Three Cases of Diagnosis and Treatment of Fox Diseases

1 Diagnosis and Treatment of a Case of Fox Hemorrhagic Pneumonia

1.1 Case

In June 2003, a keeper from the fox farm attached to Gansu Normal University brought an adult silver fox for treatment.

1.2 Symptoms

The affected fox was in a semi-comatose state, spitting pink frothy blood, with rapid breathing, the chest heaving sharply with each breath, limbs kicking about, unable to stand after lying down, T40.7°C, auscultation revealed a rapid heartbeat, and the breath sounds were harsh like a bellows. The keeper reported that everything was normal in the morning, and the disease came on suddenly in the afternoon.

1.3 Diagnosis

Based on the clinical symptoms, it was initially judged to be acute hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by bacterial infection or heatstroke.

Sterile cotton swabs were used to collect respiratory tract secretions from the affected fox; Gram staining and microscopic examination showed negative bacteria; blood smear staining and microscopic examination were also negative; therefore it could be diagnosed as acute hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by heatstroke.

1.4 Treatment

According to the principle of "treating the symptoms in acute cases and the root cause in chronic cases," the following prescription was devised based on the symptoms to save it: 10% glucose 250mL x 1, Vc 2mL x 2, ampicillin 0.5g x 2, dexamethasone phosphate 2mg x 4, atropine phosphate 5mg x 1, ATP 2mL x 1. Administered by intravenous drip at a rate of 35-40 drops per minute.

1.5 Prognosis

Forty minutes after medication, the affected fox's breathing gradually stabilized; after the infusion was completed, its spirits improved noticeably, consciousness was clear, and it could stand. A follow-up telephone call the next day confirmed that the sick fox had recovered.

1.6 Observations

1.6.1 Although this case had a sudden onset and severe condition, the duration of illness was short, the body's depletion was not great, and the cause was simple, so one symptomatic treatment produced a remarkable effect.

1.6.2 For canids, unless the body temperature is excessively high (>41°C), the author generally does not advocate the use of specific heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs such as antipyrine and analgin, because canids are relatively sensitive to them; clinically, dogs with allergic reactions after use have been encountered several times. In this treatment, a relatively large dose of glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) was used, the purpose being to clear heat and detoxify and to stimulate the affected fox's respiratory system. The purpose of using high-concentration glucose and atropine was to reduce pulmonary exudation in the affected fox.

1.6.3 Regarding fox diseases, hemorrhagic pneumonia is generally caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection; in female foxes, abortion and endometritis caused by it are also seen clinically. However, as clinical practitioners, we must not follow routine conventions but analyze specific problems specifically; units with the conditions should promptly conduct bacterial examination and drug sensitivity tests to prevent the spread of disease.

2 Diagnosis and Treatment of a Case of Fox Food Poisoning

In July 2003, a keeper from the fox farm attached to the Gansu Xigu Lanzhou Oil Refinery brought a silver fox cub for treatment. Examination of the affected fox revealed it was barely breathing, with very weak heartbeat and respiration, no conjunctival reflex, and the ears, nose, mouth, and limb extremities were all cold. Emergency subcutaneous injection of 0.3mL epinephrine hydrochloride and artificial respiration were performed for resuscitation; after 15 minutes there was no improvement, and clinical examination determined death. Upon inquiry, this fox was the largest in its litter, only slightly over 40 days old, not yet separated from the litter, and had only been eating for 2-3 days; no abnormality was seen the night before, and at 7 a.m. when the nest was checked, it was found spitting frothy blood, depressed, and lying motionless. Subcutaneous injection of canine five-combined IgG had been given with no improvement, so it was brought for treatment; there were also several others in the farm that were in poor spirits and not eating, and the farm owner was very anxious. When asked further about the feed, it was only then revealed that a new batch of mixed sea fish had been brought in; although it had been frozen, it had all become moldy and spoiled, with the fish bodies covered with a 0.5-2mm thick layer of yellow moss-like deposit, and it was said to have been thoroughly washed with pp water before feeding. When first fed, all foxes in the farm had good appetite; now all had reduced appetite. When asked about immunization and disinfection, it was said that in December of last year all adult foxes had been injected with fox triple vaccine (canine distemper, fox enteritis, fox encephalitis), the entire farm was thoroughly disinfected once a week, feeding utensils were disinfected once every 2 days, and washed daily before feeding. Necropsy of the dead fox revealed: soft myocardium with congestion, shallow ulcers on the liver surface, brittle and fragile texture, slightly enlarged spleen, enlarged and distended gallbladder, edema and congestion throughout the digestive tract, no abnormalities in the lungs, pancreas, or kidneys, dark red blood with good clotting, and yellow staining of subcutaneous fat. At the farm owner's invitation, a visit to the fox farm was made, and by then another fox cub had become ill and died. Necropsy findings were the same as above. Examination of the fox herd showed all foxes in poor spirits, with some individuals having diarrhea. Body temperatures of several suspected affected foxes were all 38.7-39.2°C (within normal range), no eye discharge, moist nasal mirror, no swelling or keratinization around the eyelids or nostrils; auscultation revealed loud bowel sounds in some and extremely weak in others, with no other abnormalities. A visit to the feed processing workshop was made; the formulator explained that the fish was disinfected, washed, crushed, and boiled, then cornmeal and bran were added to form a thin paste, heated again to cook the flour, cooled, and then fed to the foxes. The only recent issue was that due to lack of supply, the necessary vitamins had not been added; everything else was normal. Looking at the feed storage area, mixed sea fish was piled randomly on the cement floor (about 1 week's amount), all thawed, with yellow foul water flowing around, the fish surface indeed covered with a thick layer of yellow deposit, and flies and mosquitoes flying everywhere. Based on this, combined with epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and necropsy findings, it could be determined that the cause of disease in the foxes on this farm was food poisoning. A temporary treatment plan was formulated as follows:

