While every animal is different from other species, there are things that you will find that are common between many different kinds. It can be in the foods that they eat, the mating habits, or in the way that they communicate, but there will be similarities in some fashion or another.
One of the things that is common among many different animals, especially those that are mammals, is the way that symptoms of them being sick with manifest it. Here you will find that many different species of animals show signs of illness in the same way as others, and the skunk is no different.
So what are some of the symptoms that a skunk may be sick? Well, one thing you cannot use as a gauge is it being out in the daytime. For some animals, like the raccoon, bat, or opossum, when you see these animals out in the day, that is a sure fire sign that the animal is sick. These are nocturnal animals so being out in the daylight is against every instinct they have. That is not true of the skunk.
If you see foaming in the mouth that is a sure sign that it is sick. It most likely is rabid and needs to be avoided at all costs. If you see it around your home you may want to call animal control to see if they will come and get it. You don’t want to be bitten by this animal, and you don’t want your pets or children to be either.
If you see that the fur has a lot of matting to it, it is coming out in patches, or there are bald spots, this is a sign that a skunk is quite ill. Loss of fur or matting of the fur is a common symptom of illness, and so you want to be extra cautious should you see this.
If the eyes look like they have a gew around them, this may be a serious sign for you as well. Discharge around the eyes is a symptom among many different animals and this is true of the skunk as well.
Diarrhea is a very common symptom as well, but not just runny poop. This is quite serious when the animal is relieving its waste while it is simply walking around. Most animals stop to remove waste, but when they are doing it while they are walking around then you know you have a very serious issue.
If you see any of these symptoms stay clear of the animal. Also try to stay clear of any places it has been. You don’t want to get the parasites it has left behind in its waste.
Read more:
Skunk Control,
how to kill skunks.