Dogs get into a variety of messy situations. They become covered in dirt, mud, food and sometimes other oddities, such as ball point pen ink. Whether your dog decided your pen looked like a tasty chew toy, or your curious child attempted to dye your pup's fur, removing ball point pen ink from dog fur is simple and quick.
Fill bucket with warm water. Make sure the water is not so hot that it burns your skin or that of your dog.
Add 1 tbsp. dish soap to the water and mix well.
Dip the sponge into the bucket of soapy water.
Hold the stained fur in your hand, if possible.
Scrub the ink from your dog's fur with the sponge. Scrub for several minutes, taking care not to abrade your dog's skin.
Rinse the soap from your dog's fur with lukewarm to cool water.
Repeat this process if the stain remains but appears to have faded. You may need to do this several times.
Apply rubbing alcohol to your dog's fur if the stain does not appear to be fading at all. Scrub with the rubbing alcohol as you would with soap and water. Be sure to thoroughly clean away the rubbing alcohol with soap and water when you are done. (reference 2)
Tips
In the most extreme circumstances, the ink may need to fade or grow out naturally.
If you have a white dog, applying lemon juice and allowing the dog to romp around in the sunshine for a while may lighten the stain.
Warnings
Commercial stain removers intended for upholstery and clothing are available for the removal of ink, but should never be used on animals due to potential toxicity. Safe, pet-friendly stain removal kits for fur are commercially available.
The use of nail polish remover, while effective, should be discouraged, as the primary ingredient acetone may cause dermatologic distress.
References
- The Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing; Victoria Aspinall; 2006
- Dog Grooming for Dummies; Margaret H. Bonham; 2006
Writer Bio
Elizabeth Tumbarello has been writing since 2006, with her work appearing on various websites. She is an animal lover who volunteers with her local Humane Society. Tumbarello attended Hocking College and is pursuing her Associate of Applied Science in veterinary technology from San Juan College.