| Humane
Euthanasia
Also see: Humane
Protocol For Handling Skunks
How do you euthanize a skunk?
This question is usually accompanied by nervous
laughter and the underlying belief that there’s no easy or
safe way to provide this animal with a good death. In fact there
is an easy, safe and humane way to euthanize the skunk. You need
three things:
- the right equipment
- the proper pre-euthanasia drug, and
- knowledge of skunk behavior.
Equipment
Traps. The best traps are metal wire with a single
trap, guillotine door. Don’t use the solid type (usually sold
for skunks) because they’re too hot in the summer (if left
out in the sun, a trapped skunk can suffer a horrible death in one
of these), and they don’t work as well with the following
procedure.
Pole Syringe. Do not use the jab type, which forces
you to shove a large-gauge needle into the animal. If you use one
of these on a skunk, you’re asking to get sprayed.
This company offers an extension pole syringe: Tomahawklivetrap.com
Pre-euthanasia Drugs
From a licensed veterinarian acquire ketamine/xylazine “PreMix.”
This is a mixture of two different drugs: ketamine (100 mg/ml) and
xylazine (100 mg/ml). Have your veterinarian mix five parts ketamine
with one part xylazine. Do not change the ratio. Then have your
veterinarian put his/her clinic label on the bottle with a six-month
expiration date. Store at room temperature in a locked cabinet when
not in use.
Keep accurate use records, just like you would with any controlled
substances. Ketamine and xylazine are not controlled substances
(except ketamine in California). In most states they can be lawfully
purchased through a licensed veterinarian.
The proper PreMix dosage is 0.6 ml (cc) per ten pounds of skunk.
This means the average skunk (seven to eight pounds) will need only
a 1/2 cc. Don’t overdose; it’s not necessary and won’t
do you any good. At current prices, the cost of PreMix is about
50 cents per skunk. Always use a new needle, which will add a few
cents to the cost.
Skunk Behavior
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Nature has given this wonderful creature very
effective defensive equipment. Balancing this ability to spray a
noxious liquid is an easygoing temperament. Mr. Skunk will only
spray if he feels threatened, and he is not easily threatened. He
will usually warn you before he sprays by stamping his front feet.
If you ignore the warning and keep threatening him, he’ll
turn around, lift his tail and ruin your day. If you get sprayed,
it’s a safe bet that you weren’t paying attention.
It is quite possible to approach, cover with a towel or blanket,
pick up, transport and euthanize a trapped skunk without being sprayed.
But you must move slowly, never surprise him, and always give him
a chance to adjust (cool off) after doing something with him.
Just a warning: some people believe that if you lift a skunk’s
hind legs off the ground, he can’t spray you. This is not
true!
Euthanasia Procedure
Transport. Don’t surprise him. Approach the trap so that you’re
facing him. Don’t approach him from his rear. Walk slowly
and talk to him. Yes, talk to him. Let him know that you’re
coming. Approach the trap, cover it with a large towel or blanket
then, wait a few minutes for him to adjust. He’ll feel safe
in the darkened trap, which means he won’t spray.
Pick up the trap and carry it to your vehicle. Wait a few minutes
and then drive him to the shelter. After you arrive, wait a few
minutes, then carry the trap to the skunk euthanasia area (preferably
an outdoor area—let’s not push our luck). Remove the
blanket or towel and let him get used to his surroundings before
proceeding (ten to thirty minutes is usually enough).
Euthanasia. Load the safety stick with the proper dose of PreMix
(remember 0.6 ml per ten pounds). Do not use pentobarbital sodium
as a pre-euthanasia drug! Place a new 25-gauge needle on a locking-hub
3 cc syringe, snap the syringe into the stick, and you’re
ready to go.
Approach the trap so that you’re facing the skunk. Talk to
him so you won’t surprise him. He’ll generally keep
his face toward you, which is good. If he turns his back to you
it’s not a good sign—back off for awhile.
Skunks will generally lie toward the back of the trap. This
being the case, now lift the front of the trap approximately six
inches so that you have a better angle to work with. You can
open the trap door or not, depending on whether the door is solid
metal or whether the safety stick will fit through the metal mesh
of the trap.
As you face the skunk, slowly move the stick toward him. The best
place to inject the PreMix is into the front of either his left
or right shoulder. Gently insert the needle into the muscle and
inject slowly (it is important to inject slowly).
Remember that you’re using a very tiny needle and injecting
a very small amount into him, which is why this is so gentle. Don’t
jab or hurry, and he’ll usually ignore you. Keep your eye
on him. If he gets up or stamps his feet, back off for awhile. Usually
he’ll just lie there and let you inject him with PreMix.
After injecting him, back off and wait approximately three to five
minutes. The PreMix is a powerful anesthetic which will quickly
knock him out. Once unconscious, he can’t bite or spray. He’ll
be out for thirty to 45 minutes.
Once he’s unconscious, pull him out of the trap and inject
1 cc per ten pounds of a six-grain pentobarbital sodium into his
heart. The intracardiac shot will not hurt him as long as he’s
unconscious. Verify death by leaving the needle/syringe in his heart
until the syringe stops moving. He will not spray as he goes under
either the PreMix or the pentobarbital sodium.
This process is easy, fast, gentle, and very effective. Be calm
and professional and it will work for you.
You can learn more about providing humane deaths to the animals
at your shelter by attending AHA’s Euthanasia-By-Injection
Workshop. Doug Fakkema, a nationally-renowned animal care and control
consultant, presents the two-day course, which includes lectures
and hands-on sessions. Call AHA at 800-227-4645 to learn how to
bring this training to your area.
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