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План статьи: Перевести текст, начать со слова "привет друзья": Only a small number of states allow skunks as pets, and others require permits in order to keep
a skunk. It is very important for Owners and potential Owners to know the legal status of the
skunk in their state. You can start by doing research and contacting the proper authorities, some
helpful information to get you started can be found at www.skunkhaven.net/StatesForm.htm.**
Personality and Socialization
The average striped skunk is similar in size to a petite house cat, and in fact, share many
personality traits with the domestic car or pet ferret. It is important to note that they tend to be
crepuscular, meaning they are most active near dawn and dusk, some will be truly nocturnal,
which can be problematic for some Owners. They are inquisitive, friendly, and very curious. they
are able to open cabinets and dig their way out of most any barrier, including carpet. This
digging behavior needs to be addressed by owners early by offering them a specific place they 
are allowed to dig and then training them to dig only in that area.
Skunks are very friendly, entertaining, loving, and playful, but can also be very headstrong and
stubborn. If not well socialized, they can be aggressive animals. Skunks are high maintenance
pets and need to be handled frequently and lovingly, as well as trained, in order to make good
pets. Social training should start from a very young age and persist throughout adulthood.
Skunks are quick to learn games, play with toys, and create their own means of entertainment,
and all of these things should be encouraged to stimulate the intelligent and curious nature of this
animal.
Appropriate toys include items like ping pong balls, tennis balls, paper bags, cardboard boxes,
socks tied into knots, as well as the multitude of puppy and kitten toys on the market.
Litter Box Training
Skunks can be successfully litter box trained, or at a minimum, corner trained, since they are by
nature latrine animals. As a rule, the easiest method is to allow the skunk to choose the corner
with they intend to use, and then place a high-backed uncovered cat litter pan, with unscented
litter, in that area. With luck, the skunk will choose to use that spot. If not, clean the mess with
vinegar to reduce the odor and try again. Once the skunk is reliably using the box, move it slowly
to an area which you consider acceptable. Sometimes the skunk will follow, and sometimes it
may be necessary to give in and allow the skunk to use the spot it has chosen, considering
yourself lucky that at least it will use the litter pan!
Housing For Captive skunks, a healthier diet rather than a "natural" one may be preferred for the long run.
They are more sedentary than wild skunks, are not exposed to the same predatory stresses, and
are therefore more likely to be more long lived. For these reasons, a varied healthy diet is likely
to provide more long-term health to the pet skunk. Many Owners will feed their skunk cat food,
which is too high in fat and protein for skunks and can lead to long-term health consequences.
Mazuri makes an Omnivore Diet that is appropriate for skunks with added greens, veggies,
fruits, bugs, and the occasional hard boiled egg. A high quality dog food can be used in place of
Mazuri Omnivore Diet, if it is unavailable in your area. Supplementing calcium and taurine are
also recommended.
Monitor the weight of your skunk and make sure it is not getting too fat or too thin. A simple
technique to determine how much fat an adult skunk has is to feel the base of the tail, there
should be a ball of fat that gently tapers down the tail. If there is no fat at the base of the tail, you
can feel the bones of the tail easily, the skunk is too thin. If you can't easily feel the bones about
two-thirds of the way down the tail the skunk is getting overweight.
Spraying Skunks
One of the first things to come to everyone's mind is the spraying skunk.
Fortunately, most legally obtained skunks have already been descented
prior to sale. However, a well socialized intact skunk will rarely spray
unless they feel significantly threatened. Even when threatened, the
skunk demonstrates a series of warning signals prior to spraying. Be
aware, though, that the young skunk will also display these signals in
play, so it is important to assess the situation and determine whether the
skunk is bluffing/playing or whether it is really feeling threatened.
The vast majority of skunks will run away rather than spray, and will only resort to spraying
when cornered and not able to escape. In almost all circumstances, it the skunk has an exit route,
it will take that to avoid confrontation.
Before spraying, the skunk will stomp the ground with both front feet, raise their tail, and charge
forward a few paces, followed by stomping or edging backwards several paces again (sometimes
dragging their front feet). As they do this they will often make direct eye contact with the
intruder, so the body is curved into a "c-shape" with both the front and rear portions aiming the
spray.
Health and Medical Issues
Skunks are prone to a variety of health concerns and issues. Unfortunately, skunks are often
presented to the Veterinary Hospital for the treatment, and not prevention, of disease conditions.
However with good routine preventative care, many conditions can be avoided in pet skunks.
First and foremost, a proper diet must be fed. Malnutrition in any form, too many/too few
calories or inappropriate food choices, can result in multiple metabolic disorders. Metabolic
Bone Disease is a common condition in younger skunks as a result of a calcium/vitamin D
deficient diet. Taurine deficiency is suspected to result in cardiomyopathy in the skunk, as with
the domestic cat. Preventative education on proper diet will go a long ways to prevention
treatment for these debilitating and life-threatening conditions.
Spaying and neutering is also as important in out skunk companions as it is in domestic dogs,
cats, and ferrets. males may develop aggression issues if not neutered, and females may develop
pyometra as well as complications associated with extended estrus periods. The procedure is done much like for our other companion species, and anesthesia is similar to dogs and cats. Most
skunks are spayed/neutered at 3-5 months of age. Declawing is NOT recommended in this
species as skunks use their claws to handle food, regular trimming of the nails is appropriate and
necessary.
Internal parasite prevention and treatment is also an important preventative health factor in the
pet skunk. Skunks are prone to roundworms, which does have a zoonotic potential. Many young
skunks arrive in the adoptive homes prior to the appearance of eggs in the feces, so it is
important to test and deworm accordingly.
Dental disease is also a common disease condition particularly as the skunk ages and if it not
being fed an appropriate diet. High-carbohydrate diets, such as dry cat food, may actually
accelerate the tartar build up on skunk teeth. Regular dental care, including home brushing by
owners and professional cleanings as needed, is indicated for all skunk patients. If introduced at
a young age, many skunks are quite tolerant of this process.
Vaccinating
Vaccinations are important to the overall wellbeing of the pet skunk. Most veterinarians
recommend both Rabies and Distemper vaccines. It is critical to realize that most states to not
consider a skunk to be protected from rabies even if it is vaccinated, and that the skunk would be
treated as an unvaccinated animal if there is any issue of potential exposure or a bite wound is
reported. Clients are well cautioned to be proactive to prevent any questionable issue from
occurring rather than try to recover from it, even if the skunk has been appropriately vaccinated.
Most pet skunks are not kept caged when at home, but allowed free access to the home, much as
a pet cat would be allowed. They should, however, be provided a place to make a "den" such as a
dog crate or cardboard box filled with clean blankets. This helps them to feel safe when resting
and provided a retreat from day to day activities. Young skunks should be confined to smaller
spaces, much as one would a puppy, to facilitate potty training, silly behavior the may lead to
injury, and contain destruction caused by digging, chewing, climbing, and stealing coveted
objects.
Diet
Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, with essentially means
they will eat virtually anything they come upon. Properly
feeding a skunk is one of the largest challenges in owning a
skunk and malnutrition is one of the most common problems
encountered. Skunks have tremendous appetites and will eat
almost anything, even if it is nailed down. This leads
frequently to obesity by well meaning pet Owners. Many
owners are not properly educated on the correct diet for their skunk, so many skunks are fed a
combination of cat food and junk food, neither of which leads to long term health.
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