How do I get tree sap off my Yorkie's hair?!!
 

Yoshi was trying to chase a squirrel up a tree & now he has tree sap stuck on parts of his coat. I've been trying to get it off with olive oil & baking soda, but it's a process. Everytime I think I got it all & go to shampoo him...I realize there's still some sap left. I'd like to avoid cutting the hair because it's down to the skin on his right foot & I'd have to shave it completely. :( Does anyone know of a product I can use to help get rid of at least the major clumps?

Oh no, Yoshi! I've heard peanut butter helps with sap and gum. I see you already tried olive oil.

Apart from oils I can only think of icing it. Depends how much cold your baby can take. Should get brittle and crumble, I think, not a fact though as I have never tried this with sap.

I'll try peanut butter. Thanks!! I've been mixing olive oil with baking soda because I use that to take price tags off of stuff & I figured it would work. Maybe I'll try straight olive oil if the peanut butter doesn't work. Maybe the baking soda is sticking to the sap? It's getting better, but it's really tangled in there. I've discovered that I need to get it off every. Single. Strand. Of hair...:mad: Otherwise, it becomes a big tangled mess again. I had no idea that tree sap was uber strong like this.

Nail polish remover, mineral spirits, alcohol, lighter fluid. Work it out with a cotton ball.

Haha, you sound like my father. He would definitely say, "A little gasoline will clean that instantly." :eek:

Nail polish remover is a possibility. Rinse really well.

Teresa, I am sorry. I've had sap on my skin and I know how hard it is to remove.

Oh yeah, use a baking soda/water paste to clean afterwards. :)

I hope I didn't offend you. I adore my father, so I meant the comparison to be funny. We don't always agree.

Avon Skin So Soft maybe if you have any. I know it takes tar off of a car and the gum from price tag stickers.

A little bit of Pine Sol in the washer takes pine sap out of clothes...I thought the clothes were ruined. It likely will quickly remove it from canine hair. If I was to use it, I'd use the tiniest amount on a cotton ball or Q-tip, etc., and wash out the Pine Sol as quickly and thoroughly as possible as immediately as possible afterward. But...it just might work. :p

No offense taken Kristen. My Dad was like that too. :) Mr. Practical.;)

I got interested in the topic so I googled. I don't know if you've already tried this but I thought I'd share the link... I hope you're able to get it all out..

Removing Sap From Dog Fur | Dog Care - The Daily Puppy

I would try peanut butter// it gets gum out of hair

Pickles got sap all over his paws on our trip in June. I followed instructions I found online and iced his little toe feathers, put a little oil on and it came right off. Then I shampooed the oil out. Not so sure how this would work on bigger areas of the coat, though!

I was thinking I wonder if goof off would be safe and looked it up. Here were some ideas from a person whos dog gets sap quite often on its fur:

I have tried WD-40 &OFF mosquito spray. Because they are both oil based. I just sprayed it on the dogs fur then let it soak in a few min. then wipe with a towel. But if you are afraid of damaging the dog's skin. Then try Goo-Gone, I have used this also and I think it works much better. I have a miniature schnauzer and dont want to cut her hair everytime she gets sap in it. So try these things.

END.

This is not my own experience, but maybe something to look into if all else fails :-) I sure hope your fur baby gets sap free soon xoxo

I use doTERRA Lemon essential oil to clean the sap out of my camp trailer after we go camping. I use a cotton pad and a couple of drops of oil. Works perfectly!!

Thanks everyone!! Unfortunately, I did't have any nail polish remover, lighter fluid, Pine Sol or Skin So Soft in the house. Apparently, I'm not very prepared for tree sap disasters. How bizarre about the Skin So Soft, btw. I had no idea that stuff was so potent!

I eventually got the sap off with olive oil, peanut butter & a hair dryer. I just didn't realize it was going to take sooooo looooong. Apparently, you need to let your oil of preference sit on the coat/skin for a while. It still takes a little elbow grease, a good mustache comb & a very calm dog to remove it, but it gets most of it off. I'm just overly thrilled that I didn't have to cut anything. There was a point where I lathered the skin on his leg in vaseline & attempted to remove it with turpentine on a Q-tip. But he was really put off my the smell & started sneezing like a maniac. Heads up to anyone with a pup with a sensitive nose.

THANK YOU so much all for the suggestions!! I'm so happy that experience is over. I've been considering gating the area off in my backyard where the pine trees are. Either that or I might just contact my local Avon rep to purchase a bottle of Skin So Soft. You never know when that stuff will come in handy. ;)

I'm glad you got the sap off without resorting to trimming. Poor Yoshi. I blame the squirrel. :p

I need to add Avon Skin So Soft and Pine Sol to my list of must haves. It is surprising and strange that a skin lotion would remove grease and tar.

Thank you, Inga. :)

I diluted some Skin So Soft with water and keep it in a spray bottle. I used to wonder how it could be good for your skin if it was harsh enough to remove road tar. But I don't think it is harsh at all. I think it softens it to death where you can just roll it up in a little ball and pull it off. It's great.