Fox Diseases – Humane Wildlife Removal

What Are Some Of The Diseases That Foxes Carry?

Like most pests, fox is associated with quite a number of diseases. Not only do they transmit diseases to humans, but they can also infect household pets with disease-causing parasites. They are one of the animals notorious for transmitting a wide range of intestinal worms, mites, ticks, and even bacteria and fungi. Some of the most popular diseases carried by foxes include:

Toxocariasis

This is one of the most popular diseases transmitted by foxes. Foxe’s harbour roundworms in their bodies which grow and multiply in the intestine. The eggs of these roundworms are usually passed with the feces of the fox and can be picked up by unsuspecting humans or pets. Toxocariasis is a serious disease that can cause blindness. Some symptoms of the disease include difficulty swallowing and chewing, acute sensitivity, and seizures. Toxocariasis affects everyone the same way regardless of age.

After gardening, it is important to wash your hands and tools properly to avoid touching soil contaminated with fox feces and then handling food. Children should also be supervised when outdoors as much as possible as they are more likely to come in contact and ingest the parasite. To avoid this disease, make sure you do not handle fox feces (or any other animal feces with bare hands).

Always wear protection and use the proper methods of disposal when disposing of fox feces. Wash the hands of kids whenever they go out to play. If you or your pets have ingested any substance contaminated with fox feces, see a physician immediately.

Mange

Mange is a skin condition caused by tiny parasites known as mites. These mites live under the skin and feed on tiny blood vessels. Mange can be transmitted from foxes to both humans and dogs although the chances of contracting it in humans are significantly lower because the disease requires humans to be in very close contact with infected foxes. It manifests as a rash that will self-resolve after a few weeks. In dogs, mange is also referred to as canine scabies and it can leave the skin of the dog hairless and covered in sores or with hard patches. Some treatments that can be given to an infected dog include the application of topical drugs and regular shampoo baths.

Rabies

This is perhaps one of the most dreaded diseases that foxes carry. Rabies can cause irrational behaviour in both humans and pets. It can be transmitted from foxes to humans or pets through saliva when the fox bites. Some symptoms include fever, headaches, itching, pain, nausea, irrational behaviours, sensitivity to light, and so on.

Rabies can be fatal if not treated early and left to get to the maturity stage. Anti-rabies vaccines are administered in the hospital if you get bitten by a rabid animal. You must however act quickly if your pet gets bitten. The good news, however, is that rabid foxes are relatively rare. This does not mean that you should not stay away from foxes when you see them though as you may not know when you will come across a rabid one.

Tularemia

This is a rare disease transmitted by foxes. The disease attacks the eyes, lungs, skin, and lymph nodes of the host. Some of the symptoms of tularemia include skin ulcers, fevers, and swelling of the lymph nodes. It is transmitted from foxes to humans mainly through bites and can be fatal if left untreated.

It can be effectively treated with specific antibiotics if reported early. In order to ensure that the transmission of diseases from foxes is minimal to none, it is important that people keep their distance whenever they see a fox. Also, do not touch fox feces or carcasses with your bare hands. Keep a close eye on pets and children when they are outdoors and lastly, report any run-ins, bites, or scratches to your doctor on time.