Fox with bald patches

[Words]

This is our regular vixen. I first noticed them (exact same pattern) on 19th December via a trail cam. No indications of a problem prior to that. I finally got some photos last night (she's been fairly elusive of late). There appears to be hair growth in the bald areas, and her overall condition doesn't suggest mange. It looks more like an injury. I wondered if anyone had some ideas or had seen this before.

She was otherwise in good health.

[mbaldw]

Fascinating! Looking at the pics, it looks to me almost as though she'd been shaved in those areas. There doesn't appear to be any obvious scar tissue that might be associated with an injury. I have seen cats with a similar, almost random, patched alopecia, but that's been associated with illness or compulsive grooming resulting from severe flea infection. The only thing that it looks similar to is when our pets have been shaved by the vet to perform surgery or take a blood sample.

Cheers,
Marc.

[tigger]

It doesn't look like it's causing her a problem, but I'd keep a very close eye on it. Might be worth getting some of the Fox Welfare Societys special homeopathic stuff sent to you, so that you can add it to any food you put out. It doesn't look like Mange but it won't do her any harm to have some extra vitamins/minerals. There's also some other supplements that you can buy from petshops/vets in powder form (but I can't find it's name now on the fox society website). I've had foxes with awful mange in previous years, but this year they look fit and healthy. Good luck.

Jane

[Dogghound]

Often mammals go through irregular moult patterns particularly if the diet is not quite right. Due to the thick hair growth in the patches I would suggest this is due to a very late moult where the guard hairs have not come through or have come out quite patchy. It doesnt look like mange as you and others have said.

[Words]

Marc, it does look like it's been shaved, so maybe she was picked up by a local rescue centre for some reason. She did have a leg injury earlier in the year, and then an eye problem (though neither were too much of a problem). I lost track of her movements for a while over the past couple of months, so it's possible she's been in re-hab I may have to check trail cam footage a little closer.

Jane, I may get some Vitapet for her if it doesn't look like improving. If it does prove to be mange I can arrange for treatment via a local centre, but I don't think that will be necessary. I've treated several foxes in the past and this doesn't really resemble it.

[Words]

Dogghound, that's an interesting possibility. It does look like clumps have come away, but I'll leave out a little dietary assistance for her

[tigger]

I'm not convinced it is shaving. That last patch, nearest the tail looks too raggedy.

Good luck Words... love your blog and pictures.

Jane

[mbaldw]

so maybe she was picked up by a local rescue centre for some reason.

If she was shaved (and it does seem unlikely) I'd be surprised if it was a rescue centre or vet, because it doesn't seem very regimental - it's pretty haphazard. Perhaps it is a moult. If you find out, please let us know!

Cheers,
Marc.

[Jennie]

My first thought on seeing these pictures was that she had been too near to a hot car exhaust, or something similar, as all the patches seem to be in a straight line, and still would be when she stood up. I presume there is nothing untoward on her other side?

[The Woodman]

Agreed, it doesn't look like mange, more akin to physical damage as if bowled under a vehicle. The hair is growing back on the scalped areas.

There's an interesting edge to the wound where the hair tips have been cut, possibly due to an impact with a sharp metal edge, otherwise the fox looks in fine shape.