What can you do to prevent mange/ticks?
Hayley de Ronde wrote a quite long post of treatment and what is/is not legal and she notes:
"Zoopharmacognosy or pharmacophagy (remedy-eating) is a behaviour in which non-human animals self-medicate by selecting and ingesting or topically applying plants, insects, soil or mineral stones/dust in order to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of pathogens, parasites and toxins.
Applied Zoopharmacognosy is the veterinary-supervised practice of utilizing plants, herbal remedies, essential oils, botanical preparations and tinctures in order to alleviate animal pain, injury and disease.
An example of zoopharmacognosy is when animals eat grass to induce vomiting or dust bathe to ward off parasites. Planting parasite-busting, immune-boosting plants in your garden can go a long way in helping your local wildlife to help themselves, without the need to seek veterinary advice.
Canid-safe, parasite-busting, immune-boosting plants:
Mugwort, Garden Cress, Dandelion, Broadleaf Plantain, Milk Thistle, Chamomile, Fennel, Turmeric, Chicory, Chervil, Carrot, Celeriac, Pumpkin, Wild Oats, Barley, Rye, Hibiscus, Blackberry, Rosehip, Wild Strawberry, Blueberry, Mulberry, Gooseberry, Juniper, Elderberry, Coriander, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Peppermint, Sweet Basil, Lemon Balm, Sunflower, Valerian and Dill.
Parasite-repelling plants:
Arnica, Aloe Vera, Astrenia, Anise, Wormwood, Rue, Rosemary, Chamomile, Fleabane, Fleawort, Sweet Bay, Mint, Lavender, Wild Garlic, Chives, Pennyroyal, Pyrethrum, Sage, Citronella, Marigolds, Scented Geraniums, Beebalm and Catmint.
Dust baths:
Mites are the most common ectoparasite found on wildlife and pets, but researchers from the University of California have devised a way for people to provide their animals some respite from the dreaded itch, by coming up with a clever way to control them - bags of brimstone. Using a large sand pit filled with bark and mulch, it could also work for foxes,
“Sulfur dust has been used for decades to control mites... The sulfur is usually provided to chickens in a “dust bath,” essentially a box of dust, which may contain fine dirt, sand, diatomaceous earth, insecticides and other powdery substances [e.g. charcoal/cool ash].”
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is made up of tiny fossilised water plants that are ground into a fine white powder that can be used orally, topically or environmentally. It is an eco-friendly, organic pesticide that works in a purely mechanical manner and because it is not chemical in its action, it has no chemical toxicity and parasites cannot build up a tolerance or immunity to it. However, if inhaled in large quantities it can cause irritation to the lungs, so use considerately and as directed by the manufacturers.
It is reported to kill 75% of flies and fleas that come in contact with it within 72 hrs and is effective for eliminating flies, fleas, mange mites, ticks, slugs and snails.
USING NUTRITION TO PROMOTE HEALTH
If you have sick foxes visiting your garden that you are unable to capture or treat, then providing the right supplementary diet for a short period, can go a long way to helping them fight off the problem.
Always seek advice from a veterinary or wildlife organisation before using diet to promote health and welfare in wild animals. This ensures animals do not suffer unnecessarily and that you are in compliance with the best practices available, which can only benefit fox welfare.
Parasite-busting, Immune-boosting foods include:
Manuka Honey
Honey has been used to benefit health for centuries and its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties have gained increasing scientific awareness in the light of increasing microbial resistance. Honey protects the body against damage caused by bacteria. Some honeys also boost production of special cells that can repair tissue damaged by infection.
Not all honey is the same however, the antibacterial quality of honey depends on several factors, some kinds may be 100 times more potent than others.
Pumpkin and Papaya Seeds
Pumpkin and papaya seeds are great parasite cleaners, containing the amino acids curcurbitin and carica, which work to paralyze and eliminate parasites from the animal's digestive tract. Feed the seeds whole or grind them up and add it to food.
For dogs, it is suggested to use one-quarter teaspoon of pumpkin seeds per 4kg of body weight, once or twice daily until the parasites are gone.
Probiotics
Probiotics are demonstrated to be efficient for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory infections, and allergic symptoms, and also can kill or inhibit pathogens by strain-specific mechanisms relying on competition, molecule secretion, and/or immune induction.
ProPlan’s Fortiflora is a complementary pet food with live probiotics, available from vets and pet stores. It contains live "friendly" bacteria that help maintain intestinal health and balance, and a healthy immune system. Provides palatability enhancement for animals with poor appetite and helps maintain faecal quality. Use as directed on the packet.
