How to determine whether a fox is sick in fox farming

Observation of fecal characteristics: when constipation occurs, the stool is dry and hard; when diarrhea occurs, the stool is loose; when hemorrhagic enteritis occurs, the feces contain blood; when catarrhal gastroenteritis occurs, the feces are thin and watery, containing incompletely digested feed and sloughed intestinal mucosal epithelium, and in some cases mixed with blood, namely purulent stool and bloody stool, with a foul odor.

Appetite and drinking: In the early stage of illness, foxes mostly show poor appetite. As the condition worsens, they refuse food, and some show hyperphagia. When foxes develop diarrhea, lobar pneumonia, and other conditions, although they refuse food, their thirst increases. Body temperature examination: The normal body temperature of foxes is 38.8°C-39.6°C. Any value exceeding the normal body temperature is a symptom of illness. An elevated body temperature is called fever; an increase of 1°C above normal body temperature is slight fever, an increase of 2°C is moderate fever, and an increase of 3°C or more is high fever. In some cases, a body temperature lower than normal is called hypothermia, such as in feed poisoning and severe blood loss. Body temperature measurement method: restrain the fox, first shake the mercury column of the thermometer back to its original position, apply lubricant, and then slowly insert it into the anus. Generally, measure 1-3 times daily, and the specific frequency can be determined according to the condition. When proctitis is present, vaginal temperature can be measured. Visible mucosa examination: generally refers to examination of the mucosa of the anus, vagina, oral cavity, etc. Pallor is caused by anemia; redness is caused by congestion; yellow staining is a sign of jaundice, mostly seen in liver disease; cyanosis is caused by an increased amount of reduced hemoglobin in the blood, mostly seen in heart failure, major circulatory disorders, and other diseases. Examination of cough and nasal discharge: coughing is often caused by colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. The appearance of a large amount of nasal discharge is often caused by canine distemper and infectious rhinitis. Observation of respiratory movements: The respiratory rate of foxes is 21-30 breaths per minute, with consistent intervals between breaths, thoracoabdominal breathing, and bilateral symmetry, and breathing appears very calm. If the respiratory rate, rhythm, breathing pattern, etc. change, then difficulty in breathing occurs.

Observation of urination: Foxes have a fixed or regular posture for urination and urinate at fixed spots. If there is straining and restlessness during urination, with the hind limbs and rear abdomen resting on the cage mesh, it is caused by painful urination, mostly seen in urethral stones, cystitis, and other diseases; urinary incontinence is mostly seen in canine distemper; decreased urination frequency is mostly seen in nephritis, vomiting, diarrhea, and other diseases. Observation of movement: If a fox is found to have uncoordinated movement, such as static ataxia, swaying, weak limbs, flexed joints, splayed limbs, or affected limbs dragging behind due to excessively low or high muscle tension, or abdominal muscle tension and hardening, as well as motor paralysis, etc., all reflect pathological changes in the nervous system.