What signs should I watch for after my dog was sprayed by a skunk?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Ella. Poor girl, that's awful. I also suspect she was sprayed in the face if her eyes are bright red. Getting sprayed in the eyes by a skunk is akin to getting sprayed in the eyes with tear gas. This requires immediately veterinary care. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry Spot is so uncomfortable. I assume you meant she was sprayed by a skunk? She should see a veterinarian to make sure there is no ulceration or damage to the eyes, but in the meantime you can flush the eyes with an isotonic eye saline rinse that you can purchase at almost any over the counter pharmacy. Also cool water compresses applied to the closed eyes may make her more comfortable. I hope this helps!

I am afraid, without actually smelling your dog, I could not tell you. However you should give your dog a bath and see whether you can wash off whatever he was sprayed with. This still may have been a skunk. If your dog still cannot open his eyes, he will have to be seen by a veterinarian after being washed, preferably this morning.

It is unlikely the skunk caused any problems for your dog. Oher than the foul odor, skunk musk is unlikely to cause any lasting health problems. It has been reported to cause anemia from damage to the red blood cells but this is an effect you would be seen within days after exposure, not months. Ask for a follow up with your veterinarian. Discuss your concerns about his weight loss, and the chronic vomiting/diarrhea. In addition to a physical examination, they may recommend additional tests such as bloodwork, urinalysis, and imaging of the body.

The chemical substances sprayed by skunks and called thiols can be quite irritant and provoke inflammation on dogs skin, gums and eyes. Usually plenty of water can be used to wash out these substances (especially from eyes). Water can be sprayed with a syringe (without needle) inside the mouth to wash it off as much as possible. If Flec keeps salivating despite it, a check up would be needed as anti-inflammatory meds may be required. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Yes, it is very possible that skunk spray went down in the ear canal. You should probably try cleaning the ear with ear wash. Do it daily for 3-4 days and if not improved then he should see a vet (especially if the ear is tender). ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-ear-rinse-for-dogs )

I would recommend contacting your veterinarian, to see if the dog should have the Rabies vaccination updated. Depending on when they were last vaccinated, it may be recommended to Booster them if skunks are rabies vectors in your area. If there was only the one episode of vomiting, you can continue to monitor for any signs of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or pain which could indicate G.I. obstruction or problem from ingesting bones or pancreatitis if they ate a rotting carcass. But if they seem otherwise happy and healthy, then it seems the skunk got the worse end of the deal. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/skunk-spray-and-your-dog Thank you for using PetCoach.