Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for the Prevention and Treatment of Raccoon Dog Big Paw Disease

In recent years, after raccoon dog big paw disease began to show sporadic and endemic outbreaks among most @#@252@#@ households in Zhaoyuan, Taikang and Xingkai Lake areas of Heilongjiang Province, it also successively broke out and spread among some raccoon dog farmers in Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei and other provinces, causing relatively large economic losses. It was initially mistaken for sarcoptic mange infection, and all cases were treated with ivermectin or doramectin. Not only did this fail to cure the disease, but overdose or repeated administration led to drug residue accumulation, causing poisoning and death of the raccoon dogs.

The disease is briefly described below so that each raccoon dog farm (household) can raise awareness and master treatment and prevention techniques.

1 Pathogen

Samples were collected for pathogen isolation and identification. Staphylococcus was isolated from the diseased foot pads and interdigital spaces of raccoon dogs with big paw disease, with an isolation rate of 100% (12/12). Physiological and biochemical identification showed that the colonies were golden yellow, produced hemolysin, were positive in the coagulase test, decomposed mannitol, and the liquid culture injected intravenously into rabbits could cause death. Therefore, it was confirmed that Staphylococcus aureus is the pathogen of raccoon dog big paw disease.

2 Epidemiology

Young raccoon dogs are susceptible, with an incidence rate as high as over 50%, while older raccoon dogs have an infection rate of 5%-10%. Generally, cases begin to appear successively from June and continue until pelt harvesting. Both male and female raccoon dogs are susceptible, with relatively obvious contagiousness. It first occurs sporadically, then spreads from near to far and affects the whole group, finally forming an endemic outbreak.

3 Clinical Symptoms

After infection, raccoon dogs show slow growth, messy and lusterless fur, emaciation and anemia, and some develop chronic diarrhea. Ulcers or lichenoid lesions form in the interdigital spaces and on the foot pads; the foot pads become swollen and hard or dry, cracked and bleeding, and the affected areas have a special odor.

4 Diagnosis

Based on the characteristic lesions of "big paw disease", it is easy to confirm the diagnosis, but it should be distinguished from sarcoptic mange. When sarcoptic mange occurs on the paws, skin flakes and hair loss can be seen on the lower parts of the limbs, with itching, and the foot pads are not obviously swollen and have scabs.

5 Prognosis of Big Paw Disease

Staphylococcus aureus multiplies locally in the lesions and can secrete hemolysin, leukocidin and enterotoxin. The toxins are absorbed into the blood, leading to anemia, chronic diarrhea and systemic toxemia in diseased raccoon dogs, resulting in death. Therefore, if treatment is not timely or is incorrect, the mortality rate of diseased raccoon dogs is over 20%. Even if they survive to the pelt harvesting period, because of slow growth and small individual development, only a damaged pelt can be obtained.

6 Treatment

Thoroughly clean the affected areas with hydrogen peroxide, then apply drugs such as penicillin ointment, erythromycin ointment, iodine glycerin, ichthammol, etc., once daily for 5-7 consecutive days. Injectable drugs: penicillin, twice daily, 800,000 IU each time, for 3 consecutive days. Gentamicin, twice daily, 80,000 IU each time, for 3 consecutive days. Dexamethasone, once daily, 5 mL each time, for 3 consecutive days. In addition, supplement VA, Vc, VB1, VB2 and VB5 in the feed.

7 Prevention

After young raccoon dogs are weaned or raised in individual cages, ensure the supply of VA, VC and B-complex vitamins. To prevent infection caused by excessive friction on the foot pads, place a wooden board or hard cardboard in one corner of the cage net so that the raccoon dogs can rest on it. Maintain good environmental hygiene on the farm and promptly remove feces from the bottom net. From July to September, disinfect the cages and housing at least once a week, strictly isolate diseased raccoon dogs, and raise and treat them separately.