Mephitis Advocate

Skunk News You Can Use!
4 Month Old Skunk Kits

September is a busy month for new skunk owners! In September, the kits born in May will be turning 4 months. There were lots of changes in the last few months as kits grow fast, and are starting to look less like a baby skunk. Like other mammals, some body parts may appear to be growing faster than others, but that should even out in the next few months. By now your little girl should weigh between 2lbs and 3.5lbs depending on whether she will be a small, average or large female. Your little boy will be between 2.5lbs and 4lbs depending on whether he will be a small, average or large male. You should have already purchased a digital baby scale and be maintaining a weight log, weighing the skunk at least once every 2 weeks. This weight log will be beneficial for the skunk’s entire lifetime. Once the skunk reaches his or her adult weight, it will assist you in maintaining the skunk at a healthy weight. It will point to trends that will show if the skunk is gaining or losing weight, this is information your Veterinarian will find helpful. Sometimes the only symptom the skunk is ill, is a weight loss or gain that may, or may not be noticed without the weight log. The 3rd de-worming should be completed no later than the first week of September, if you are following the schedule. If you started late, or got off schedule, now is the time […]
Spotlight on Cleopatra

Here is our beautiful Cleopatra. She is my second Mephitis, the first being a chocolate. My first one passed on New Years Eve of 2014-2015, suddenly. It was saddening, and I could not live long without another skunk in my life so I called the breeder again, Ruby Fur Farms, as that was the only breeder I was aware of. Unfortunately, I am temporarily away from home for training with the U.S. Navy, so I had asked the breeder if he had any new arrivals, and if so, could he possibly wait to ship one until I was home in Mid-September. He said he could not, so I consulted my family back home, and it was agreed that we would have one shipped, and they would care for it until I returned, which they were capable of having assisted me with the last one. She arrived by plane in Eugene, Oregon on July 23rd at 2:30pm, and by assumption, with the aviation laws on animals, she should have been approximately 8 weeks old, or older. She was healthy and lively, but excessively cuddly for a new arrival. Typically they are more fearful after the long flight, separation from their mothers, and introduction to strangers. She did well for about two weeks, then suddenly, with no warning, she became unresponsive, on a weekend no less. The emergency vet was called, but upon hearing it was a skunk, they stated they would be unable to see her. Panic! My family called me, […]
Raw Hemp Cookies

  Raw Hemp Cookies are a healthy and tasty treat for skunks and you may you like them too! Keep in mind, it is nutrient dense so follow the recommended portion of one per day. The magnesium content may cause your skunk to have a loose stool if you over do it. Click here to print. ½ cup of Almond Butter (creamy or chunky) ½ cup of Coconut Butter (Cocnonut Manna) 1 cup or more of Raw Hemp Hearts 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Flavoring (optional) pinch of Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt (optional)   Measure Almond Butter and Coconut Butter and place in a bowl. If Coconut Butter is hard, place jar in the microwave for 15 seconds to soften. Stir Coconut Butter thoroughly before measuring as it usually separates. Mix Almond Butter and Coconut Butter together. Add optional ingredients if used. Measure out 1 cup of Hemp Hearts and add to the mixture. Stir until fully mixed. Continue adding more Hemp Hearts until hard to stir and the spoon stands upright in the mixture. Using a teaspoon, drop quarter size portions on a surface lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Refrigerate cookies. Use refrigerated cookies within 3 days. Freeze excess amount if any.   Notes: You can substitute other nut butters but Almond Butter is the best choice as almonds contain Magnesium, a mineral often lacking in a skunk’s diet. Do not substitute Peanut Butter. Peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes. Peanuts are high in phosphorus which […]
Spotlight on Gidget

I’m posting this on behalf of Landa Berry. She recently lost a kit because another kit attacked it. Sadly, it did not survive. Her story is below. “Yesterday turned into a horrible day. I am going to post what happened, so that others may be spared what we are going through. We have been having trouble keeping Gypsy in her playpen, we did everything. She would sometimes get in Gidget’s playpen and be mean to her. I went to lunch yesterday with my daughter, picked up some stuff from Wal Mart (skipped the trip to Publix) and went home. I was not gone 2 hrs. When I got home I checked on the girls, Gypsy had mauled Gidget, I rushed Gidget to the vet, but she did not make it. Milt and I have had skunks for 15 years (I got Peu June, 2001) and we have had around 65 skunks-mostly rescues over the years. NEVER! have I seen a baby skunk kill and maul another baby skunk, especially 2 females (ages 7-11 weeks). Milt and I are beating ourselves up, maybe if we put the playpens in different rooms, maybe if I got home sooner, what if, what if…As, ripped up as we are, please know, we still love Gypsy very much, she is still a baby and I honestly believe things happened before I bought her (like being fed only once a day, kept in pine shavings….who knows what) that caused her to be mean to Gidget, I […]
Vetting your Veterinarian

Vetting your Veterinarian - What every skunk guardian needs to, and has a right to know…. How to interview your vet: What is their bite policy? Will bites be reported? This has resulted in the unnecessary seizure and euthanasia of many skunks at this point. Test your vets knowledge of this matter. What is their vaccine protocol? (What are they using, and how often?) Do NOT over vaccinate your skunk. Titers are much safer. Your new vet will need appropriate Skunk Blood Reference Ranges. Share a copy from our Resources page with them, be assured they will keep this on file for you! Is your vet willing to confer with others, or research when needed? Willing to admit if they don’t have an answer, but eager to learn? Is the vets technology up to date, i.e., new (er) diagnostic equipment, digital x-rays? Is your vet tech savvy and able to share and communicate info in timely / modern manner? Is your vet in agreement with the “Do not use meds” list? Be sure your vet will not ever risk your baby’s health with meds other skunks have knowingly died from. How is your vets dietary knowledge? You do not want a vet that advises you to use any kibble made for other species (STOMP is only packaged species appropriate skunk food). WILL they be available to you in case of emergency? If not, who will? Overall “feels”; does he/she like skunks? Do you sense when they handle your pet, that they are handling the way you are raising them […]
Glossary of Pet Skunk Terms

I have started a glossary of pet skunk terms to make it easier for those who may be unfamiliar with some terms used in pet skunk care. I will update as the Mephitis Advocate grows. You can view it here or click on the link under resources. Let me know your suggestions for terms not yet added.
Pet Skunk Blood Work

Blood work should be done on your skunk’s annual wellness exam, and at other times when the Veterinarian needs it for either diagnostic reasons, or preceding surgery. Blood work and x-rays are your Veterinarian’s most often used tools in diagnosing an illness or injury of your skunk. You should expect to have this done prior to the neuter or spay of your kit, and then annually. The senior skunk (6 and older), may require blood work more often. You may be wondering about how the ranges were established. The International Species Information System is the largest global network of zoological interests in the world with more than 20,000 employees of zoos, aquariums and other organizations in almost 80 countries. They establish ranges by taking a representative sample of the species and provide those blood chemistry ranges to laboratories who process the samples that your Veterinarian submits for analysis. A full blood panel should include the following: 1) Complete Blood Count (CBC): A CBC is the measure of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The CBC can be used to diagnose an infection, anemia, low platelet count, and bone marrow disease. The Eosinophil reading for a skunk is particularly helpful in determining whether the skunk has parasites. A reading over 3, means the skunk needs to be de-wormed. Eosinophils may increase if the skunk has an allergy, but in my experience, it rises due to parasite infestation. 2) Chemistry panel: The minor chemistry panel provides information on kidney and liver values, […]