do you refuse skunking baths?

[Crystal]

I did a skunked dog on Monday. man was that a mistake. It took forever to get the skunk smell out. I had to flush my tanks completely with alot of bleach to get the smell out. And today when I got in my van ( think from the rain) I noticed a slight skunk smell. Today I also had a new client first thing that wanted to see inside my van. I was so afraid she would smell it.

The skunked dog was a sort of regular client, so I felt I couldn't refuse him. But I'm the one living with the smell.

I also had the smell on my hands that took 2 days to get rid of. so much for trying to conceive a baby that night. All I could think of was getting the smell off my hands.

Has anyone ever found gloves that were long enough to prevent it from getting their hands wet when handling a skunked dog?

[furryfriends]

Absolutely!

I feel so sorry for the poor dog and for the owner, but I'm sorry just can't do it. It makes me so sick. It's just not worth it.

Maybe for a MILLION DOLLARS I would consider it, but not for one cent less!

[furrybestjob]

For the most part the skunk dog calls I've received are from people who have never used me, and since I don't have openings for week, I end up not taking them. If they haven't called me before, I'm not confident they would call again, so I'm not going to work late nights to fit them in. I have done 2 skunk dogs of regular clients and will do my best to fit those in. Your right, the smell is terrible and I haven't used gloves either. What I did do is keep my waste water tank open so the water wouldn't sit in my tanks.

[azoci]

Yes, even when I had a salon. For sure, not in my mobile!

[Misty]

Whenever I do a skunked dog I do the first treatment outside before I get the dog in my van . I always try to keep some kind of skunk off spray to keep in my van. Then when I get to the customers house I have them hold the dog while I spray it. This can be done no matter what the weather, it only takes a couple of minutes, and if the dog was stupid enough to get skunked it can be uncomfortable for a few minutes. Then after I get the dog in the van I use the peroxide, baking soda mixture. After I am done with the dog I will run more peroxide, baking soda through the system. Then leave the doors and windows open for awhile to air out the van. Generally there is no smell by the next morning. Also by spraying the dog first I don't touch it until the worst of the smell is gone. I have never had trouble with the smell on my hands and I rarely manage to have gloves in my van when I need them.

[hairdevil]

no I don't accept them. send to the vets! ewwww

[HoundLover]

send them to a regular shop or a vets office...well...at the two shops i worked at none of the dogs were skunked. a couple had been PREVIOUSLY skunked...and one rolled in dead fish (yeah...imagine THAT smell when it got wet! UGH!!) and one had rolled in goose poop or something. but the shop never really smelled after that...maybe send them to a shop or a vets office and say that due to the close confines of your mobile unit that you dont take skunked dogs. id say you have a choice of wether or not you want to take skunked dogs...just like you have an option of wether or not you wish to do anals and cats and certain breeds of dogs. its all up to you its your business.
if you dont want to do skunked dogs then dont do skunked dogs. LOL!
Hound

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

No! Don't send them to the vets! I send them home and tell 'em to do the skunk treatment at home. It stunk up our WHOLE hospital last time, we had to open all the doors it was awful. SO no more of that.

Tammy in Utah

[Crystal]

But do you refuse a regular client? That's where my problem is.

I have no problem refusing someone I've never groomed for- that's their problem. But the regulars who depend on me I have trouble saying no to.

I guess I just need to be a harda$$ sometimes and tell them sorry I just can't accomodate them.

[rapuzzled]

so much for trying to conceive a baby that night. All I could think of was getting the smell off my hands.

Geez, TMI! lol

[cassidy1]

I write up the hydrogen peroxide/baking soda/dish soap etc. instructions and email it to them or let them pick it up. I've told people that we can't do it but if they are in a pinch they can pick up the supplies from us. We have one customer's dog that is a repeat offender and they keep a bucket with all the supplies on hand now.

[foxhound lady]

When I worked at a vet clinic, we'd tell the clients to get the supplies. And then we'd do them in the outdoor kennel area. Thankfully never had to do any in the winter mostly summer and fall. We'd also charge them more. I've never had a problem with the smell (go fig)

The shop I'm at now well lets just say that the Febreeze works overtime during skunk season.

[rapuzzled]

send them to a regular shop or a vets office...well...at the two shops i worked at none of the dogs were skunked. a couple had been PREVIOUSLY skunked...and one rolled in dead fish (yeah...imagine THAT smell when it got wet! UGH!!) and one had rolled in goose poop or something. but the shop never really smelled after that...maybe send them to a shop or a vets office and say that due to the close confines of your mobile unit that you dont take skunked dogs. id say you have a choice of wether or not you want to take skunked dogs...just like you have an option of wether or not you wish to do anals and cats and certain breeds of dogs. its all up to you its your business.
if you dont want to do skunked dogs then dont do skunked dogs. LOL!
Hound

I know the smell of dead fish on wet dog well. I had bathed my dog, and the next day took her for a walk. I caught her rolling in something, and realized it was a dead fish :O I could have killed her!!!

[redbird]

Hate to ask but

What in the world would you charge for something like that.

Perhaps a better way to phrase it would be, how long does
deskunking say, a Shepherd, take?

I will probably get some out here.

[PoodlePal]

I feel like deskunking is a service that I need to offer to my regular customers. Certainly wouldn't do it otherwise.

I've only deskunked 2 dogs since I've had my van. First I put on latex gloves (got them from a Korean market). Then I open the back doors of my van and secure the dog to the van using a kennel lead (which I can throw away afterwards). I apply the baking soda, peroxide, & Dawn mixture outside with a sponge. I then feed the hose from my water tank (same hose at the tub)through the back on my van and the dog gets rinsed outside. (We don't have very cold weather in San Diego so weather isn't an issue.) I then will bring the dog into my van to give it a degreasing shampoo bath.