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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, […]
Spotlight on Henri

On February 21, 2006, I took Henri (my otherwise glowingly healthy, not quite 6 year old boy) to see his regular vet. At that time I knew of no other skunk vet in my area, and she came recommended from the reptile store where I discovered him. He was my first baby, and I was a neurotic over him! When I brought him home, I was a helicopter mom; I agonized over all my choices regarding his care (as best I could anyway with the limited and conflicting information that was available to me at that time). All of a sudden one day, I noticed he had a slight limp and needed to be sure he was O.K. She took x-rays and concluded that he had “a touch of arthritis in his right knee”. She gave me two different medicines and the option to choose. One was Torbutrol, which she explained was a narcotic, and the other was Metacam / Meloxicam, an “anti-inflammatory”, which she likened to “you or I just taking a Tylenol”. Naturally the narcotic sounded dangerous, and an unnecessary over-kill, so I picked the Metacam, comfortably believing I chose the safer option. I started him off very slowly and even gave him HALF of his prescribed dosage. He seemed to improve and I continued him on the Metacam, again keeping the dose at less than half of what she prescribed. When I took him back for a follow up visit, she was pleased with his improvement and […]
De-Worming your Adult Skunk

De-worming your adult skunk properly is a very important part of skunk ownership that is often done improperly or not at all. All skunk kits come with roundworms that need to be removed before they build to a dangerous level. Read about de-worming a kit here. If you have had your skunk since it was a kit and already followed the initial 3 de-wormings, then you should be able to de-worm twice a year. If you have not already done so, start with the recommendations for de-worming a kit first. The recommended de-worming medications for skunks are Strongid (Pyrantel Pomoate) for kits and adults up to 4 lbs, and Panacur (Fenbendazole) for skunks 4 lbs and up. Panacur is a better choice because it kills more types of parasites than Strongid. Panacur comes in liquid form, Panacur Suspension 10%, or granules called Panacur C. If you are using the liquid Panacur, it is dosed at 25 mg per pound, or 50 mg per kilogram given daily for 3 consecutive days. There are cases where Veterinarians have given Panacur for up to 5 consecutive days. If you choose the granule form of Panacur, skunks 4 lbs to 10 lbs will get Panacur C, 1 gram, for 3 days in a row, wait exactly 2 weeks and repeat for 3 more days. Wait 6 months and give for 3 days, wait exactly 2 weeks and repeat for 3 more days. Each box contains 3 packs so you will be able to give it […]
Spotlight on Molly

I am an owner of a boy and girl skunk, both brown and white, and about 8 years old now. Their names are Gizmo and Molly. I was a very naive new skunk owner 8 years ago when I bought one from a pet store and adopted another as a friend. Both skunks were about 3 months old when I got them and full of that cute but really annoying baby skunk energy. They were completely nuts and I actually thought about getting rid of them as I felt completely overwhelmed everyday. Then I decided I would not be one of those people that gives up on family just because it got hard. My pets have always been family to me. I had stumbled upon another skunk owner website that looked like it had all the information I needed to raise a perfectly healthy skunk, but I was very wrong, especially when it came to diet. This particular site a encouraged a mainly vegetarian diet ( peas, carrots, other assorted veggies, berries, nuts, and CHEERIOS….yes.. CHEERIOS). My skunks were always remarkable lazy after reaching about 8 months old, I had heard this was normal so was never too worried about it. They would come out for meals and the occasional lap around the house, but that was it. They did occasionally play together and had very big personalities, but just mostly just slept all the time. When Molly turned 6 her health took a sudden turn. She began missing meals, […]
Pet Skunk Tips Magnetic Locks

Picture this if you will….you wake up and you hear what you think to be items that were ON the counter, crashing to the floor. Instinctively you run to the source….yup….coffee cup, silverware and food containers scattered on the floor and two beady little eyes staring at you as if, “Those things just jumped down there mama….honest”. But wait….the beady eyes are also ON the counter belonging to an 8 lb. furball who should not be there. How did this happen you ask? Open bottom drawer….climb…..open next drawer….climb…you get the idea. Also, doors to cabinet were open and stuff was strewn about. Yes….skunks climb and can open cabinet doors. If you have one like this, do not waste your money on the plastic closers. They will push past them. Solution? Magnetic locks from a baby store and if you plan on having skunks for awhile, they are a good investment. BTW….if you have other pets and kids, two problems solved. Next time I’ll tell you about the open fridge and skunk in the middle of 18 eggs…… Lynnda Butler Contributor
Featuring your Skunk

We have a new topic category featuring your skunk. This is where you tell your skunk’s personal story. The topic is open to past or present skunks. What did you learn from them that would help others? Share with other skunk owners, the good and the bad.
Plants Known to be Toxic to Pets

