Fox update

Words · #1 (**permalink**) 25-02-2006, 12:50 PM

Our regular cast of foxes seems definitely to have become 3 adults. As well as the dog fox (whose visits are somewhat erratic at the moment), we've had a vixen visiting regularly (who we call Kinky due to a kink in her tail). She's very shy and hard to photograph. And this morning we had a third fox show up. Possibly another vixen, she spent an hour or so in the garden with Kinky, mutual grooming and so on. Fantastic to watch. There's a small photo attached.

I also captured a couple of minutes on video through the window which you might enjoy

Kinky seems to have a fairly advanced case of mange (her back is half bare and has lesions). You can see it when she turns in the video clip. We've starting some treatment (first dose tonight from the local rescue centre), so will see how it goes.

Mark43 · #2 (**permalink**) 25-02-2006, 01:06 PM

Nice video clip Words.

Very lucky to have them in your garden in daylight.........we get the occasional one or 2 but only after dark.

Pat · #3 (**permalink**) 25-02-2006, 02:54 PM

That looks like a pretty bad case of mange Words, I hope the medication works, the other fox seems to have some at the base of it's tail too. Are any of your vixens pregnant ? 3 of mine are, one of them has lost about half of her tail and most of the hair on what's left of it, I'm pretty sure it's not mange because it ( her tail ) was there one day and gone the next, she's probably been attacked by a dog or one of the other foxes, they tend to shoo her away when she comes over and she seems very submissive she goes down on her tummy when any of the others approach but all in all she seems very healthy if you can go by her coat condition. Good luck with the mange, I found a good way of giving them medicine, I put it in jam sandwhiches ( plenty of jam ) they've got a sweet tooth!

Words · #4 (**permalink**) 25-02-2006, 10:53 PM

Not sure if they're pregnant or not, but the one with mange does seem very broad

We'll keep an eye on the other fox, but she's not a regular feeder so may be difficult to treat. That said, Kinky is determined to stay away tonight. We've been watching for three hours to make sure no-one else gets the medication. I've chased off a cat and another fox so far. But she's yet to show. Could be a late night!

Tragus · #5 (**permalink**) 25-02-2006, 11:28 PM

Hi Words

Just a quick question...The local rescue centre have given you something to treat the mange with... Is it a homoeopathic remedy? If so you should be pretty safe treating them all, a kind of blanket approach. Usually when one fox has mange the others tend to get it at some point.
We use a homoeopathic remedy at our centre (frowned on by some vets) but we have had excellent results.
One photograph (which I think you have seen and commented on) was a fox cub with bad mange. He ended up with NO body fur and with regular treatments it all grew back! He has since been released back to the wild a lot fatter and healthier!

Good luck with treatment and if you can get your hands on some dead day old chicks you may be able to chuck a chick her way and then you know she has had the dose! Another alternative is to put out a bowl of water and if the treatment is homoeopathic you can put a drop or two in that! You may be able to get some chicks from the rescue centre, if they are anything like us we always have a large supply availiable

cheers
Jo

Pat · #6 (**permalink**) 26-02-2006, 07:33 AM

I aggree with you about the homeopathic remedy Tragus,
that's what I used for my foxes when I first started feeding them a couple of years ago, they all had mange and some of them quite badly, I couldn't give them convential medication because I was feeding them in public woodland,within about 6 weeks their mange had cleared up.I'm a great believer in homeopathy, if it works on animals it must work.

Words · #7 (**permalink**) 26-02-2006, 08:32 AM

Hi guys...

I think it's the drug treatment (not homeopathic), but I'll check when I go back.

We gave up last night at 2am... no sign of her at all. Brought the food in because we want to make sure she gets it. Am about to put the food out again in case she shows in the morning like yesterday, which means sitting by he window for the next zillion hours.

We used to treat our dog with homeopathy for a skin condition brought on by a flea allergy. Worked wonderfully well, so if I get stuck with the current routine I'll try it out. I presume you're talking about the treatment offered by the NFWS.

Pat · #8 (**permalink**) 26-02-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Words

Hi guys...

I think it's the drug treatment (not homeopathic), but I'll check when I go back.

We gave up last night at 2am... no sign of her at all. Brought the food in because we want to make sure she gets it. Am about to put the food out again in case she shows in the morning like yesterday, which means sitting by he window for the next zillion hours.

We used to treat our dog with homeopathy for a skin condition brought on by a flea allergy. Worked wonderfully well, so if I get stuck with the current routine I'll try it out. I presume you're talking about the treatment offered by the NFWS.

I'm not quite sure what it was I used, I got it from a homeopathic pharmacy in London, I knew a homeopathic vet at the time and he recommended them to me, said it would be cheaper to buy it direct, I know it had sulphur in it, it's probably the same stuff as the NFWS use. Good luck