Volume 35 | Issue 2 Article 6

1973 Striped - Pet or Threat Phil McCune State University

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Recommended Citation McCune, Phil (1973) " - Pet or Threat," Iowa State University Veterinarian: Vol. 35 : Iss. 2 , Article 6. Available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastate_veterinarian/vol35/iss2/6

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State University Veterinarian by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Striped Skunk- Pet or Threat by Phil McCune*

There was a young man from the city, be viewed not only as pets but as potential Who saw what he thought was a kitty. public health threats. Saying, "nice little ", Geographic distribution of the striped He gave it a pat . .. skunk is throughout the , They buried his clothes out of pity.t southern and northern Mexico, with the highest concentration in the cen­ Introduction tral region of the United States. Although generally typified as having a white skull Among the various species the veteri­ cap, a nose with a dorsal white line and narian may be called upon to render his two white lines of varying width and services to is the striped skunk (Mephitis length along its black back, there is some mephitis). These small (3Y2-10 lbs.), short­ color variation. Some for example show eared, long-tailed carnivores are best only a white tuft on their back and there known for their characteristic black and are even isolated reports of albino indi­ white striped color and unpleasant odor. viduals. This color variation could cause To the practicing veterinarian they must some confusion in distinguishing it from the less frequently seen spotted skunk or • Mr. McCune is a third year student in the Col­ lege of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University. civet cat (Spilogale putorius) that occupies

52 Iowa State University Veterinarian generally the same territory to a lesser is higher if the animal is obtained at an degree. The spotted skunk is smaller (%­ early age and is tamed over an extended 2% Ibs.) and has the characteristic m'ark­ period of time. House breaking is con­ ings of white stripes and spots on a black ducted much like it is in the -some background. have used litter boxes with success. In the wild state, the nocturnal striped If one is determined to keep a skunk as skunk is classified as a carnivore, but its a pet, de-scenting is advised. Prior to per­ diet actually is comprised mainly of in­ forming the procedure, it is the veterinar­ sects. Therefore, in this regard it is an ians responsibility to advise the owner asset to an agricultural community, rather that a de-scented skunk is a skunk that than a detriment. have few ene­ has lost its primary means of defense; mies in the wild due to their well-known such an animal 'cannot be returned to the specialized defen.se mechanism. Because wild. Likewise, such an animal must be they are confident in this odoriferous de­ protected from domestic . This pro... terrent skunks are quiet, inoffensive crea­ cedure is best done at an age of five or six tures-it i.s this gentle nature that has weeks utilizing a short-acting anesthetic made them popular as pets. such as Ketamine administered intramus­ cularly at a dosage rate of 5 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg. The scent glands are located at the base of the tail on both sides of the anus. The glands 'are about ~~" in diam­ Source of the new pet is of primary in1­ eter and are con'nected by ducts to tiny, portance. It is imperative to know if the paired nipples just within the anus. Sev­ skunk ,came from the wild, from offspring eral surgical procedures have been de­ of a friend~s pet female or from a pet scribed, one of which consists of grasping store. Regulations vary from state to state the duct with a forceps at its opening just pertaining to the keeping of wild animals, inside the anal orifice. By blunt dissec­ so one should ,contact a local conservation tion the entire gland is removed through agent or state conservation commission this opening. to determine the status of issuing permits to the species in question. Some veterinar­ A suitable diet in captivity consists ians refuse to treat any wild animal that mainly of ground meat, dog meal, assorted does not have a permit. fruits and eggs. Mineral supplementation Skunks are a major reservoir of such as calcium bone meal plus trace in the wild state and must always be look­ minerals is highly adVised. Commercially ed upon as a rabies suspect no matter available vitamin formulations should also what their age or health status. The in­ supplement the diet. cubation period in skunks is long (2 weeks In captivity the skunk should be pro­ to possibly 4 months) and often rabies is vided with a nesting box for sleeping and carried as an inapparent infection. Due withdraw'alpurposes. Other aspects of to the possibility of transmission of the home care are also considered important virus via the milk to the young, even the as they are in domestic pets. Ectoparasites neonate wild skunk must be viewed with do not tend to be a problem, but if disCQv= suspicion. Conversely, it is felt that the ered they can be treated in a similar man­ per cent infected of the entire skunk popu­ ner to dogs and . Shedding of hair is lation is relatively low. But does the client not noticeable, still it is wise to brush the wish to take the chance? The veterinar­ animal's coat periodically for cosmetic ian must inform the client of the danger reasons. involved. Examination and treatment in the strip'" Although there are accounts of skunks ed skunk is sin1ilar to the domestic dog making companionable pets, this is not and cat. An important aspect in medical always the case. Taming of skunks re­ care is immunization. Four months is the quires more patience than would be re­ optimal age for rabies vaccination. The quired for a normal cat or dog. Success killed tissue rabies virus must be used and

