12 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 



Symptoms 



A change in the colour and consistency of the feces is an early symptom. At 

 first the appetite is irregular, but not entirely lost. A purulent discharge from 

 the eyes and nose is usually present and becomes more prominent in the later 

 stages. The fox suffers from extreme thirst judging by the craving for water. 

 There is a rapid decline in condition, accompanied by a harsh dry pelt. The 

 individual hairs tend to stand on end. 



All sense of direction is lost as demonstrated by the fact that the fox walks 

 blindly against the kennel and sides of the pen. A tendency to walk in circles 

 is very noticeable. Some foxes occasionally emit an unusual sighing sound. 

 The odour peculiar to distemper is prevalent and is soon recognized by those 

 having experience with the disease in dogs. In the final stages the eye becomes 

 sunken in the head, severe twitchings of the extremities develop, and the fox 

 dies in a coma, which may last as long as twenty-four hours. 



PosT-MoRTEM Findings 



Post-mortem examinations of foxes frequently show no pathological changes. 

 This may be true of cases that have shown severe symptoms for two weeks. 

 The carcass is usually emaciated. The emaciation may not be so marked 

 in foxes dying rapidly. The most constant change is found in the brain, which 

 may be inflamed and contain fluid under its coverings. 



A pale tallow-coloured liver, friable and easily broken, is characteristic. 

 Other abnormal conditions, due to systemic infection, such as inflammation of 

 the kidneys, lymph glands, intestines, and occasionally the heart muscle, may 

 be found. 



Differential Diagnosis 



Encephalitis. — Death occurs within two days, often with no symptoms 

 having been noticed. Frequently the fox is picked up dead by the keeper. The 

 eyes are prominent and the animals die in convulsions. The carcass is in a 

 good state of nutrition. If any discharge is present from the eyes and nostrils, 

 it is thin and watery. 



Distemper. — Death may not occur for one to three weeks. The eyes are 

 sunken in the head. The carcass is emaciated. There is a purulent discharge 

 from eyes and nostrils. The fox dies in coma. 



Prevention 



Canine distemper of the dog is transmissible to foxes. The dangers of 

 taking the infection from dogs into the fox ranch are obvious. As a rule 

 distemper afl'ects dogs from three to nine months of age. It would be a wise 

 precaution to buy only adults for household pets or watch dogs. 



Should the rancher commence losing a fox or two during the winter months- 

 it is advisable to determine the exact cause of death. Epidemics appear to have 

 commenced in this manner, the disease not assuming alarming proportions until 

 the pups are attacked in the early summer. Fox ranches are more or less isolated 

 units, and this favourable factor should be fully employed to prevent exposure to 

 disease. 



Any foxes purchased or exhibited should be kept isolated from the main 

 ranch. 