Please note that all indications do not preclude appropriate medical management, veterinary diets should always be used under veterinary supervision.
Protein Supplements
Oxbow Animal Health’s Critical Care (for Carnivores) is a complementary pet food with omega fatty acids and essential proteins, available from vets and pet stores for convalescing animals. To be used as directed on the packet.
Please note that all indications do not preclude appropriate medical management, veterinary diets should always be used under veterinary supervision.
Garlic and Sulphur Rocks
Garlic contains over 33 sulphur compounds and sulphur is known to aid in the treatment of mange. Must be used sparingly, as garlic can be toxic to animals in large quantities or concentrations.
A 2008 report published by the National Research Council, was unable to determine the safe upper limit of garlic intake for dogs, cats and horses, but it could “use available research to recommend a range of acceptable intakes according to historical safe intakes (HSI) and estimated presumed safe intakes (PSI)”.
Based on a clove weighing 3 g, the PSI for dogs 20-35kg, it is the equivalent to approx.1/2 clove per day. For a 5-6kg cat, it is 1/25 clove per day.
You can also try Sulphur Rocks, for use in an additional water bowl. A traditional product, used by generations of animal owners as a tonic. One tub contains small lumps of bright-yellow sulphur. Place one piece in the water of the animal’s drinking bowl and replace with a fresh piece every three or four days.
Oatmeal
Oats are classified as one of the world’s healthiest foods. “They are nutrient-dense and provide sustained energy. Even when oats are hulled, they still retain all their fiber and nutrients. Oats contain manganese, selenium, tryptophan, phosphorus, vitamin B1, dietary fiber, magnesium, and protein.
Oats, oat bran, and oatmeal contain a special type of fiber called beta-glucan, shown to lower cholesterol, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, and supporting the immune system’s response to bacterial infections, viruses, fungi, and parasites.”
Mineral Blocks
Tick and Parasite Licks are natural mineral supplements containing a broad spectrum of nutrients to help keep an animal’s nutritional needs balanced. Incorporated into these supplements are unique and beneficial diatoms, (see Diatomaceous Earth, below). These natural remedies have proven beneficial in boosting an animals immune system and helping animals resist disease and parasites.
Activated Charcoal
Using charcoal for medicinal purposes has a long history, particularly for detoxifications purposes. More recently, activated charcoal has been used to treat toxic ingestions and continues to be a form of gastrointestinal decontamination for poisoned patients, both human and animal.
Activated charcoal is a great way to rid an animal of any toxins which they may have consumed. Activated charcoal binds to the toxic substance which decreases the risk of an animal suffering from any potentially poisonous or toxic substance.
Diatomaceous Earth
Medical researchers are gradually becoming aware of the nutritional importance of Diatomaceous Earth (DE). Silica is one of the most important trace elements in the body and is crucial for numerous bodily functions and aiding mineral absorption.
Diatomaceous Earth is an effective detoxifier and on a microscopic level, when ingested, these tiny, sharp particles move through the body's systems, attracting everything from bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, endorphins, pesticide and drug residues. Use as directed on the product and product information leaflet."
I have to admit that I have changed my own policy on how to treat a fox with mange and no longer recommend homeopathic drops unless the advice and drops come from a source that has a vet approve the treatment.
Hayley has actually come in for a lot of nasty comments regarding her post but I can tell you that she is NOT anti-fox and is pointing out the law as it stands.
There are people who sell pharmaceutic treatments who are not veterinarians or qualified to do so. I get to see the disasters first hand. One person has tablets from someone to treat a fox with mange and because of the secrecy in feeding foxes does not know anpother lady to the rear of her property is also treating. In the end, after my advice was ignore, the fox got worse and Secret World had to trap, treat and then release the fox back to the original site.
I have seen people using drops that are not working and the foxes involved look as though they may be on the verge of organ failure. The people involved will NOT contact a rescue and believe it is a "super mange" -it is NOT. It is that the infection is too far gone for drops to help and rescue and treatment is needed.
I have no idea how many foxes die through being given a poor treatment or tablets someone sold them. I have two post mortem reports on foxes that died from mange and scabies -I often think that people need to see the post mortem photos that I get to see.
If we can cut back grass and plant the right things (I am already ordering plants mentioned) then we may be able to cut back the number of mange cases.
People on this group will have seen foxes with bad mange and some of you like me will have seen the sudden decline and horrible deaths. What smashed my face into a concrete wall was seeing a very young fox cub (a few weeks old) that I could not catch and realising that it was on its dying legs.
We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers so, please, let's change our "fox habits" and see if we can do the right thing.