Since it is baby season, I thought it would be a good reminder to send out the list of plants known to be toxic to skunks and other pets. Even if your plant is on the list that is considered safe, be aware that skunks are naturally inclined to dig and may do severe damage to a potted plant. These plants may be inside or outside the home. While it is safe for skunks to eat fresh mushrooms from the store, it is NOT safe for them to eat mushrooms or other wild growing fungi. If you think your skunk has ingested anything on the toxic list, it is a medical emergency! If you have a plant to add to the list, please let us know. Aloe Vera Amaryllis Arrowhead Vine (all parts) Asparagus Fern Autumn Crocus Azalea/Rhododendron Bird of Paradise (fruit, seeds) Boston Ivy (all parts) Caladium (all parts) Calla Lily Castor Bean Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Creeping Charlie (all parts) Creeping Fig Crown of Thorns Daffodil Dieffenbachia Dumbcane (all parts) Easter lily Elephant Ears Emerald Duke (all parts) English Holly English and Glacier Ivy (leaves, berries) Heartleaf (all parts) Ivy (Hedera) Jerusalem Cherry Kalanchoe Lilies (all members) Lily of the Valley (all parts) Majesty (all parts) Marijuana Marble Queen (all parts) Mistletoe Nephthytis (all parts) Oleander (all parts) Parlor Ivy (all parts) Peace Lily Philodendron (all parts) Poinsettia (leaves, flowers) Pothos (all parts) Pot Mum Red Princess (all parts) Saddleleaf (all parts) Sago Palm (all parts including seeds) Schefflera […]
New Skunk Owners

Are you a new skunk owner??? Have you located a vet to treat your little furkid??? Consider “interviewing” the vet first to know if he/she has treated skunks before. Your first question should be, “what if my skunk bites you during the exam, what is your policy?” If he/she says, “We will need to report the bite to the health dept.” pick up your little bundle and LEAVE. If the answer is something like, “Wash it off and continue with exam trying to calm the little one” then continue with the visit. The law in Florida states, ” If a skunk bite is reported, the skunk will be killed and tested for rabies”. Of course the test results will be negative but the results for you and your skunk will be devastating because they need to be killed to complete the test. Find a vet who is skunk knowledgeable. Contact people on this blog for help. A list of trusted vets will be forthcoming!!!!!! Lynnda Butler Contributor
Prolapses

Prolapses in skunks most often occur because of improper or incomplete de-worming. This can happen a day or so after de-worming a skunk with a huge parasite load. The dead and dying parasites can cause a blockage that are a medical emergency! An intestinal blockage is another cause of prolapse. In cases where the prolapse won’t stay in, your Veterinarian may decide to put a stitch, until it heals. Some skunk owners feel they can handle this but in my experience, most, if not all, prolapse cases require a Veterinarian as soon as possible. Until you can get to your Veterinarian, the most important thing is to carefully get the intestine back in where it belongs. Make sure the area is clean, then apply a bit of KY Jelly or Vaseline on the tip of your sterile, gloved finger, apply light pressure, and slowly push it back in. Hold for a few minutes. While healing, keep your baby on a soft food or liquid diet until healed. Do NOT feed a high fiber diet to a skunk with a prolapse as it can make it worse.
De-Worming Your Baby Skunk

All baby skunks come with roundworms! Some will come with coccidia (small single cell parasites). Please do not assume that if your skunk has parasites, that you will always see them in the skunk’s stool. That can be a fatal mistake. Parasites, also do not always show up when tested. One of the leading causes of death for young skunks is from parasitic infestation. They can build up causing prolapses, seizures and death. It is important that your Veterinarian dose the de-wormer until the skunk gets to be at least 4 pounds. Be aware that the wrong de-wormer can kill a skunk! Strongid (Pyrantel Pomoate) is recommended until the skunk reaches 4 lbs, then Panacur (Fenbendazole) is recommended as it kills more types of parasites. You will need to de-worm your new baby at least 3 times, several weeks apart like you would a puppy so make sure to get enough medicine from your Veterinarian. After that, you should be able to de-worm twice a year. If there are other household pets, you might want to do everyone together. Once you switch to twice a year, the de-worming cycle is as follows: skunks between 4 and 10 pounds will get Panacur for 3 days in a row, wait exactly 2 weeks and repeat for 3 more days. Wait 6 months and give for 3 days, wait exactly 2 weeks and repeat for 3 more days. If you prefer the liquid Panacur, you can get that from your Veterinarian along with […]
Baby Season 2015

Baby season 2015 has officially arrived! Skunk people know there is nothing more exciting than getting a new baby skunk! Send pictures of your new baby here.
Skunk Show

The 27th Annual Skunk Show This year’s show date is confirmed! It will be held on Saturday Oct. 17, 2015 at the Ramada Gateway Hotel in Kissimmee, FL. To reserve a room call 407-396-4400 and tell them you are attending the skunk show. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! Countdown
Pet Skunk Blog

Welcome to the new Mephitis Advocate pet skunk blog! It has been a few years but the Advocate is back, better than ever, in blog format. Visit the archives for the previous version of the newsletter in pdf format. Mephitis Advocate meaning Mephitis mephitis: derived from Latin, a noun describing the most common and widespread North American skunk. Advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Put the two together and you get Mephitis Advocate, a blog about the care of pet skunks. We hope you will enjoy this informative blog. Questions and comments are welcome!
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