Prevention and Treatment Methods for Common Autumn Diseases in Foxes and Raccoon Dogs

Gastroenteritis

The cause is mainly improper feeding and management, sudden feed changes or spoiled and deteriorated feed, excessive feed intake, etc.; in addition, long-distance and prolonged transport, extreme fatigue of the animals, and reduced body resistance can also cause this disease; furthermore, diseases such as canine distemper, pasteurellosis, and colibacillosis can cause secondary gastroenteritis.

The clinical manifestations are reduced appetite at the beginning of the disease, sometimes vomiting, complete loss of appetite in the later stage, congestion of the oral mucosa, dryness and fever, listlessness, and reluctance to move. The abdomen is tucked up, the back is arched, bowel sounds are increased, diarrhea occurs, with egg-white-like grayish-yellow or grayish-green loose stools passed, and some pass bloody stools; the hair around the anus and perineum has loose stool adhering to it, filthy and unclean.

When a large number of animals in the herd are affected, eliminate the adverse factors from the diet. Adopt a protective dietary therapy: start with a smaller amount of feed, and gradually increase to the normal amount once there is improvement; if conditions permit, feed fresh milk or milk powder; when necessary, tetracycline or chloramphenicol, etc. can be added to the feed, 2 times a day, 25 mg each time. Streptomycin or neomycin, about 10,000 to 20,000 international units, can also be dissolved in water and poured into the water box for the animals to drink freely.

For severe cases, sulfaguanidine can be given orally, 0.1 to 0.2 g per day. When there is dehydration and exhaustion, 5% glucose 20 to 30 mL and camphor oil 0.5 to 1 mg can be injected subcutaneously at multiple points. To help sick animals regain appetite as soon as possible, compound vitamin B injection can be injected intramuscularly, and vitamin C 0.5 to 1 mg can also be injected intramuscularly; penicillin or streptomycin 200,000 international units each time, injected 2 to 3 times a day is sufficient.

Fur-Eating Disorder (Alopecia)

The cause is unknown; the main symptom is that the tips of the fur are eaten off, the guard hair tips are bare, and the underfur becomes coarse, mostly occurring on the tail, neck, rump, and sides of the body, etc.

The areas where the fur has been eaten off look like a sheep after shearing.

The prevention and treatment measure is to supplement the diet with sulfur-containing amino acid feeds, such as feather meal, eggs, soybean milk, etc.

In daily care, attention should be paid to providing nutritionally complete feed and maintaining good hygiene in the cages and whelping boxes.

Heatstroke

From July to September, breeding foxes and raccoon dogs enter the recovery period, and the young animals enter the growing period.

This disease occurs when, under conditions of excessively high temperature and poor ventilation, animals are exposed to direct sunlight, causing brain overheating (sunstroke) or the whole body being stimulated by heat (heatstroke); it usually occurs rapidly, and the mortality rate is very high.

Foxes and raccoon dogs have very poorly developed sweat glands and dissipate body heat slowly, making it very easy for their body temperature to rise, with listlessness, swaying gait, a fainting state, vomiting, difficulty breathing, open mouth and protruding tongue, continuous panting, cyanosis of the visible mucous membranes, and finally coma, convulsions, and death.

When this disease occurs, the animal farm should immediately take cooling measures, such as watering the ground, strengthening ventilation facilities, etc. Sick animals should be moved to a cool, well-ventilated shady place; cold compresses should be applied to the head; when there is cardiac insufficiency, 1 to 2 mL of camphorated oil injection can be injected intramuscularly; for cages in sunny locations, shading and ventilation should be provided, and cool water should be sprinkled on the ground or on the cages.