Issue, No.2, 1973 53 should be repeated annually. Starting at Sk-u'nks as Pets by Charles Hume (All Pets eight to ten weeks of age killed tissue Book Inc., P. O. Box 151, Fon du lac, Wis­ canine distemper vaccine should be ad­ consin, 75¢) or other comparable reading ministered as it is in dogs. A complete should. be recommended to the client as immunization program. also includes fe­ an additional source of information. line panleukopenia and leptospirosis vac­ cinations. REFERENCES Other medical and surgical problems 1. Collins, Henry H., Complete Field Guide to Ameri­ correspond quite closely to the domestic can . Harper & Row, , 19159,:327. pet species. No u'nusual drug sensitivity ,2. Crandall, Lee S., Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity. University of Chicago Prels:s, Chi­ has been reported in the skunk and dos­ oa'go, 196'4: 335-337. 3. ,Fisher, Lester E., Skunks, in Current Veterinary ages are similar to that recommended for Therapy IV, Small Animal Practice; Kirk, Robert W., Ed., W. B. Saunders Go., Philadelphia, 19'71: dogs on a weight basis. 456-457. Under the proper ,circumstances the 4. Gough, F.atrici'a .M., Assistlant Professor, Depart­ ment of Veterinary Mierobiology land Preventative striped skunk can. be expected to be an Medicine, Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Iowa Stat,e Unive,rsity, Ames, low,a: Personlal com­ amiable pet with a life expectancy of munication. seven to eight years. The veterinary pro­ 5. :Gl'Iabam, D'avid L., Assistant Proferssor, Dep!a.rt­ ment of Veterina'ry Pathology, low:a State Univer­ fession should not condone this animal as sity, Ames" Iowa: Personal communiC'ation. '6. .Moorman, :Robe~t .n., Professer, Department of a pet and should warn the owners of the Zoology and Entomol,gy, low,a State University, Ames, Iowa: Personal communic.ation. hazards involved. However, if the animal 7. [Rue, Lenard L., Pictorial Guide to the Mammals is kept as a pet it is the veterinarian's re­ of North America. Thoman Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1967: 164-170. sponsibility to inform the owner of the 8. Schwartz, Charles W., and Elizabeth R., The Wild Mammals of . University of Mis'S'ouri proper care and treatment of the animal. P'ress, Columbia, 195-9: 29:4-305.

What's Your Radiographic Diagnosis?

by R. L. Lundvall, D.V.M., M.S.*

History The owner related that two and one half months previous to the date of admission A two and a half year old Appaloosa the animal jumped a fence escaping into gelding was presented to the Stange Me­ a neighbor's field. The animal returned la­ morial Clinic for examination and diag­ ter in the day dragging the affected leg. A nosis of a severe supporting lameness of small open lesion was noted on the poster­ the left rear leg. . ior-lateral aspect of the hock. Consider­ able swelling of the hock occurred during :,~ Dr. Lund:vall isa Professor in the Department of Veterina!)T Clinic.al ISciences, low,a State University. the next 24 hours, but this receded and

54 Iowa State University Veterinarian