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Remember
People can be a nuisance to animals too. Be a good neighbor and share your space with our wildlife.
The picnic season is still a few months away but it is not too early to instill a few precautions in your mind and your family's. Recently we followed the painful struggle of a nine month old Domestic Skunk named Little (R).
Little (R)
Since early December of 2006 he was befallen by one or more painful and bloody Rectal Prolapse daily. A Rectal Prolapse, is when a portion of a skunks intestines protrudes outside of the anus, sometimes several inches. The NEW owner, tried all the normal procedures. Smaller meals, worming, soft foods, and Veterinary consultation to no avail. While helping Little (R) get still another Prolapse back into his anus, the owner felt a hard sharp object that had never been there before. Afraid to try and explore into the intestine they decided to take Little (R) to the Vet first thing the next morning. During the night the owner discovered a bone-like shape among drops of blood upon the living-room floor. The next day the skunk was re-examined and X-Rays were taken, along with X-Rays of the foreign object. It turned out to be the remnants of a chicken bone about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide.
Bone after passing.
The piece of bone had lodged in his intestines for weeks resulting in the young skunk having to push very hard to pass fecal matter. After several weeks of discomfort, a large Veterinary bill and a regiment of antibiotics, he is finally on the mend and beginning to enjoy life once again. His new owner, who never fed any of their animals anything with bones was baffled. Veterinarians could only assess that Little (R) had some how gotten ahold of a chicken bone from his previous owner's home. Keeping this potential life threatening incident in mind is an excellent opportunity to remind all of us to dispose of food remnants properly and especially Yogurt cups, open glass jars and tin cans. Wildlife is especially at risk of becoming impaled in these types of containers as well as plastic six pack carton holders. Keeping our pets and wildlife safe is each and everyone's responsibility. You not only spare an animal's life but help keep our planet and environment beautiful.
 Matt Vanoverloop poses with his domesticated skunk. Photo courtesy of Wetherington Photography. |