So you are a skunk owner and are wondering if it is time to add another skunk to your family? This may not be as simple as it sounds. In the wild, skunks are solitary creatures. They interact during mating seasons and in northern states, adults will den together for warmth. Some skunk owners mistakenly …
Sadly, obesity is much too common in pet skunks and one of the leading causes for their current short lifespan. Obesity is completely the owner’s responsibility! It is difficult to help the skunk owner who doesn’t realize that they are the source of the problem. People are shocked when I ask if the skunk is …
It is not too early to start preparing your skunk for the show. How is your skunk’s coat? Skunks 2 years and older, may shed in the spring, summer or fall. If your skunk does not have full regrowth of the coat or tail yet, you may want to add an omega 3 fatty acid …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …