QUESTION
My dog was sprayed by a skunk at the cottage last weekend. We used buckets of tomato juice to clean him up, but it did nothing and the place still reeks. Can you suggest another solution?

Debbie Harris, Toronto, Ont.

ANSWER
Taxes, plumbing, bears, and bugs all hit a nerve with readers, but none seems to hit the olfactory nerve quite like these small, white-striped mammals. First, you're better off saving your tomato juice for afternoon cocktails - it's a myth that it makes an effective remedy. What does work? Way back in 1998, we printed this tried-and-true remedy that works well on most dogs:

4 cups 3% hydrogen peroxide (1 litre)
1/4 cup baking soda (60 ml)
1 tsp liquid hand soap (5 ml)

Yes, that says 4 cups of hydrogen peroxide. Don't skimp - buy the big bottle - your friends, family, and Fido will thank you for your attention to detail. Mix the formula in an open container and use immediately. (Do not store it; the magic elixir becomes volatile in a closed container.) Shampoo your pet, keeping well away from its eyes, until you can't smell skunk. If the pet is not immediately deodorized, let the shampoo sit for five to 10 minutes. Rinse. If some smell still lingers, wait a day before repeating.

Steve Brearton

* Published in the July/August 2006 issue of Cottage Life