Just a little bit of info, for those interested!
Skunkluv
RAISING A PET SKUNK? KNOW THE FACTS!
Copyright 1999 by Mary Kaye Ashley, American
Domestic Skunk Assoc. Inc.
Skunks are
wonderful pets when provided with a good home environment and proper care. They cuddle on the sofa with you, snuggle under the blankets in your bed, and greet you at the door when you come home from work. They are very
animated at play and invite you to get down on the floor and join in their antics. They can be leash trained and accompany you on trips outside the home. They adapt well to the domestic
routines of your household and become vibrant members of your family. You can achieve a level of bonding with them similar to that of a dog or cat, but they require a different level of care
and understanding. Skunks do best in calm households. They can do well with children who are relatively calm provided that the parent supervises and teaches them proper interaction
with the skunk with no poking, pulling, teasing, harassing, tight squeezing, and rough play. They bond with the other pets in your home, but you must be careful not to set up a food chain with
those species that are part of a skunk's natural food chain in the wild, such as small exotics or rodents pets, small birds walking on the floor, reptile pets, and tiny infant animals of any species. Every skunk has his own distinctive personality, so temperament and behaviorisms will vary from one skunk to the next. There is no
major difference in temperament based upon sex of the animal. The optimal age to obtain one is a baby 5-8 weeks old. Skunks will only make as good a pet as the amount of time you invest in them as babies, and it is critical that you devote
extensive time to fondling and training as soon as the infant arrives in your home. They are quick to become one-family pets unless you expose them to people and places outside the home to dispel their fear. Discipline methods include
tone of voice, time outs, a gentle tap with your finger on their nose or bottom, a spray of water from a bottle, or noise from a hand vacuum. Never hit or shake because corporal punishment will cause a skunk to bite. Pet skunks require run of
the house once they are old enough (4-6 mo.) and tend to become aggressive when excessively caged. For safety purposes you can, however, confine them to a small room while you are away from home. They are best maintained as indoor pets
with the exception of a bit of fresh air and sunshine outdoors each day while supervised. Outdoor housing is seldom adequate nor escape proof, and skunks who are caged outdoors
typically become fearful of humans because they lack the daily interaction with your family necessary to maintain them as good pets. Skunks are curious creatures so it is necessary to
thoroughly safety proof your house similar to the measures you take for a toddler. Objects on the floor and one level above (sofa height) are fair game and must be placed out of reach. Childproof
latches on kitchen and bathroom cabinets are an absolute necessity. Skunks are generally not destructive once you understand their behaviorisms and make the necessary
accommodations within your home. They are master escape artists, so doors must be securely latched and all openings to the outdoors blocked. They must never be left outside unattended. They have no homing instinct, are nearly impossible to find
once they escape, and cannot survive on their own. Skunks litter train similar to a ferret in that they pick a corner and back up into it to do their business. They need a litter box nearby
their beds and additional boxes in the rooms where they spend a good deal of time with you. Many skunks are religious about using their litter boxes while others have occasional
accidents or develop quirks in their litter habits which we can help you troubleshoot. They do not litter train like a cat who will return to ne box placed in the location of your choosing somewhere in the house. In selecting a brand of litter, stay away from clumping litter because of ill effects to their health. Natural litters such
as unscented clay, recycled paper, and Nature's Way Feline Pine are the best. Skunks do not require extensive bathing and grooming. Nails should be trimmed using human nail clippers about once every 3 weeks. Bathing should be infrequent
(once every 3-6 months) so as not to destroy the natural oils in their fur. The best shampoo to use is an all-natural product from a
health food store because the chemicals in many of the dog
and cat shampoos are far too harsh for a skunk. Healthy skunks do not have any body odor. Continuous bathing will not rid them of body odor because it is generally linked to an underlying
medical problem. The average life span of a pet skunk is 8-10 years. Some have lived as long as 20 years and others don't survive to their first birthday. The number of years your skunk will
live depends upon the optimal care you provide by feeding him properly, avoiding obesity, keeping him away from chemicals in the home, food and water, as well as maintaining his health needs. Skunks can quickly deteriorate when they become
ill, so prompt medical attention is essential. Purchase a book about raising pet skunks so you fully understand proper care, and contact our organization if you need help. Spaying and
neutering are mandatory for pet skunks. Females are prone to severe health problems (often kidney related) due to heat stress after their first couple heat cycles. Additionally, skunks undergo
dramatic personality changes when their hormones fluctuate and rage. The end result is biting and undesirable behaviorisms in about 95% of male skunks and 75% of female skunks. Males should be neutered about 3-3½ months of age or as soon as
the testicles become palpable and females spayed between 4-6 months of age. The anesthesia of choice, and the standard for exotic pets today, is called isoflourine. Layers of internal sutures
plus surgical glue on the exterior tissue work best because many skunks chew their stitches. It takes 3-6 weeks after the surgery for the hormones to stabilize. Be aware that baby skunks
do not arrive already spayed or neutered. When your pet retailer tells you that they have been fixed, it means only that their scent glands have been removed. Also be aware that skunks are
fiercely temperamental and difficult animals to breed. It is nothing like having a litter of puppies or kittens. Mortality rates as a result
of inexperienced, in-home breeding are staggeringly high-93% of the babies and 50% of the mothers do not survive. Breeding should be attempted only by professional breeders with specialized facilities.
