If it's sticky, stinky or otherwise gross, dogs have a habit of finding it. Because they are covered from head to toe with fur, sticky substances tend to be the worst. If your dog is like most, she's bound to end up with pine tar in her fur at some point. If this happens, don't panic. It may take a little time, but you can safely and comfortably remove the tar with shaving off your pup's coat.
Cut the fur away from your dog's body if the pine tar is at the end of long hair. If your dog has short hair or has many patches of pine tar, this may not work well.
Work a little bit of olive oil, mineral oil or peanut butter into your dog's fur. Work the oil or peanut butter all around the tar.
Allow the oil to soak for several minutes and then touch the tar. It should feel a little softer and a lot slimier.
Grab the tar globs with a washcloth and gently pull away from your dog's skin. You may need to add additional oil or peanut butter to slide the tar all the way off your dog's fur.
Try a commercial tar remover, such as De-Solv-It or a similar product. These products are formulated to remove tar and other sticky substances. Make sure any product you use is non-toxic and safe for use on dogs.
Wash your pooch with lukewarm water and a dog shampoo. You may need to shampoo her a few times to completely remove the oil, peanut butter or commercial tar remover.
Rinse and dry her very well, and then brush her fur to check for any remaining pine tar. Leaving pine tar in her fur can lead to chewing, hair loss and skin irritation.
Items You Will Need
- Scissors
- Olive oil
- Washcloth
- Commercial tar remover
References
Writer Bio
Sandra Ketcham has nearly two decades of experience writing and editing for major websites and magazines. Her work appears in numerous web and print publications, including "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "The Tampa Bay Times," Visit Florida, "USA Today," AOL's Gadling and "Kraze Magazine."