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We have begun a repository of information on traditional and non-traditional veterinary care for skunks. We, along with several veterinarians, are collecting information on procedures, techniques, drugs, etc., used for skunks.
Most of the information in our pages on vet care are intended for veterinarians, animal caregivers, and pet rescue organizations. These pages have photos and data tables which will have limited use for persons with disabilities or anyone using a text-only web browser.
We have been identified as a client resource by Exotic DVM Magazine.
Exotic Veterinary Magazine has written a "Unusual Pet Care Manual " . We are referenced in the skunk care section. To buy the book please go to www.exoticdvm.com.
An excellent resource for veterinarians can be found at www.PubMed.gov.
A paper from Journal of Wildlife Diseases, regarding Renal Lesions in Striped Skunks.
A paper from Journal of Wildlife Diseases, regarding Toxoplasmosis, Distemper, and Herpesvirus Infection in a Skunk.
Dr. Frank Krupka at Avon Lake Animal Clinic, Avon Lake, OH, 440-933-5297 may be contacted for questions or if you wish to add information to our database.
Vets are encouraged to send us photos and text descriptions of unusual health care issues that they observe in skunks. Information may be presented in Skunk News and posted to these Vet Care pages.
We recommend giving distemper/parvo shots every two years using Schering-Plough Galaxy DA2PPv. Other vaccines (Fer-Vac, Fort Dodge brands, and others) have been known to cause adverse reactions or other problems requiring veterinary care. Feline shots are not recommended. Do not over vaccinate a skunk!
THERE ARE NO APPROVED RABIES VACCINES FOR SKUNKS. Under these circumstances we do NOT recommend giving rabies shots. Rabies shots will NOT prevent the health department from taking a skunk if it bites someone.
Skunks should be neutered between 4 and 6 months of age depending on weight and health. Failure to do so can cause behavior problems, can be extremely stressful, and can cause health problems for the skunk. Some female skunks suffer from systemic infections and general poor health during the breeding season (beginning in late January), these problems can be decreased or eliminated by spaying the skunk.
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| Male Neuter - One Day After | Female Spay - One Day After |
We recommend using isoflurane gas for anesthetic when doing surgery.
Surgical glue has performed well to secure wounds and prevents unnecessary scratching and infection. The skunks are less likely to scratch and/or pull at the incision when glue is used.
A worming regimen is recommended, especially prior to surgery whenever possible. Skunks should be wormed with a safe wormer like Evict, Strongid, Nemex-2, or Panacur. Information on common wormers used on skunks.
Note: Wormers containing piperazine (piperazine citrate) have caused tremors, seizures, vomiting, and have been indicated as factors in several deaths, in skunks. Erliworm is a common brand of pet wormer containing piperazine.
Health problems in skunks include rectal prolapse, seizures, diabetes, liver disease, kidney failure, heart problems, calcium deficiency, excessive weight, allergies, general mal-nutrition, etc. With proper care most of these can be corrected BEFORE the problem starts.
Some skunks exhibit various forms of alopecia.
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This skunk's tail indicates a typical alopecia with varied regrowth noted at the time the biopsy was done. Lab results found no mites or other signs of parasites and little inflammation of the skin. Expected causes include endocrine imbalances, seasonal, and nutritional causes. |
| Biopsy of tail, 0.5 cm skin punch | Photo by Dr. F Krupka, DVM |
Some of these cases have responded to simple daily cleaning with mild detergent or a daily rinse with mineral water.
For some unknown reason some skunks (most of which are over weight) get a fat deposit in the corner of their eyes or under the eyelids. At this time we have not analyzed this nor do we know why skunks get this.
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Here we show a fatty deposit near the eye in an older skunk.
Photo by Deb Cipriani |
Skunks have had allergic reactions to various chemicals, including bleach and other cleaning products.
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Skunk with noticable signs of reaction to bleach. This reaction was initially triggered by the skunk sleeping in bedding that had been washed with bleach and (it appears) not rinsed properly. Subsequently similar reactions have been seen on this skunk after only smelling bleach fumes. |
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Another skunk with severe reaction to cleaning chemicals. |
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| Photos by Dr. M. Luper, DVM | |
Occasionally skunks will self-mutilate thier tails, feet, etc. The causes of this are inconclusive or vary greatly, in many cases skunks have had to be euthanized.
We have a skunk in care that wasn't raising her tail and was showing other signs that there was something wrong with her hips or back legs. X-rays showed just a little arthritis and we began our typical treatments. Within a week of the x-rays she started to chew the end of her tail and scream from the pain as she did so. She had chewed off over an inch of the end of her tail.
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| Photos by Deb Cipriani | |
We were willing to try anything to help her because if she would not stop we knew the outcome. She was put on Rimadyl and Amitriptyline (common anti-depressant used on pocket pets that self-mutilate and cats that have problems associated with depression or anxiety) and prayed. Her tail-biting episodes stopped immediately with this treatment. After about a week we resumed the Synovi and colostrum, we also added hyaluronic acid, and Omega-3 fish oil, for the bones, and a homeopathic mushroom compound just in case she had a tumor. After four weeks we decreased the daily dosage of Amitriptyline and stopped giving Rimadyl.
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Photo by Deb Cipriani |
In a few months our treatment worked and she now can raise her tail again. We are still treating her with Synovi and colostrum each day for arthritis.
© 2001-2009 Skunk Haven™ Skunk Rescue, Shelter, and Education, Inc.
Revised 04/12/09 (kw)
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