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Friday, August 8th, 2008
Skunked

This past weekend, Mr. Shoo went up to Chicago for Lollapolooza. On his way up to the city, he dropped me off in Joliet so that I could spend four days with one of my best friends, roommate from college, and bridesmaid in my wedding, Christy Lynn.
Chaos usually ensues when Christy and I are together. This past weekend was no different.
Chris dropped me off in Joliet around 7:30. Christy and I ate, caught up and just laid around on the couch like bums until 11:30 when we decided to go to bed. She had to be up for beauty school in the morning, and I just like to sleep. So, she went to let Apollo, their boxer, out for the last time that night.
I'm sitting in the living room when I hear Christy shout, "There's an animal out back. Duain, there's an animal. Apollo! Get back here! Apollo!" Then I heard a sound like an air freshener going off. But it was most definitely not an air freshener aroma that hit my nose when the dog came running in.
He'd bolted past Christy and frantically jumped onto the couch. My eyes were watering, and my nose and mouth burned.
He'd been skunked.
Christy's boyfriend, the dog's actual owner, was out of town for his job. So, Christy, Duaine, the roommate, and I had to figure out what to do...So, what did Duaine do? Jump online. Christy and I dragged the dog into the bathroom and locked him in, then headed to Jewel, the only open store in the area, and waited for Duaine to call to tell us what to buy.

This is what the intertubes told us to get. Yes, those are douches. You can't use the hydrogen peroxide on the dog's face, so the magical intertubes told us to get douches.
None of that worked. So, we sent Duaine to the store for tomato juice, the wives tale miracle cure for skunk smell. Whatever wives say that tomato juice works are completely wrong.
So, we moved onto another intertube suggestion and tried toothpaste.

That's Christy toothpasting up Apollo's face.
After four or so hours and several trips to the store, we put Apollo in the garage and tried to call it a night. But we figured we should put our clothes down in the basement to be washed.
Should've just left it to putting Apollo in the garage because I missed the bottom step, and landed on the ground right on my ankle. I heard a really healthy sounding pop, then I crumpled to the ground. I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. I finally decided I didn't want to cry, so I laughed even though my ankle had started ballooning up and my toes were tingling/going numb.
Christy helped me hobble up the stairs and into the living room. I laid down while Duaine took a look at my ankle and Christy showered for a trip to the ER. I attempted to call my husband, but for the life of me, I couldn't get him to answer the phone.

I cut off my head because I looked awful. But you can see me sprawled out on the skunk-stinking carpet with ice on my ankle trying to get ahold of Chris.
It was three in the morning. I was tired and stunk like skunk, so I decided I had no desire to spend the rest of the night stinking in the ER. Duaine wrapped my ankle, and we figured we'd see how I felt in the morning.
We slept about three hours. We woke up to the skunk smell and a painful ankle. It was still sore/tingling, but the swelling had gone down, so I skipped the ER. We went to Petsmart, got de-skunker and cleaned like crazy.
I hobbled through the rest of the weekend very well. We had a great time despite the skunk smell.
We went to a big, Greek birthday party, where Christy shared her sunglasses with a tiny person.

Then we had a birthday party for Christy.

Here's a picture of the founding members of the chubby cheek club, Christy and me.
Before I left, Christy Lynn cut my hair. So I have new hair again.
I came home with a sore ankle, a bag of skunky clothes and new hair.
Tags:  dog, me, skunk
19 Comments
reera
1) You sound pretty cheerful for having had a traumatic weekend.Hope your ankle is better.
dannie   Friday, August 8, 2008
znheard1
2) oh man! i don't know whether to laugh at the funniness of it all or feel sorry for you. I hope the ankle gets better very soon!!!
trippygolightly   Friday, August 8, 2008
KayDee
3) oh my gosh! That story is great. did it ever occur to you the whole time these things were happening that this is going to make a great blog?
KAYDEE   Friday, August 8, 2008
lgrant
4) Mrs. Shoo - that was quite an adventure. Talk about domino effect! Sorry about being skunked, sorry about the hurt ankle, glad you survived it all and had the good humor and adventurous spirit to enjoy it all and see a blog to share with us all.

I'm glad I wasn't skunked like you with my near mistake. Skunks are to be respected!! Hopefully that boxer will remember that next skunk!
LGrant   Friday, August 8, 2008
George
5) That sounds like the Warner Bros. weekend from hades. I hope your ankle heals quickly. Unfortunately, from experience, ankles take a while.
LimeyGeorge   Friday, August 8, 2008
mrsshoo
6) Laugh. We laughed the night it happened. It wasn't as funny the next day when it still stunk.
Kristen, I actually took the pictures of the dog and me on the floor thinking of Humzoo.
Linda, watch out for the skunks. The smell along the highway is nothing compared with an actual skunking. Watch out for them for sure!!
Limey, I'm realizing it's going to need some time. I'm getting really impatient though and not staying off it, which I'm sure isn't helping.
Mrs. Shoo   Friday, August 8, 2008
justmeg
7) I have to say - I am laughing right now - it does seems as though it is a script for a Looney Toons cartoon
justmeg   Friday, August 8, 2008
George
8) Did you find an antidote for the odor?

