sick fox

[dickybird]

hello aland-sorry i havent been 'in touch' but ive had other problems with health etc. yes-i saw the vixen on friday night--first time ive seen her since week gone wednesday. she appeared much stronger than when i originally saw her but she is still not putting any weight on her injured paw. i couldnt see the extent of her injury as to whether its healing or not though. im putting out a good nutritious range of food--but i have noticed a younger fox now coming into the garden and im worried that it is taking her food. im also worried that at some stage this may lead to a confrontation--one which i dont think the vixen would survive. i'll keep you posted.

dickybird

[dickybird]

thanks vf for your advice too-- i still dont think she has mange but i think i'll still get some mange treatment in case. i presume it cant do any harm if administered whether she-or any other fox etc-takes it and doesnt suffer from the condition? what about my cats?

dickybird

[valleyforge]

If you are really sure that it's not mange ... and that should be fairly obvious by now ... then it's probably best not to dose her with any unnecessary medication ... even though the homeopathic stuff is so dilute as to be almost negligible as far as possible harmful effects.

Still, if you have foxes visiting regularly, it might always be useful to have some ready on standby for possible future needs.

[aland]

Hello dickybird, I hope your health problems are not serious and just growing pains like ours, Perhaps the cub belongs to the vixen, Have you seen them together, Or perhaps you could try being around when it calls and chase it off before the vixen arrives this all sound easy but of course i am clutching at straws, You may once again have to put your trust in luck, It would be easy if she came at a set time, But you have already found out that animals tend not to use a time table and appear when we do not expect them, I am sorry none of us can really help, Just offer our support, Good luck Aland.

[dickybird]

thanks aland--no given time to arrival of either foxes--i can only put out food and hope vixen gets it. your best wishes are appreciated.

dickybird

[dickybird]

saw the vixen again last night.she appears much stronger in her movement and is managing to trot at quite a pace on three legs.however there appears to be little if any improvement in her foot-she will occasionally put it down whilst she is feeding but cannot walk/run on it at all.she is still very thin but looks in better condition than when i first sawher. she had a good feed last night and only had to share it with one of the hedgehogs!i dont know whether its significant but the injured paw seems very limp.

dickybird

[aland]

Hello dickybird, At least the vixen is getting some easy food from you and this will mean she as a little less worry, She may well be staying or sleeping quite close to you, The one thing we may have discussed before is try and not leave to much extra food that rats can find, I know this is not easy but it can bring you other problems, I expect you are spending a lot of time waiting, Is your garden long or is the house near to where she turns up, I do not expect it is possible but it would be good if you could have a video set up of some kind so that you could watch from a hide away from her sight, But of course all this costs money some thing that we do not all have, Still keep trying your best and things may well turn out ok, bye for now, aland

[aland]

I hope dickybird that you are not sat out in the cold waiting for your vixen, I keep having a look at the WAB to see if you have any more new,s, aland.

[dickybird]

no aland-not sitting outside!

just been and put food out for her though.i did stand outside for a while though as a calling v-shape of geese(?) flew over head--this sight and sound always brings a lump to my throat every year i experience it--there is something so emotional about it(their calling to each other and the sight of them against the black sky)
i'll now have one eye on the light going on outside in the hopes it'll be the vixen.

kindest regards

dickybird

[aland]

So that is your secret weapon the security light, My wife buys the large cooked bones, dry roasted, from a pet stall on our local market they are cheaper than from pet shops the cubs love them and take them all over we hunt about the next day to see where they have been, One of these may keep her happy for a while, aland.