Health
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Wormers to use are: Drontalcat Vithaminte Flubenol Strongid P Equiworm P Evict Double Strength |
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When
a skunk has a rectal prolapse, the cause of this can be worms, incorrect
diet, diarrhea or constipation. When your skunk is suddenly very
agitated and running around repeatedly rubbing its butt on the floor,
it is a good indication that a prolapse is occurring. Sometimes
there may be blood involved, and if a piece of his intestine is
protruding from the rectum, you know that there is something wrong!
It may be thick, round, and protruding 2 or 3 inches. First thing
to do is, stay calm, don't panic. This is scary the first time,
but can be handled successfully. When you are calm, you can help
your skunk. Wash your hands very well and check that your nails
are not too long. You do not want to cause damage to your skunk's
thin and tender intestine wall. Wash the area around the rectum
with lukewarm water. Some have put sugar on it which will cause
the prolapse to recede. When the prolapse is not too large, you
can massage it in a circular motion with the palm of your hand,
holding the skunk in a horizontal position so as not to keep the
pressure of body weight off the rearend , and applying slight pressure
pushing it very carefully back into the rectum. It is important
that the problem area is kept moist and clean. This is not so simple
but with a lot of patience you can correct the problem. When the
rectal prolapse is very large, you have to visit your vet immediately.
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 A
skunk will use his nails and his paws to dig and to hold its food
That is why his nails are so long. Check his nails regularly. The
nail should be ¼ inch, but not exceeding ½ inch, beyond the edge of
the quick. The nails are like our fingers and are used for cleaning
and eating. Without his "fingers" a skunk would find it very difficult,
or even impossible, to clean himself or even to walk! You do not declaw
a skunk as some people do their cats! A skunk's "fingers" are not
sharp and do not scratch like a cat's claws!! They are dull and are
used mostly for digging in the ground and holding their food to eat.
It sometimes helps to rub their feet at a very young age because if
you cannot handle their feet it is very difficult to trim the nails
when they are older. Sometimes you must figure out a way to do the
job without causing too much stress to the skunk! |
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For more information you can visit:
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A
skunk needs to be wormed regularly. As soon as you bring your
baby home it would be best if you worm it at once. Most breeders
or Pet Shops do not worm their skunks because of the added expense
that will take away from their profit from selling a skunk. When
you do buy your kit from a good breeder, ask him if or when he
wormed the kits. You will have to worm every month when it is
young. When it is older and you are sure that there are no worms,
you can worm him every 3 or 4 months. Skunks who have worms can
easily suffer a rectal prolapse when trying to pass the worm.
There are signs of worms; sections of the worm in the stool, coughing,
or rubbing its face extensively on solid objects, such as a chair
or water dish. This coughing or rubbing can also indicate other
things, so should be observed carefully and steps taken to find
the cause if it persists, or worsens. 
