Well, they oiled our road today. It just happened to be raining when they did it. Oil floats on water - floats right up through that skimpy covering of rock, it does. Bentley the Sheltie; AKA The Brainless Furball, decided to go play in the road. His feet are covered with road oil, he has road oil on his belly, his snout, his ears and who knows where else 'cause I'm not about to let the little oil slick get near me right now!

We used to use gasoline or kerosene to clean it off our feet and bicycles, but I really don't think it would be too good for the dog. Not just toxicity wise, but I can just see the neighbor throwing out a lit cigarette.....

I've used WD-40 to get it out of auto carpet and off the outside of the car - is that stuff as bad for him as gas? Or does anyone know of anything that might work - poor little guy looks pretty miserable right now.

Thanks,

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2001

Answers

Maybe Dawn dishwashing soap? Their ads say that it cuts through grease.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2001

Those little buggers do get into stuff, don't they Polly! I had one once who rolled in everything but had a huge fondness for poops of all kind! Anyway you might try the mechanics hand cleaner. You know the stuff they clean grease off their hands with? Don't know the name off hand but they are real mild and did work for my mut. Good luck...Kirk

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2001

I sent an urgent message to a friend who knows about dog grooming and toxicity stuff, but she's probably in transit home and I don't know when she'll look at the computer again. I'll post as soon as I get an answer.

I think the Dawn might be the first thing to try. I got the crap on a shirt once, and used Citra-Solv to get it out. BUt I think that might be a bit harsh on the dog's skin.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2001

Shears?

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2001

Somebody told me once that she gets motor oil of her husbands over alls by rubbing lard in the oil then washing them,then I guess I should have asked her...How do I get the lard and motor oil out of the washer!!!

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2001

Dawn dishwashing detergent is what they use to remove oil from the seabirds and mammals during oil spills at sea, as the most effective and least toxic to the animal. I think I would start with that. Then, if it doesn't get it all out, heck, go with the lard treatment, Dawn to get that off again. My third attempt I think would be the Citra-Solv like Joy mentioned, Dawn again, and hopefully a nice vinegar rinse, then oatmeal-water (mix a handful of oatmeal in a gallon of cold water and let it steep for about an hour, strain, and use as a rinse, then rinse with cold water). And then if all else fails, there are the shears and clippers.

Hopefully Denise will get back to Joy with some other suggestions soon.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

I use grain alcohol to cut through oils here. I have been known to use it on clothing as well. A wetted rag and wipe method may help. It evaporates quickly and could be followed with a traditional dog bath.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Hope some of these work for you, Polly, as my friend Denise (not to be confused with "our" Denise on the board) has not answered. Maybe they had weekend plans that I don't know about. Sorry!

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Hand cleaner, the kind that comes in little white tubs that mechanics and truck drivers use to get the gunk off their hands and is used in the laundry to pretreat to get the gunk out of their clothes, can safely be used to smear all over the affected areas, remove as much as possible with paper towels or rags, then wash the dog with any mild oily hair shampoo. This should do the trick!

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Okay, I heard from my friend:

Use a grease/oil-releasing agent, like DAWN dishwashing liquid. Dilute it (say 1 part dawn, 2 parts water), put it in a spray bottle, spray it on the oily spots and work it in. This should keep it away from the skin as long as possible, since we don't want to strip the skin of oils anymore than possible. Once the oil has been loosened up, shampoo with a regular dog shampoo, preferable for sensitive skin.

If there is tarry stuff involved (which most road work does involve) liquid paraffin will loosen up the sticky stuff, and then can be shampooed off. You can suggest the types of places to find liquid paraffin.

As far as I know, liquid paraffin is Ultra-Pure lamp oil. I suppose it could be just the regular lamp oil, but without color or scent in it. Hope this helps you, Polly. Let us know what you did and how it worked!

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Gojo hand cleaner, Dawn dishwashing soap, scissors, lots of rags. Now, how to you get road oil off of a human without turning THEM into a flammable object!?

Thanks everyone!

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Same stuff, we're easier to de-grease cause we have less "fur"!!!

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2001

I dunno Annie, I think Hubby gives the dog a run for his money on the fur thing.... ;oP

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2001

You know, Polly, after I sent that, I got to thinking about some of the men I have seen with enough fur on their backs to qualify for Neanderthal status!!!

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2001