stinking animal
Absence of odor tends to rank pretty high when it comes to characteristics that make a particular animal desirable as a pet. When looking for a new pet, many people intentionally look for “smellless” animals. This applies to animal body odors, the environment, or bodily secretions. Most animals’ poop stinks, but some animals smell worse than others. Many species have special pheromones that they like and intentionally rub or spray where they don’t want to be sprayed. Even popular pets like cats can have very smelly urine, and some individuals spray to mark their territory.
Many exotic pets have similar challenges. Pheromones and odor markings are fairly common in exotic mammals and potential owners should consider it. Some animals have a very pronounced body odor that persists and can change the scent of your home forever.
8 stinking exotic pets
- Tamandua
- red fox
- porcupine
- ferret
- Marmoset
- skunk
- sugar glider
- binturong
1. Tamandua
Also known as a koala, this unique animal is definitely not a good pet for anyone unprepared to do extensive initial and ongoing research into its dietary needs. In addition to being a pet that needs care, it is said to have a scent several times stronger than a skunk and can be smelled up to 44 feet away in the wild.
Similar to skunks, they secrete a scented spray from anal glands under the base of their tails to ward off potential enemies. These little anteaters don’t smell that bad when they’re not stressed, but they still have an unpleasant odor that some say smells like marijuana.
2. red fox
The most common pet fox species, the red fox is famous among exotic pet owners for its pungent, skunk-like odor. Foxes emit a musky scent that helps communicate their status and mark their territory, but their urine smells particularly strong. The foxes themselves have a typical animal musk, but their pee and poop smell is very strong and they tend to urinate frequently to mark their odors, so frequent bathing is not enough. Odor builds up.
Unfortunately, for this reason, these charismatic canids often need to be kept outdoors, unlike their more expensive relatives, the fennec fox, which has little odor in comparison. . The musk of the red fox can be reduced by spaying/neutering, but it cannot be completely eliminated. Gray foxes and arctic foxes also have odor problems.
3. Porcupine
These spiny animals actually make good pets, despite their intimidating plumage. But he has one problem that the zookeepers who work with them know well. Some porcupines have a very strong odor that is said to resemble that of humans. Species noted for this are mainly New World porcupines, such as the North American and Brazilian hedgehog porcupines.
Thanks to the compound R-delta-decalactone, which rodents secrete to attract mates and mark territory as a warning signal to predators, porcupines are not pets for those sensitive to strong odors. The pungent odor is secreted by the part of the skin that runs down the animal’s back called the rosette. If you’ve ever smelled a porcupine, you know it smells unmistakable. Another porcupine species not often kept as pets is the Palawan porcupine. This porcupine does not have a strong body odor, but its faecal odor is very strong for rodent droppings and its urine has a distinctive “salty” taste.
4. Ferrets
Ferrets are a popular domesticated exotic pet, and many are familiar with their reputation for smell. Ferrets can be troublesome as they use the litter box all the time which is pretty unusual for a carnivore. Also, ferrets have a continual musky odor in their enclosures and on their bodies that owners tend to “blind their noses”, but visitors can smell it upon arrival. Some ferret owners claim that diet is the culprit and that feeding high-quality or raw food will reduce the odor. Still, it’s impossible to get rid of musk completely.
5. Marmoset
At first, you might think that marmosets are perfect pets because of their small size, but unfortunately, these little monkeys have a particularly strong urine smell. In addition to this, these active animals tend to pee anywhere in their cage or urinate outside their cage. Marmosets rub their perineum against everything to sniff it out. The smell of animals is “sweet musk”. Marmoset owners should be prepared to frequently clean the animal’s habitat to tame it rather than eliminate the odor entirely. As with any animal, spaying/neutering can reduce the strength of urine.
6. Skunk
It’s no surprise that the skunk is added to this list. Because the nature of the skunk’s stinky defense mechanism is ubiquitous in popular culture, and everyone knows it. Since they are native animals, most people in North America are used to the strong smell of urine that can travel to the block, as well as the burning smell of tires, pots and fumes. However, pet skunks are mostly “de-skunk”, meaning they have their scent glands removed, making them one of the least smelly animals on this list, but their urine and feces are still very unpleasant. . Surprisingly, the removal of scent glands is not legal in the UK.
7. Sugar glider
The sugar glider is a marsupial that packs a strong scent into its small body. Ferrets tend to be accused of smelling rooms, but sugar gliders are worse. The odor comes from intact male urine, poop, and scent glands, and is even stronger during the breeding season. Sugar glider experts suggest that an improper diet can exacerbate odors, and small enclosures can accelerate waste buildup and intensify odors. Other owners have said that certain cage furniture, such as the running wheel, can collect urine and need to be cleaned very often. However, they do have an odor, and people who are sensitive to this should avoid keeping sugar gliders as pets.
8. Binturong
This strange-looking animal is also known as a bearcat. Unlike other animals on this list, this rare and exotic pet smell may actually smell good to some people. Because it smells like hot, buttered popcorn. This is due to a chemical compound called 2-AP in the urine. This is the same compound found in freshly baked popcorn kernels that results from chemical reactions between certain proteins and sugars. This odor is stronger in male binturongs, so they probably use this odor to inform other binturongs of their presence and gender. The civet cat isn’t the only animal that reminds us of snacks. Dog paws are notorious for smelling like corn chips.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not a substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescribing or formal, individualized advice from a veterinarian. Animals showing signs or symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2018 Melissa Smith
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angel lady writer March 29, 2018:
A very interesting article full of adorable creatures.