Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

*Analgesic drug doses for foxes can as a general rule be extrapolated from canine doses. Reader is referred to the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary – Part A: Canine and Feline .

Table of doses for foxes

Drug	Dose	Comments
Anaesthetics: Gaseous anaesthesia can be used in all species and in most it is the preferred method
Acepromazine + buprenorphine	Acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) + buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg) i.m.	Premedication
Alfaxalone	2 mg/kg i.v.	Induction Useful in animals with an i.v. line already placed
Medetomidine + ketamine	Medetomidine (0.07 mg/kg) + ketamine (2 mg/kg) a i.m.	Allows physical examination for a period of at least 20-25 minutes Supplementation of oxygen and close monitoring of body temperature is paramount with this combination Medetomidine can be reversed with atipamezole
Medetomidine + ketamine + butorphanol	Medetomidine (0.02 mg/kg) + ketamine (4 mg/kg) + butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg) b i.m.	Useful immobilization achieved for 30 minutes Medetomidine can be reversed with atipamezole
Medetomidine + midazolam	Medetomidine (0.07 mg/kg) + midazolam (0.8 mg/kg) a i.m.	Allows physical examination for a period of at least 20-25 minutes Medetomidine can be reversed with atipamezole
Propofol	4 mg/kg i.v.	Induction Useful in animals with an i.v. line already placed
Atipamezole	5x dose (mg/kg) medetomidine used a	Reversal of medetomidine: 5x the medetomidine dose (i.e. equal volume of the 5 mg/ml atipamezole solution) In common with most species, a delay in reversal of medetomidine of at least 20 minutes after the administration of combinations with ketamine is recommended
Analgesics*
Buprenorphine	0.02 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q6-8h	Mild to moderate pain
Carprofen	2-4 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h	The usual considerations for the careful use of NSAIDs in dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypertensive animals, as well as those with underlying gastrointestinal disease, should be observed Palatable oral formulae readily consumed in food
Meloxicam	0.2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. (initial dose) 0.1 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h (maintenance dose)
Methadone	0.1-0.5 mg/kg i.m. q3-4h	Moderate to severe pain
Morphine	0.5 mg/kg i.v., i.m. q2-4h	Moderate to severe pain
Antibiotics Antibiotic use (both appropriate and inappropriate) imposes a powerful selection pressure on bacteria and is the primary driver of antibiotic resistance. Eliminating unnecessary use in people and animals is, therefore, essential to safeguard this invaluable resource. The reader is referred to the Guidelines for responsible antibiotic use for further information
Amoxicillin	15 mg/kg s.c. q48h	For treatment of mild infection when minimal handling is required
Amoxicillin/clavulanate (co-amoxiclav)	8.75 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q24h 12.5-25 mg/kg p.o. q12h	Broad-spectrum Useful for the treatment of bite wounds Duration according to response (minimum of 5-7 days)
Cefalexin	10-25 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q24h 10-25 mg/kg p.o. q12h	Useful for the treatment of bacterial infection of the skin secondary to sarcoptic mange
Clindamycin	5.5 mg/kg p.o. q12h 11 mg/kg p.o. q24h	For the treatment of bite wounds and oral infections Duration according to response (minimum of 5-7 days)
Enrofloxacin	5 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h	Fluroquinolones should ideally be reserved for infections where culture and sensitivity testing predict a clinical response and use of first- and second- line antimicrobials would not be considered effective Duration according to response (minimum of 5-7 days) Not to be used in growing animals
Marbofloxacin	2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h
Antiparasiticides
Fenbendazole	50 mg/kg p.o. q24h	For the treatment of roundworms and tapeworms during the quarantine period; treat for 3 days For the treatment of Angiostrongylus vasorum ; treat for 7-21 days
Fipronil	3-6 ml/kg of 0.25% w/v spray topically	For the treatment of fleas
Flurander	25-56 mg/kg orally (see drug data sheet)	For the treatment of sarcoptic mange – a single dose is likely to be effective but ideally the clinical response to treatment should be fully assessed (until negative skin scrape) Has been used to treat demodectic mange in silver fox c
Ivermectin	200-400 µg/kg (micrograms) s.c., p.o.	For the treatment of sarcoptic mange – administer at 2-week intervals for a minimum of three times (until negative skin scrape)
Selamectin	6 mg/kg topically	For the treatment of sarcoptic mange – apply at monthly intervals a minimum of twice (until negative skin scrape) Also useful for the treatment of fleas, ear mites and roundworms
Sarolaner	2–4 mg/kg orally (see drug data sheet)	For the treatment of sarcoptic mange – a single dose should be administered at monthly intervals for two consecutive months. Ideally the clinical response to treatment should be fully assessed (until negative skin scrape)

NSAID(s) = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(s)

References and further reading

a Shilo Y, Lapid R, King R, Bdolah-Abram T and Epstein A (2010) Immobilization of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with medetomidine-ketamine or medetomidinemidazolam and antagonism with atipamezole. Journal of Zoo and Widlife Medicine 41, 28-34.

b Brash MGI (2003) Foxes. BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, ed. E Mullineaux, D Best and JE Cooper, pp. 154-165. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester.

c Burke A, Kottwitz J, Wang C and White A (2019) Use of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) to successfully manage adult-onset generalised Demodicosis in a silver fox (Vulpes vulpes). Veterinary Record, 7: e000898.

Couper D (2016) Foxes. BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, 2nd edition, ed. E Mullineaux and E Keeble, pp. 260-275. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester.

Useful websites

https://www.bsavalibrary.com/

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/