If you think there is any chance the skunk could have bitten your pet (especially if your pet killed the skunk), we recommend a rabies booster vaccine. Rabies is not spread through the spray, but generally only through saliva and blood.

Can dog get rabies from biting a skunk?

Skunks and Rabies

Rabies is transferred through saliva, not skunk spray, so it's possible your dog can contract it through the bite of an infected skunk. Don't panic if you suspect your dog got bit by a skunk. If your pooch is up-to-date on their rabies vaccine, they should have protection against this disorder.

Can a dog get sick from being sprayed by a skunk?

Sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, a skunk will spray your dog. Most commonly, dogs will be sprayed on or around the head. Not only does skunk spray smell extremely foul, it will cause nausea or vomiting and in rare cases severe anemia if swallowed and will act like tear gas if it gets in the eyes.

What do you do if your dog gets attacked by a skunk?

If your pet has been scratched or bitten by the skunk, you must get them to the veterinary hospital right away. Skunks carry a range of diseases, like rabies, and your pet will need treatment for any injuries. Spray your pet down with cool, clean water.

Can skunk spray carry rabies?

Rabies is transmitted through saliva, most typically in bites. You cannot get rabies by being sprayed by a skunk. If you or pet get bitten, immediately wash the wound with soap and water. Seek medical assistance as soon as possible to determine whether treatment is needed to prevent rabies.

The Effects of Skunk Spray on Dogs

How rare is rabies in skunks?

Over the last two centuries, skunks have been one of the most common wildlife rabid animals across North America (Gremillion-Smith & Woolf, 1988; Ma et al., 2023; Oertli et al., 2009).

Is rabies common in skunks?

Skunks with rabies have been found in parts of California, the Midwest, Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Raccoons with rabies have been found in the South and Eastern states. Foxes with rabies have been found in Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Should you take your dog to a vet after skunk spray?

First, give your dog a quick visual check to decide if the spray got in their eyes or mouth. Skunk spray is a very noxious substance, so a direct hit to these areas calls for a direct visit to the veterinarian. The signs will be obvious, like extreme drooling, vomiting or red, puffy eyes.

Do I need to take my dog to the vet after skunk spray?

If your pet is sprayed in their eyes or mouth, we recommend a veterinary evaluation. In rare cases, skunk toxicosis can occur, and cause dangerous changes to your pet's hemoglobin (i.e., the oxygen-carrying portion of a red blood cell). Skunk toxicosis can appear 24 hours after skunk exposure.

How long does it take for rabies to show in dogs?

The incubation period (the time until clinical signs appear) can vary from ten days to one year or longer. In dogs, the incubation period is typically two weeks to four months. The speed at which clinical signs develop depends upon: 1.

What happens if you don't wash your dog after skunk spray?

If quick action is not taken it is possible to smell the odor on your dog for up to two years, especially when the dog gets wet. It is best to bathe your dog with a shampoo before the skunk's sulfuric spray dries on the fur.

What should you not do after your dog gets sprayed by a skunk?

First things first: if your dog got skunked, your first instinct is probably to get them inside and in the bathtub. DON'T DO THIS. The skunky smell can quickly permeate your home and household fabrics, lingering in your house even after your pup is clean. Your best bet is to treat your dog outside.

How do you clean a dog's mouth after being sprayed by a skunk?

If a pet's eyes or mouth are obviously irritated after being sprayed by a skunk, rinse these areas immediately with water. Rinse the mouth out such that the pet's face is pointing downward so water can safely fall out of the mouth and not be inhaled.

Can a vaccinated dog contract rabies?

A currently vaccinated dog, cat, or ferret is unlikely to become infected with rabies. When an exposure has occurred, the likelihood of rabies infection varies with the nature and extent of that exposure. Under most circumstances, two categories of exposure — bite and nonbite — should be considered.

Can petting a rabid dog cause rabies?

Other types of contact, such as petting a rabid animal or contact with the blood, urine or feces of a rabid animal, are not associated with risk for infection and are not considered to be exposures of concern for rabies. Other modes of transmission—aside from bites and scratches—are uncommon.

How long can a skunk carry rabies?

Clinical signs of rabies in skunks can last from 1-18 days before the animal dies (Charlton et al., 1991). A skunk can be infected and harbor a latent form of the virus for up to 18 months (usually not longer than 2-6 weeks), but they cannot transmit the virus by biting before the virus reaches the salivary glands.

Can a dog foam at the mouth after being sprayed by a skunk?

The spray is not that poisonous but can cause a lot of problems. The results can be irritation, watering eyes, a runny nose, nausea, and vomiting. Call your vet immediately if you notice dogs sprayed by skunk foaming at the mouth. Your veterinarian may want to see your dog right away.

Does Dawn remove skunk smell from dogs?

Thankfully, there are many methods you can use to safely and effectively get the smell of skunk spray off of you and/or your pet. One of the best ways to remove skunk smell is with a mixture of dish soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.

Can you give a dog Benadryl after skunk spray?

Benadryl is usually considered safe for itching of this nature and a dosage can be gotten from your veterinarian if you call (we cannot legally give you a dosage because of the nature of our company, and having not seen your pet in person).

What to do when your dog gets sprayed by a skunk at night no hydrogen peroxide?

(If you don't have peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap on hand, use vinegar diluted with water.) Caution: Do NOT store this mixture or make it ahead of time, as the mixture could explode if left in a bottle.

How do you know if a dead skunk has rabies?

You can't tell if an animal has rabies by just looking at it—the only way to know for sure if an animal (or a person) has rabies is to perform laboratory testing. However, animals with rabies may act strangely. Some may be aggressive and try to bite you or other animals, or they may drool more than normal.

Is a skunk out during the day rabies?

Generally speaking, skunks are not active during the day, or if they are, it is only around dawn and dusk. Rabies makes infected animals behave strangely, so if a skunk is out during the day, it could be rabid.

What does a skunk with rabies act like?

In skunks, rabies symptoms include abnormal behavior, such as being active in the daytime, aggressiveness, seizures, stumbling, and vocalizing. However, skunks and other infected animals can transmit rabies before they show symptoms of the disease. The rabies virus is transmitted through infected animals' saliva.

What is late stage rabies in skunks?

A skunk that seems lethargic is probably suffering from late-stage rabies. The disease has a negative impact on the animal's muscles and prevents the animal from controlling its movements as the central nervous system is hijacked by the invading virus. A rabid skunk may also appear to experience seizures.

Why do skunks get rabies so easily?

It's often believed that skunks all carry rabies, but this isn't true. Just like you or any other animal, a skunk has to be infected with rabies by being bitten by rabid animal. Skunks can contract the virus but not show any symptoms for up to 6 months.

---