By the way, I sprained my ankle a couple of years ago and still feel it when i get up sometimes.
LimeyGeorge   Friday, August 8, 2008
9) Love the new haircut.
Sorry about the ankle and hope it is doing better.

Yes, please tell how did you folks end up dealing with the smell on the dog and in the house?
Auntie Catherine   Saturday, August 9, 2008
willnbek
10) Oh no!!!! Thats not good. Did your ankle turn purple??? I sprained my ankle really bad the day before I climbed the Grand Teton. I tied it up in a hiking boot and went anyway. I guess it finally got back to "normal" after 3 weeks or so. Its strong as ever right now. Oh, the sprain was last September.

Did it look like this
http://www.humzoo.com/willnbek/photos/1/11/
WillnBek.com   Saturday, August 9, 2008
mrsshoo
11) We didn't find anything to take the odor out. The vet said the dog would have it in his pores for the next month or so. And we tried quite a few remedies for our clothing and furniture to no avail. I washed my skunked clothes yesterday, and they still have a slight odor to them.
Will, it basically looked like that but with less swelling and bruising above the bone and more in the top of the foot/toe area. It's still a bit bruised and sore if I move it in certain ways, but it's much better than it was.
Mrs. Shoo   Sunday, August 10, 2008
Leslie
12) I have been through everything you went through last night and you have my complete sympathy. At least the dog had short hair. I had a Golden that got sprayed...the worst with all that long hair. I agree that tomato juice does nothing.
I've sprained my ankle three times...all the result of playing competetive tennis. Ouch! Ice, ice and more ice and wrapping which it sounds like you are doing. At least you get to go home and escape the lingering odor. Good for you for having a good time despite it all. You are a trooper!
Leslie   Sunday, August 10, 2008
reera
13) Leslie, I sprained my ankle over 8 yesrs ago and now I am having trouble with it swelling-any ideas? If I stand very long that seems to trigger it. It aches pretty much all the time. I guess I will have to have the doc check it next time I am in but I think he will probably tell me I have arthritis.
dannie   Sunday, August 10, 2008
justmeg
14) dannie - I can tell you - after having a lifetime of ankle injuroies which finally ended up with 2 surgeries 4 years ago - if you sprained it 8 years ago and it is now starting to bother you - you have prob developed osteoarthristis in it. I have horrible arthritis in both ankles now and go to my ortho 2-3 times a year for steroid shots in my ankles just to be able to walk. Heels are out of the question for me and they are doubtful about my ability to ever run again.
justmeg   Sunday, August 10, 2008
reera
15) I haven't worn heels in years but more do to back problems and I never did learn to walk very well in them. I agree it is probably arthritis but I will put off steriods as long as possible. I had that done to my back and it helped but it isn't the best thing for your bones.
dannie   Sunday, August 10, 2008
16) So far have been lucky to avoid any skunks in our yard when taking the dogs out at night. Do know they 'visit' the area cause have smelt their lovely cologne in the air.

Did find this online though that folks are swearing by to clean a dog:
Use this recipe
1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
1/4 cup Baking Soda
1 teaspoon liquid soap (Dawn)
Mix in a bucket (it will fizz).
Soak your dog's fur, but be careful not to get any in his eyes.
Use a sponge to clean off his head and around his eyes.
Toss out anything left over..DO NOT STORE.
Auntie Catherine   Sunday, August 10, 2008
Leslie
17) Dannie, I question whether the problem you have now is related to a sprain 8 years ago. A sprain is an injury to a ligament and as far as I know doesn't cause arthritis. However if you tore the ligament it can cause chronic problems if not repaired. Have you had problems off and on ever since you "sprained" it? If you have swelling you should see an orthopedist. It may be treatable.
Leslie   Sunday, August 10, 2008
mrsshoo
18) Leslie, Christy and I always have fun...even in awful situations. We made the best of it, and it helped that I could go home to a non-skunkified house.

Aunt Cathy, we tried that, and it helped but didn't completely get rid of the smell. The dog wasn't nearly as bad, so it helped.
Mrs. Shoo   Sunday, August 10, 2008
reera
19) Leslie, At the time I didn't think it was that bad. It turned purple and I limped for awhile but every since it has been puffy but in the last year it has goten much worse. I am a typical nurse-either over react or shrug it off (I'm the later)I guess I need to bite the bullet and see the ortho.(or as I tell others quit complaining)
dannie   Monday, August 11, 2008
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