As the months passed, my gorgeous skunk started to change. She paced the house, kept me awake at nights, wanted in bed only just to get back off the bed. She wouldn't sleep and wouldn't eat.
My little girl was maturing. It was now time to spay her.
I had received a book called "Skunk Stuff" by Jane Bone. (So, there really are more people out there that appreciated the beauty and love skunks can provide!)
After reading Jane's book, I realized that Odie should have been spayed several months earlier.
I scheduled an appointment for the surgery. I was so worried that I might lose her during the procedure. After a very long day, she was back home with me, doing great, a real trooper. I tossed my skunk literature aside.
Several months passed.........then Odie quit eating and started losing weight, she was also turning yellow. One morning I caught her pottying on the floor. I was stunned, there was blood in her stool, blood in her urine. I was in shock, I immediatly rushed her to the vet. After tests and medications, we were still not postive of her diagnosis.
As it turned out, I was killing Odie with her diet. I was giving her cat food and anything else that she wanted. She was in liver failure. Several months of forcing herbs and vitamims on her, things started improving. The yellow was gone. Feed her vegetables!!......No way would my little sweetie eat a vegetable. People were telling me not to give in to her, she will eventually eat.
Everyone was so helpful, so encouraging, and so right! She finally decided that vegetables really are good!
Odie died April 25, 2001, in my arms.
Because of my ignorance, her life was shortened. But, in the few years she was with me, I have learned so much and hopefully my mistakes will help to teach others and maybe Odie's web page will save the life of another skunk.
If anyone is considering keeping a skunk as a pet, please do your homework, learn all you can. Visit my links below for more information. A domestic bred skunk can be a wonderful friend.
Unless, absolutely necessary please do not take a wild animal into your home. There are many wildlife rehabilitators and specialists available to assist.
Special thanks to everyone that has helped me
YOUR DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
