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farmers' BULLETIN 795. 



. Thus far no widespread disease among foxes has made its appear- 

 ance. When diseases occur they mainly affect the digestive organs, 

 and usually can ho traced to improper feeding. Indigestion and 

 inflammation of the bowels are not uncommon among cubs. Isola- 

 tion in clean, dry quarters is the first step toward a cure, and rest and 

 fasting are better than medicine. A spoonful of milk diluted with 

 six spoonfuls of boiled water will quench thirst and aid in maintain- 

 ing strength. The feces should be examined daily. Constipation is 

 frequent, and it is especially dangerous to vixens during the first 

 three days after the birth of their cubs. It can generally be cor- 

 rected by a laxative diet, as milk, liver, or veal, but in extreme cases 

 a dose of castor oil or an injection of soapsuds may be necessary. 

 A protracted attack of diarrhea can usually be checked by a purge of 

 castor oil followed by small doses of laudanum. Generally, however, 

 a day or two of fasting followed by short rations of cooked milk or 

 milk and eggs, at intervals of two or three hours, will effect a cure. 

 During such an attack vitality runs low, and care must be taken to 

 keep the afflicted animal in a warm, dry place. It should have access 

 to water that has been boiled. Growing cubs are frequently subject 

 to weakened and distorted legs. This disease, known as rickets, 

 can be prevented by including ground bone in their meat rations and 

 by adding limewater to their milk. The bones of calves and those 

 from the briskets of beeves are comparatively easy to crush so that 

 foxes can swallow them. 



At quarantine stations where imported animals are examined, 

 particular attention is directed to symptoms of rabies and mange. 

 The fact that rabies, or hydrophobia, is communicable to man makes 

 it doubly dreaded. Fortunately it has not appeared among domes- 

 ticated foxes so far as known. Mange is characterized by a loss of 

 fur. It is caused by a tiny parasite, somewhat like the itch mite, 

 and is, therefore, very contagious. Were it to obtain a foothold 

 among domesticated foxes, it would seriously hamper and perhaps 

 ruin this branch of the fur industry. All animals showing a tendency 

 to have bare spots should be isolated at once. The diseased parts 

 should be treated daily with ointments, as petrolatum or a mixture 

 of lard and sulphur. 



Foxes serve as hosts for a number of other parasites. Lice and 

 fleas infest their hair and skin, while roundworms and tapeworms 

 drain their vitality from within. The death of a fox has occasionally 

 been attributed to lice. Even if not fatal, lice and fleas diminish 

 the vigor of their hosts and should be persistently combated. Some 

 fox breeders dip all their animals in a nonpoisonous bath such as is 

 commonly used for dipping sheep. It is well in any case to dust the 

 dens with sulphur and insect powder at frequent intervals. 



