my dogs killed a skunk today in the middle of the day. they were barking and raising cane when i went to see why, one of the dogs was nipping at and barking at the skunk while the skunk was nose to nose with the other dog that was in a pen. it seemed the skunk was trying to get into the pen with the other dog. i went in to get a shotgun and returned to find a dead skunk. is this skunk rabid, mean, crazy, or just have a bucket full of manhood? my first thought was what a beautiful striped skunk, almost solid white, but don't want to mess with it if there is a chance it may be rabid. any ideas?
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Take the head or entire skunk to your local vet or animal control, they will send it off and test it free of charge. it is not worth the risk if one of your dogs was bitten or scrached.
DaveT
Don do not take any chances with this.It happened to me a few years ago but the skunk was after my kids.I killed the skunk and my two dogs got to it before i could.Anyway's my dogs were quarintened for six weeks and iI got rabie shots.The skunk was rabied.And the dods we safe to but lock the dogs up for now and do not let anyone near them until they get a clean bill of health.Hope this helps you out
IF YOU SEE IT IN THE DAYTIME! IT IS RABID. NATURE CAN TRIP ALOT OF S... UP BUT A SKUNK IN THE AFTERNOON IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN GOING TO LAREDO RIGHT NOW.(I NEVER WRITE W/CAP LOCKS BUT THIS DESERVES IT!)
Where was this skunk (what part of the country?) I found a dead raccoon yesterday around 6pm. Wasn't stiff or anything. No puncture wounds on it...no blood at all. Looked like it just died. I burned it to be on the safe side. All my dogs are vaccinated but we have a ton of yotes is south texas.
What part of the country do you live in? If you've had a long stretch of winter weather, and it's been warming up the last few days, it's not that unusual to see them out during the day. Snow melt can force them out at any time of the day.
I live in central Texas between Waco and Austin. No snow melt here. I appreciate the responses. I agree it isn't worth the risk although I have heard daytime sightings of skunks are not a definative sign of a rabid animal. But this one was acting very aggressive, ignoring the dog that was outside the pen with it and on it's butt while trying to get at the dog in the pen. I do have both dogs in the pen for observation. But I have also heard it can take up to 6 months for rabies to develop in some dogs at times. I guess I was hoping the dog just disturbed the nest being the time of year and all.
in central texas between lagrange & houston & we had a rash of rabid skunks found last year. the locat vet just said that in this part of the country if you see one in the middle of the day it's about a 90% chance he's infected, so it's wise to assume anyone you see under those conditions treat it as a rabid animal
You didn't say anything about smell ;if no smell and not afraid of dogs , it sounds like someones pet skunk.
I find alot of skunks during the day .
yea i can see that on headline news already..your dogs are wondering why they are in jail for protecting your yard from rabied skunks..and the neighbor wants you to buy them another skunk! lmao! sorry..could not help it! but it would be about right if it happened to me! jim