﻿30 BULLETIN" 1350, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Treatment of disease. — Taking measures looking toward sanitation 

 and the prevention of disease are functions of the fox farmer. 

 Treating disease, however, calls for a veterinarian, and the diagnosis 

 of disease and the administration of drugs are the province of ex- 

 perts. A fox farmer's general knowledge of diseases and the appli- 

 cation of remedies is naturally limited. Blue foxes are diJERcult to 

 treat, and in administering remedies it is necessary to employ strat- 

 egy. Mature foxes usually can not be treated successfully except by 

 catching and then restraining them with either wooden or metal 

 tongs, such as are advertised extensively in fur-farming magazines 

 (see fig. 25). Sometimes the fox can be induced to eat tasteless 

 medicine placed in food. 



When fox pups start to look for food they sometimes eat to 

 excess, and the resulting indigestion is indicated by cramps or colic. 

 A fox showing such symptoms should be captured and given 1 or 2 

 teaspoonfuls of castor oil. If the animal is cold or has been wet it 

 should be kept warm and confined in a box; if it is bloated or 

 swollen, Epsom salt should be administered, one-half teaspoonful 

 in 2 tablespoonfuls of hot water. No food should be given but hot 

 milk or hot beef tea. Rough handling should be avoided, and time 

 enough should be allowed for the frightened puppy properly to 

 swallow liquids. A fatal pneumonia is apt to be caused by pouring 

 more liquid into the mouth than can be swallowed. 



Foot disease is a pus infection. It is first localized in the sweat 

 glands between the toes and then spreads into the Ij^mjDh channels 

 and the blood-stream, causing a lymphangitis with extreme swelling 

 of the foot. A number of cases have developed into gangrene of the 

 foot bones as well as multiple abscesses along the back and tail. One 

 case revealed on post mortem an acute abscess of the dorsal gland 

 of the tail, with other clinical symptoms of pyemia. The so-called 

 foot disease may be communicable, but the general indications are 

 that it is not. The causes of foot disease are not definitely known, 

 but extreme moisture, insanitary dens and surroundings, or faulty 

 feeding may be causative factors. Affected parts of blue foxes hav- 

 ing foot disease are being examined by specialists of the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, and the findings will be made known as soon as 

 definite information is obtained. 



Wounds. — The lameness sometimes noted in young foxes found on 

 the shore is generally due to wounds from stepping on sea urchins, 

 one of their favorite foods. The spines of sea urchins are Y&ry 

 sharp and sometimes will penetrate the sole of a shoe. 



Slight wounds of the skin from bites and lacerations from other 

 foxes readily heal because of the dust-free air and licking by the 

 animals, but large wounds should be treated. If the wound has 

 hanging flaps, cut them off. Remove all hair, grit, and pus from the 

 sore, and then flush it with peroxide of hydrogen. After the wound 

 has been properly cleansed, apply boric acid 4 parts and alum 1 part. 



Cannibalism. — Cannibalism among foxes is not normal. Some 

 authorities believe that it is purely a mental disorder, though it may 

 be further increased by the taste of blood. There seems also to be 

 an instinct among wild animals to kill sick mates. The vixen's 

 desire to destroy her young may result from any of a number of 



