KINKATOPIA EXPERIENCE-BASED HEALTH FAQ
The following information is based off of experience collected by Kinkatopia CEO Alexandra in regards to frequently asked medical-related kinkajou questions.
*I am not a vet or any form of medical professional. If you have health concerns regarding your kinkajou, please take it to a credible vet immediately.
Weight:
Please see FAQ numbers 2 and 3 on the Gourmet Kinkajou page.
Dental care:
This is a very important topic. A diet primarily consisting of soft fruits can cause teeth to weaken. Or, a diet high in sugar can cause tartar and tooth decay. Tartar appears as a darker layer of coloring over the teeth. It is not abnormal or worrisome to have some tartar; however, mostly dark teeth should be corrected. A vet can distinguish if teeth need to be addressed medically.
Some keepers opt to have their kink’s teeth professionally cleaned at the vet. Others may brush their kinkajou’s teeth regularly. Personally, I have never done either. Most kinkajous are not going to sit patiently while their teeth are cleaned, and excessive time spent putting under with anesthesia could prove tolling to the animal’s health.
At Kinkatopia, I practice daily attention to dental hygiene in more practical ways that an animal would find in the wild. Diet is an excellent way to promote healthy teeth. A diet like I suggest in our literature promotes moderation and balance when it comes to sugar.
Foods such as tough, raw vegetables (carrots, peppers, corn on the cob, etc.) help strengthen and clean teeth. Papaya is also an excellent source to cut down on tartar. Its acids provide a natural way to keep teeth clean.
I use various jerkies (chicken, duck, turkey – primarily white meats) for protein but also as an awesome way to keep teeth healthy. Monkey biscuits can offer the same benefits as well. All these items help strengthen teeth and cut down on tartar.
Lastly, enrichment items and toys can give great benefit to teeth. My kinks love to chew on rubber toys. Also, Greenies and Whimzees are two companies that make dental chews for canines. I use them for the kinks and have great success. I am also a fan of rawhide sticks wrapped in freeze-dried meats; Good n’ Fun is the company I use.
Tartar on kinkajou. You’ll also notice her canines were removed — this was prior to being rehomed with her permanent family. (Annie kinkajou of the White family)
By implementing a daily dental-related item to your kinkajou routine, I assure that you will greatly limit your need for medical dental care. Is it foolproof? Of course not, but thus far the Kinkatopia regime is speaking for itself. Any time one of my kinkajous is at the vet, I have their teeth checked. Knock on wood, so far so good!
Canine or claw removal:
Don’t do it. I’ve already expressed my stance on Kinks as “Pets.” Altering the animal for your own benefit is not fair to the kinkajou. Teeth and claws go alongside keeping the animal … you signed up for it. Their claws and canines serve great purpose: climbing, eating, grooming, basic motor function, etc. Taking these parts from a kinkajou can cause great physical and mental anguish. For more information, see what the USDA has to say about the topic, here.
Administering medications:
Many keepers are not going to be able to administer a pill down a kinkajou’s throat – I do not even try. I also believe it is not the most conducive way to keep a positive relationship with the animal. They hold grudges better than most people I know. I prefer liquid medications, but also have methods for pills.
First, I syringe train all my kinks. I give them nectar or coconut milk via a syringe. Therefore, when it is time to give them a medication, I simply mask the med within a nectar, and they will eagerly take it. I try to opt for liquid medications that are fruit flavored or no flavor at all. These are easily masked. I have received chicken-flavored liquid medication before. I put it into a muffin and even mixed it in with chicken (you can puree it together) to administer.
Variety is key. They are smart. For me, a method doesn’t last too long. I need to switch nectar flavors or alternate between hiding the liquid in foods, for longer-term medicine management. The foods I use are typically bread-based or pastries: muffins, rolls, breakfast pastries, rice krispies, etc. Something sweet that they cannot resist.
For pills, I grind them up and generally execute the same way as I would a liquid. The stronger the taste, the tastier the treat-like masking food needs to be. Honey and peanut butter can work as well.
Overall, I have the greatest results by setting them up for success with syringe training. Especially if they are receiving a maintenance medication such as dewormer.
Deworming:
Firstly, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VET. This is what I did. I get Panacur prescribed to the Kinkatopia kinkajous by my veterinarian. I administer is as prescribed. It has come to my attention that you can buy this OTC, however, if you do not have the right dosing, it can make you kinkajou feel ill.
I deworm my kinkajous every 6 months, because I run a sanctuary that houses various animals. I do this as a preventative measure as suggested by my vet. Please consult a professional as to whether or not deworming regularly is something you need to concern yourself with.
Vaccinations:
As a personal preference, I do not vaccinate my kinkajous. If I was to regularly exhibit one of my animals in public, I would choose to vaccinate for rabies to cover my animal. That is one of the first things agencies — such as health departments and fish and wildlife commissions — concern themselves with if an animal bites while out in public. I educate myself on local rabies cases and take necessary environmental precautions.
Until there are vaccines specifically for kinkajous, I prefer to dial back vaccines unless they are absolutely needed. Again, this is my personal preference. Some states require kinks to have particular vaccines to be legally kept. I do not suggest acting against bureaucracies.
The only brand of vaccine that is 100% kosher (that I am aware of, this does not mean it is the only one) as per one of my board members is Nobiva for rabies and distemper-parvo. That being said, I suggest making sure your vet is using vaccinations that are proven safe for kinkajous.
Flea prevention:
I use flea medication as needed. Fortunately, kinkajous are built with a natural flea, bee, and mosquito repellant – their thick coats and skin. That being said, I’ve heard of kinkajous getting fleas. It happened once to me.
I use prescription Revolution for puppies and kittens, weight 5 or less pounds (pink label); one dose per kinkajou, monthly if needed. During the summers, I use it as a regular preventative. Again, I get this from my vet. I do not suggest using anything OTC – too risky in my opinion.
Spay/Neuter: Do it.
If you want the best chance of keeping a kinkajou that is mostly able to be handled or safely interacted with — spay or neuter them. There is a reason that breeding pairs cannot be handled … and hormones are it. Even having fixed kinks around intact kinks can bring out instincts that can pose to be problematic.
The appropriate age to fix is 4-6 months. Kinkajous start to sexually mature around a year to 18 months. I suggest avoiding that again altogether. They older they get, the more hormones kick in.
Some vets will paint the nails of a kink during surgery to distract them from interfering with their surgical site. This is a common practice for primates. One of my vets even added sutures to each arm and leg, so my male would focus on those, rather than his surgery site.
I suggest limiting range of motion when your kinkajou gets home from surgery. Keep them in their enclosure or kennel for a couple days. Rather be safe than sorry.
Illnesses kinks can contract from humans:
It is true that kinkajous and humans do not share an immune system. That being said, they can still contract a couple different issues from us.
Ringworm is a fungal infection that kinks and humans can exchange. It appears on the skin.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus is another.
I still suggest practicing caution when you are ill around your kinkajou. You can never be too safe, in my opinion.
Supplements and vitamins:
I use supplements and vitamins contingent on my kinkajous’ individual needs. The only health tool I give daily to the whole crew is CBD.
Through my time, I have stumbled upon a correlation between kinks and low iron leading me to believe it is a common issue (or just the norm). Therefore, I give all of my kinks a weekly child’s iron gummy. I also provide weekly vitamin B and folic acid (all via individual children’s gummies). I know of some people that give a children’s multivitamin – also acceptable.
As for other supplements and vitamins, unless identified by a professional, I provide a balanced and varied diet.