sick fox

dickybird · #51 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 09:34 AM

hi. thanks for all your encouraging posts. i still havent seen the vixen since last week though the food i put out for her was taken saturday night.the top of one front paw is down to the flesh so i am worried it may turn septic. i realise she may also be getting food from another source but i doubt it will be any of my neighbours,aland,as they are all anti-fox!

dickybird

valleyforge · #52 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 03:16 PM

Hi dickybird,

Normally, any injured mammal such as a fox will tend to a reachable open wound and prevent it going septic by just licking it ... the saliva having some natural anti-bacterial properties.

However, in the case of mange, which is caused by the skin burrowing sarcoptic mite, your vixen may infact be self-damaging in order to try to stop the horrendous itching, so the wound will not get a chance to heal and so stands a much greater risk of becoming infected.

Picidae previously provided a link to the NFWS and their homeopathic treatment for mange ... but I'm assuming you still haven't been able to make contact with them? Maybe the current state of the ecomomy has forced yet another rescue group to the wall.

In any case, (courtest of the Dorset Wildlife Rescue blog), I've found a supplier for the same homeopathic remedy that the NFWS appears to use:

"The mange treatment can be obtained from…..
Helios Camden Rd Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2QR Their order ansaphone is 01892 536393.. Leave your name and address and ask for the canine mange arsenicum and sulpher combination. The cost is only approx £7 per treatment."

I have to confess that I have no personal knowledge of the efficacy or otherwise of this treatment, but reported results seem encouraging.

Whilst the normal pharmaceutical cure (100% effective) for mange cannot be applied to a fox without proper capture/diagnosis/weighing/dosage, the homeopathic option appears to be safe to apply to food left out, with probably no harmful effects should mange not in fact be the problem. So it is probably worth a try.

"Five drops of arsenicum and sulpher combination for canine mange in food left for the fox everyday for three weeks will see magnificent results."

Let us know how you get on, if you decide to try it.

Edit: just found the website for Helios Homeopathy: http://www.helios.co.uk/

aland · #53 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 02:25 PM

Hello Dickybird, This vixen is still giving you worries, I know nothing of this mange thing but if it is just a wound she may well keep it clean just like a dog that as a very special tongue, I have had bad cuts and my dogs in the past have helped heal them up, Sounds disgusting i know, She certainly is not just giving in, We also have people problems because we arbor foxes on our land but at the end of the day they still remain friendly because i help a lot of people in this village, All i can do is wish you luck or at least the vixen bye, aland.

jeannie · #54 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 02:47 PM

Hi dickybird, i would just like to say it really lifts my spirits knowing there are others out there like me who try and help our wild life and show so much concern.I wish you every good luck in helping your vixen, and hope you get rewarded by seeing her start to perk up.as far as im concerned if a wid animal is still eating it has a good chance of getting better.

aland · #55 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 02:59 PM

Well said jeannie, aland.

dickybird · #56 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 04:08 PM

hi. dont know about anyone else but im finding it more difficult now to keep track of my vixen's condition with these dark nights. i think she came again last night but the back garden where she gets fed gets very little light as im surrounded by farmland. i usually have to rely on the security lights being triggered but by the time i get to the window,the fox has gone.however in the gloom last night i managed to make out a fox eating(along with a hedgehog which was thigh deep in the water bowl!) and think it was the vixen.if it was her-she seemed to be chewing more substantially than she was able to originally but she was still sitting down to eat.think i need to take up residence at the window!!

dickybird · #57 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 04:14 PM

forgot to say thanks vf for mange advice--im still not convinced she has mange but im monitoring her when i can. i will consider getting some treatment in any case if it wont do her any harm.

dickybird

aland · #58 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 04:40 PM

It is quite normal to sit down to eat when they are comfortable with the surroundings, I wish i could upload two videos of two sister vixens from our stables, One is nervous and grabs and gulps down food and stands all the time, The other relaxes and sits on her bum to eat, aland.

valleyforge · #59 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickybird

--im still not convinced she has mange but im monitoring her when i can.

Keep an eye out for any signs of her biting at her paw (or her hind quarters) rather than just licking the wound, as that would be more indicative of the mange mite being present. Note that the 'mangy' look is associated with advanced cases where the mites have spread under much of the skin and are causing such intense irritation that hair is scratched/bitten out.

An early infection/irritation site between the toes is not uncommon though.