(1) Immediately stop feeding the spoiled mixed sea fish and replace with fresh fish and meat; (2) For the whole group, feed each fox per dose 10g glucose, 2 tablets Vc, 15mg VE, 2 tablets compound VB; twice daily; (3) For foxes with diarrhea, add 1-2 tablets compound Baoxu tablets per fox, twice daily.

After the above treatment, the condition was brought under control in about 3 days; during this period another 4 fox cubs became severely ill, and after infusion (each receiving 5% glucose 50mL, Vc 2mL, dexamethasone 2mg, ATP 1mL, inosine 2mL, ampicillin 0.5g x 0.5), 3 improved and continued the same medication as before; except for 1 that died, in about 7 days all foxes returned to normal.

The raising of foxes and other fur-bearing animals is based mainly on animal-based feed, and special attention must be paid to never feeding moldy or spoiled feed. During the breeding season and summer, essential vitamins (such as Vc, VB, VE, etc.) must not be omitted; they serve to regulate digestive function, improve appetite, detoxify, provide antioxidant effects, and prevent problems before they occur. In this case, because vaccination was accurate and timely, farm housing and utensils were strictly disinfected, and the affected foxes' body temperatures were not high, the possibility of infectious disease was ruled out; however, in order to save money, spoiled fish feed was brought in, and there was no cold storage or freezer, so storage was improper; the hot summer weather accelerated feed spoilage, and the necessary vitamins were stopped, causing the entire fox herd to quickly develop poisoning symptoms of varying severity. Fortunately, discovery and treatment were timely, reducing losses.

3 Successful Treatment of a Case of Fox Ascites

Clinically, a fox was encountered with an abdomen as large as a winnowing basket; abdominal puncture was performed repeatedly at 2-day intervals, each time obtaining about 3kg of clear puncture fluid (exudate). Immediately after puncture, the affected fox returned to normal in all respects, but after 2-3 days the abdomen swelled up again as before, and eating and excretion were both affected. Later, treatment was changed to a combination of Chinese and Western medicine for 1 week, and the affected fox recovered. The report is organized as follows:

3.1 Prescription (1) Raw chicken gizzard lining 10-5g; raw Atractylodes macrocephala 5-10g; both drugs ground into fine powder, mixed into feed for oral administration, twice daily; raw chicken gizzard lining to be gradually reduced from 10g to 5g day by day, used continuously for 7 days; as the condition improved day by day, the medication was carefully adjusted.

(2) Intramuscular injection of furosemide 2mL, once daily, used continuously for 5 days.

3.2 Explanation of the Prescription This prescription is a modified formula for treating water bloating and qi bloating in humans; the prescription dosage is small and simple, yet the effect is remarkably good. In the formula, Atractylodes macrocephala is warm in nature and drying, good at strengthening the spleen and stomach, dispersing phlegm and water, and stopping diarrhea; it mainly treats distension due to spleen deficiency and thirst due to spleen dampness; chicken gizzard lining is the inner wall of the chicken stomach, sour in nature and warm, good at resolving blood stasis and accumulations. The combined use of raw chicken gizzard lining and raw Atractylodes macrocephala is not only an essential medicine for digesting stasis and accumulations but also an excellent product for strengthening and supplementing the spleen and stomach; when the spleen and stomach are strong, they can transform the medicinal power and eliminate stasis and accumulations. Because all edema conditions often have the symptom of difficult urination, intramuscular furosemide was used to promote diuresis. The combination of Chinese and Western medicine complements each other and enhances each other's effects, so the effect is immediate.