This month in Apothecary's Nook we once again take a look at a specific species' set of diseases. And what better to discuss than that favorite creature among Redwall fans: the red fox. Our guest this month is former Apprentice Healer of Redwall Abbey, Keithe Ke'doran.

Tibs: Welcome.

Keithe: Thank you, Tibs. Now, the first thing to keep in mind when talking about foxes is that, as a whole, we're a resilient species. There's not really a natural environment we can't adapt to, which is why we're found everywhere. However, because our population is so high, when diseases hit, they hit hard. For instance, there's a record of two-thirds of the entire population of western plains foxes being wiped out by a particularly virulent strain of Plains Lockjaw, or, as it is now better known, rabies. And, of the five diseases I'm going to discuss this month, I'd like to start with it, as it is probably the best-documented, as well as the most deadly to foxes.

Tibs: Well, let's begin, then, by examining what rabies is and how it's contracted.

Keithe: Rabies is a highly infectious disease that's most commonly transmitted through a bite, though blood is another median through which it can be transferred. What makes rabies unique is that it's not highly specific. That is to say, each animal is affected by different types of carriers. Rabies transfer between different species is common. For instance, cats very more susceptible to the bite of a wolf, but rarely the bite of a fox. Foxes, on the other hand, are almost always fatally susceptible to their own version of the disease, but are surprisingly resilient to cat or wolf bites. As a general rule, if a fox contracts any type of Plains Lockjaw, its chance of survival is slim at best. In addition, the disease runs in cycles. When it first enters an area, it spreads like wildfire, then dips for a few years before recurring. Also, it seems to fluctuate with the seasons, hitting its peak in late winter and becoming notic eably less common in midsummer.

Tibs: What are some of the symptoms?

Keithe: Well, the most easily recognized symptom of rabies is furious activity: afflicted foxes are often described as wandering aimlessly and having an unpredictably wild temper. This is rare in foxes. The most common symptoms in foxes are restlessness, followed by all the signs of acute exhaustion. Tempers do become short, though in general a rabid fox will not go out of its way to bite. Excessive salivation does occur, which is what makes the bite so deadly and contagious. In addition, their blood clots a little more slowly, making wounds heal more slowly. Finally, severe nerve damage occurs, followed by death.

Tibs: And the prognosis and treatment?

Keithe: Prognosis is poor at best. The treatment is a little severe, as well, as the disease is not truly curable and must be allowed to run its course. First, a rabid fox must change its diet. A regimen of fish and certain herbs must be given to them. This will lower the fox's energy, as the amount of red meat they ingest will be dropped to close to nil. Next, he or she must be mildly sedated. A few drops of belladonna in each meal's drink should suffice. After a day or two of this, add oats and coriander to the diet, as this will slow the nerve damage and cause profuse sweating. During this time, make sure to keep the patient in bed with soft restraints, when unattended, and under blankets. The temperature increase may cause a slight fever, but as long as it is kept from getting excessive, then it will only aid the recovery by speeding the response of the immune system. Now, this will leave the afflicted beast dehydrated even worse than they normally would be (excessive salivation, and all). So, it's vitally important to provide lots of fluids and no small amount of salt for the victim.

Tibs: Those all sound like long-term treatments. Is there anything more immediate to solve the complications?

Keith e: Save sedation, not really, and you have to be very careful, there. Too much belladonna can kill a beast, and if you're using an opiate, the chance for addiction is high. Some say that bleeding will work, but that's a load of bullocks. If you cut a sick fox's wrist, you get a dead fox, not a cured one. Another theory is to make the patient very, very cold, to slow the progression of the disease as the fox?s body runs at a slower pace due to the cold, but the risk of secondary infection, primarily of the lungs, is too high. No, the best way is to let the disease run its course and try to keep nerve damage to a minimum. The good news is that the chance of contracting the disease again after a full recovery is slim, and the chance of regression is low. The bad news is that even with proper care, the survival rate is less than 50% at best.

Tibs: Is rabies the most common disease found in foxes?

Keithe: Well, there are a host of others. Lately, distemper has been seeing an upwards trend.

Tibs: Distemper rings a bell, but... what exactly is it?

Keithe: Again, it's an infectious nervous disease. It causes fever, diarrhea, and nerve damage. Like rabies, the best way to treat the nerve damage is to change the diet and use small doses of sedative to calm the body. A common fever-breaker such as white willow should be taken with the sedative each day. Also, adding liberal amounts of comfrey and cheese to the diet should keep the willow from eroding the stomach lining, and should aid in calming the over-active bowels.

Tibs: Last species-oriented article, we discussed how the second stomach of rabbits affected the kinds of diseases they recieved. What are some of the digestive illnesses found in foxes?

Keithe: Well, there are two that are particularly deadly. One is called canine wasting. It's rare, and is usually only contracted through contact with other types of canines, though fox-to-fox cases have been documented. Severe live r damage causes the beast to waste away with lethal bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. The only way to successfully fight it is to increase appetite through the use of an aromatic (such as gentian) and push lots of comfrey to clear the system. In addition, some stomach-settling foods such as crackers and broth will help to keep energy and weight up. The second is acute food poisoning, which is nigh-incurable. Considering the terrible feeding habits of your average fox, this is a fairly common problem. Treatment is the same as above, except one must take care to prevent secondary infections.

Tibs: Are there any other serious afflictions we should know about?

Keithe: Yes! Too many foxes get mange. It's extremely serious when it sets in, and offers a huge chance of secondary infections, even blood poisoning. What happens is this: mites tunnel into the skin, feed off the fox, and then reproduce. That caked, black crust that's the trademark of mange isn't just scabbing, but also the eggs and excrement of the mites. Needless to say, it can cause a slow and painful death. Treatments have been suggested from fleabane to corn meal. The only real way to cure and prevent mange is the simplest: bathe! It's much better to bathe regularly, than to be eaten alive by parasites!

*****

Notes: Two of the diseases were renamed for chronological reasons. Canine Wasting, is really Infectious Canine Hepatitis, and food poisoning is caused by the botulism toxin.

Disclaimer: As usual, don't try these treatments at home. And, remember, even ranch-raised foxes are pretty feral, so admire them from afar, but don't get too close (rabies shots are really unpleasant).

Special Thanks to:

http://www.nationaltrappers.com/RedFox.html

http://www.ccac.ca/en/CCAC_Programs/Guidelines_Policies/GU IDES/ENGLISH/V2_84/CHXI.HTM

http://www.canids.org/1990CAP/disease.htm

The Herbalist