skunk owners, i need your help - how to get a skunk to eat

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

im postin this as i genuinly need help. i dont want grief, just sugestions that might help

on monday night the cats knocked a hal frozen chick off onto the floor and domino ate it. we caught him as he was finishin it off. tuesday night he didnt eat any of his food and has spent most of the time feelin sorry for himself in bed, not doin much. we THINK hes possibly got a sore stomach from eatin a half frozen chick. took him to the vets wed mornin for a check up. everything seems as it should be apart from a slightly tender abdomen. he was given an injection to settle his tummy should it be upset and some subcut fluids. Last night again he didnt do much, though if i disturb him he runs off n stomps at me, then when i move aeway he goes back to his bed to sleep. last night he ate a small amount of meal worms but wouldnt touch his veg or chicken. tonight again ive given him veg and chicken but he wont eat it. He has however eaten a pile of morios. hes also had a drink of water tonight that ive seen but he is still curled up in bed not doin much. He hasnt eliminated anything as yet but it would stand to reason that if nothin is goin in then nothin will be coming out.

anyway, im going to give him some more morios but realise too many arent good for him as he wont be gettin what he needs, but at least hes eatin something for now. my question is does anyone have any tips on how to get him eatin again? its really odd cos he goes mad for his treat of cheese and he is even turnin his nose up at that.
and do people think it is the chick thats upset his tummy? i cant think of it bein anythin else as this is the only thing different hes had to the others and the others are fine. also hes not had any opportunity to get hold of anythin else so im not worried that hes eaten somethin more sinister

[sparkle]

to be honest cat id leave him..

IF theres any bacterial infection in the gut eating will excite the bacteria and could cause more problems..

what is best is to wait for a fecal sample and take it to the vet to test for food poisoning...

its a bit like a human not eating when they have a tummy bug..

its too early maybe to say if theres any bacterial problem from what he has ate..

ALSO.. defrost IN the fridge.. not out.. saves a lot of heartache

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

Originally Posted by sparkle

to be honest cat id leave him..

IF theres any bacterial infection in the gut eating will excite the bacteria and could cause more problems..

what is best is to wait for a fecal sample and take it to the vet to test for food poisoning...

its a bit like a human not eating when they have a tummy bug..

its too early maybe to say if theres any bacterial problem from what he has ate..

ALSO.. defrost IN the fridge.. not out.. saves a lot of heartache

i know i should have defrosted in the fridge, i thought id already got them out but turned out i hadnt. bloody cat knocked it off n when we went in to check them they were on the floor.

if he doesnt eat though lyn wouldnt it stand to reason that he wont poop?and if he doesnt poop i cant take a fecal sample in to be tested? or is my thinkin all wrong?

[carlycharlie]

Has he pooped since eating the chicken?

Frozen food alone could well cause an upset tummy, especially raw meat.

Did the vet check for bone splinters/blockages etc? Maybe something is stuck somewhere making him not want to eat......

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

Originally Posted by carlycharlie

Has he pooped since eating the chicken?

Frozen food alone could well cause an upset tummy, especially raw meat.

Did the vet check for bone splinters/blockages etc? Maybe something is stuck somewhere making him not want to eat......

the vet palpated everywhere she could possibly palpate and couldnt feel any blockages. she took his temp it was fine, she checked his breathin and heart, all fine. only thing she found was a slightly tender abdomen ken. it was a chick ken, not a piece of chicken, so it wouldnt be cooked. he has one every so often

as for has he pooped since eatin the chick, im not sure is the honest answer as he lives with chester so the poop on tuesday mornin could have been from either skunk. Hence why now dom is seperated in a pen so we can monitor input and output.

[carlycharlie]

Probably worth checking with the vet again if he dont eat soon......just in case she missed something or thinks he needs checking over again.

U did not say if hes pooped since eating the chuck? If he hasnt then maybe hes constipated??

A whole chicken is quite a big meal for little skunkie, greedy bugger lol

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

ken it was a day old chick! not a full chicken!!

im goin to take him to the vet again tomorrow if im still worried. it was hard to assess him this mornin as hes usually asleep durin the day so i couldnt tell if it was normal habit or not.

hes acting a bit more normal now in physical activity, though hes still not as active as he usually is

[carlycharlie]

Originally Posted by xXFooFooLaFluffXx

ken it was a day old chick! not a full chicken!!

Ooooooops

Remind me to get new glasses soon = I read chick as chuck

Hope he gets better soon - this skunkie sure likes visiting the vet dont he maybe he has a crush on the vet

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

Originally Posted by carlycharlie

Ooooooops

Remind me to get new glasses soon = I read chick as chuck

Hope he gets better soon - this skunkie sure likes visiting the vet dont he maybe he has a crush on the vet

you make it sound like we cause the vet visits we dont, hes just a problem skunk, n we do our best for him, the little sod, he likes to have me worried i think

n ken..........

get some new glasses!!!

[carlycharlie]

OK OK I need my eyes retested first lol

Hows Dom doing today? Did he get more active last night & start eating?