Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Drug	Dose	Comments
Anaesthetics:
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 Gaseous anaesthesia can then be used for maintenance
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 Gaseous anaesthesia can then be used for maintenance
Atipamezole	5x dose (mg/kg) medetomidine useda	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: 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
Buprenorphine	0.02 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q6–8h	Opioid analgesic for 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	• Opioid analgesics for moderate to severe pain
Morphine	0.5 mg/kg i.v., i.m. q2–4h	• Opioid analgesics for 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. Prudent use is especially indicated where treated wild animals are being returned to the wild. The reader is referred to the Guidelines for responsible antibiotic use for further information (https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/formulary/backmatter/exotic-petsguidelinesforresponsibleantibacterialuse) Antibiotic drug doses for foxes can, as a general rule, be extrapolated from canine doses. Reader is referred to BSAVA Small Animal Formulary - Part A: Canine and Feline
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 mg/kg p.o. q12h	Broad-spectrum Useful for the treatment of bite wounds Duration according to response (minimum of 5 days)
Cefalexin	10 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q24h 10–30 mg/kg p.o. q12h	Cephalosporins 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 May be useful for the treatment of bacterial infection of the skin secondary to sarcoptic mange Duration according to response (minimum of 5 days)
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 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 days) Not to be used in growing animals
Marbofloxacin	2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h
Parasiticides: Parasiticide use in wildlife may reduce the development of natural resistance to parasites, as well as exerting selection pressure on organisms which can lead to drug resistance and may risk environmental contamination. Careful selection and use of these drugs, only where there is a clinical need, and then using narrow spectrum products, is essential where treated wild animals are being returned to the wild. Reader is referred to the joint BVA, BSAVA and BVZS policy statement Parasiticides drug doses for foxes can, as a general rule, be extrapolated from canine doses. Reader is referred to BSAVA Small Animal Formulary - Part A: Canine and Feline
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 topically or p.o given as: ◦ 2–4.5 kg foxes one dose of 112.5 mg spot-on or oral product ◦ 4.5—10 kg foxes one dose of 250 mg spot-on or oral product	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) Spot on products may be more practical in some clinical settings but potentially have greater environmental risk Foxes should be >8 weeks old and >2 kg body weight Has been used to treat demodectic mange in silver foxc Can also be used for the treatment of fleas, ticks and ear mites
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 given as: ◦ Up to 2.5 kg foxes one dose of 15 mg spot-on product ◦ 2.6–5 kg one dose of 30 mg spot-on product ◦ 5.1–10 kg foxes one dose of 60 mg spot-on product	For the treatment of sarcoptic mange – apply at monthly intervals a minimum of twice (until negative skin scrape) Spot on products may be practical in some clinical settings but potentially have greater environmental risk Can also be used for the treatment of fleas, ear mites and roundworms
Sarolaner	2–4 mg/kg p.o. given as: ◦ 1.3–2.5 kg foxes one dose of 5 mg oral product ◦ >2.5–5 kg foxes one dose of 10 mg oral product ◦ 5–10 kg foxes one dose of 20 mg oral product	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) Foxes should be >8 weeks old and >1.3 kg body weight

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

References, further reading and useful websites

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

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

e Couper D and Bexton S (2016) Veterinary treatment of fox casualties. In Practice 38, 130–138 doi:10.1136/inp.i707

BSAVA Library https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/formulary/canine-and-feline

BVA, BSAVA, BVZS joint policy statement: Responsible use of parasiticides https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/responsible-use-of-parasiticides-for-cats-and-dogs/