and some recipe she's determined to share so I'm signing off (and going to see if I can hide the shampoo!).


+++++++++++++++++++++
Mabel's mom here. Yes, I did bathe her eight times two days in a row. And I thought I would share what I learned.
Mabel allowing the baking soda / peroxide to soak. (It's been raining so much here, the grass and weeds are taller than Mabel!)

The skunk spray is oil based so normal shampooing does not work. Skin So Soft by Avon really seemed to help break some of the oil down, followed by a good shampoo with Dawn (no bleach!) dishwashing soap.

The other recipe I found through my dog - trainer brother in law was actually featured on Myth Busters. This actually chemically breaks down the skunk spray allowing it to be washed off:


  • 1 bottle 3% peroxide
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 -2 T Dawn


Mix into a slurry, lather and let set, then rinse.
The peroxide soda mix makes some pretty suds on the concrete!

But she still smells faintly of skunk and it reactivates when Mabel dips in the creek daily! We've tried other things to help with the smell:


  • tomato juice
  • lemon juice
  • mouthwash (I worried about the alcohol hurting her skin but she didn't seem to mind)
  • vinegar (Ditto on the skin irritation... she took it in stride)
  • Dawn (alone)
  • T-gel shampoo - blends well with skunk smell
  • Hairy Beast shampoo - covers odors fairly well
I'm still amazed this happened but...we do hike in the wild! I just wish it was not on her face. Every time I go to kiss her...SKUNK!

9 comments:

Levi said...

Oh no Mabel Lou! I don't know if that's a good perfume for you :)
Mom said her cousins dog got sprayed and he smelled for a looong time.
Here's to your sweet smellin-er...looking self :)

rottrover said...

Oh Miss Mabel Lou, You are indeed a dork!! Did 'Tilla's dad see the babies?? Auntie would love to see baby skunks, but should probably do so sans dogs!!

We hope to see you soon!!

Gizmo, Ruby and (the other) Bart

Dexter said...

Uh oh, skunk stink, very bad. My Grandpa Angus got skunked and it took months before he was stinky whenever he got wet. I hope that you have learned your lesson. I think we should postpone our date until you are fresh and clean again.

Slobbers,
Mango

Unknown said...

Poor you!
I have never smelt skunk stink before so I don't know how bad it is...but I'm guessing from the millions of baths you've had, they STINK!

the booker man said...

miss mabel lou!

bless your heart! you got the skunk smellies and have had like 50 gazillion baths! now that's a rough week for sures! i don't think you are evarrr gonna get near one of those black 'n white kitties again!!

*woof*
the booker man

Raising Addie said...

Oh nooes!!

That is a lot of baths to have! We believe that you are the cleanest pup around! Even if you do have a little skunk after smell, we would give you kisses.

Chasing my tale...
Addie, Lucie and Hailey

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Duly Inspired said...

Oh dear!

Anonymous said...

oh, my. I'm surprised Mabel hasn't gotten skunked a few times, since you hike in a creek. Interesting what it takes to get the smell off!