Treating Sarcoptic Mange in Red foxes

We are excited to announce that we have moved!!!! For the newest and latest photos and information, please go to our new home page: 

http://www.foxwoodwildliferescue.org/

Please watch the YouTube video at the end of this article to see the treatment outlined on this page being used on a Red fox on Long Island- watch his transformation from sick back to healthy again!  

I often get calls and e-mails from people who have a Red fox around that is acting lethargic or unfearful of humans.  They will stay close to houses and will eat under the bird feeders, seek refuge under decks and often lay in the hay in barns.  A scruffy, thin appearance usually indicates that the fox has Sarcoptic mange. 

Sarcoptic mange is the name for the skin disease caused by infection with the Sarcoptes scabei mite.  The mites are microscopic and can't be seen by the naked eye.  Female Sarcoptes mites burrow under the skin and leave a trail of eggs behind. This burrowing creates an inflammatory response in the skin similar to an allergic reaction.  The motion of the mite in and on the skin is extremely itchy, as is the hatching of the eggs. This creates further allergic reaction and more itching, loss of sleep and reduced immune response.  Loss of fur, scaly skin  and a general unthrify appearance is characteristic of a Sarcoptic mange infestation.  The condition worsens as a skin infection sets in.  The Foxes immune system is even more compromised and internal parasites (tape, hook and round worms) begin to take over and absorb any nutrients that fox may find.  Mangy foxes are usually starving in the late stages. 

These foxes are not a threat to people, dogs, cats, etc.  They are close to people and buildings because there may be easy food such as cat or dog food left out in dishes, bird seed, garbage, insects, worms, roadkill and a mouse or two.  They are also losing their ability to thermoregulate  and need protection from wind, shade, sun, whatever the present need of the body is.  Mangy foxes (and coyotes) often seek out a pile of hay to lay in. Hay seems to relieve the itchiness and provide a source of comfort.

Sarcoptic mange is treatable if the animal is treated in time before the process of organ failure begins. The drug of choice is inexpensive and easy to obtain. Although it is an "off-label use" according to the FDA, Ivermectin injection for cattle and pigs is a very effective cure for Sarcoptic mange in foxes.  This injectable solution works orally and can easily be slipped into food. The ivermectin also treats a lot of the intestinal worms and any ear mites. The catch is this: it kills the mites living on the skin but doesn't kill the eggs .  These eggs will hatch and reinfect the fox, so it has to be administered  many times to kill the mange mites that hatch after treatment.  I strongly recommend treating Red foxes very aggressively, giving them the Ivermectin every three days for the first three weeks. After the first three weeks, you can dose them every five days.  Be sure to treat them for at least 4-5 weeks.  A daily feeding station using dry cat or dog food can be set up  to facilitate the administration of tasty treats laced with ivermectin.  A spoonful of canned cat food, a hard boiled egg, a chunk of cooked chicken or a section of hot dog can easily be injected with the ivermectin.    

Frequently more than one fox or wild animal is coming to your yard.  I recommend injecting several different pieces of food with 0.2 ml and tossing them in different directions in the hope that one animal might find one piece, but not the other.  Ivermectin is fairly safe, and if a fox happens to get more than one dose in a day, it will be fine.  I like to cut a hot dog into three pieces.  I then insert a drinking straw into the middle of an end and pull it out, creating an open core that the ivermectin can be injected into.  I thn plug the core with some of the hotdog that was pulled out in the straw . I will then toss the pieces of hotdog out in aras where the foxes travel, at least 50 feet from each other. 

Figure your fox weighs 10 lbs, so give him 0.2 mL for each dose. Many people think they are much larger, but they aren't. For young foxes in April or May  you can cut the dose in half.  You will need a large needle to draw the solution out of the bottle because the solution is rather thick.  Ivermectin is a non- perscription product and available online through many livestock suppliers, such as Jeffers.com  Here is a link and a picture of the product I  recommend 

http://www.tractorsupply.com/ivomec-reg-ivermectin-1-injection-for-cattle-swine-50-ml-2207551

Tractor Supply Co stores (www.tractorsupply.com)  carry Ivermectin. and it is readily available online.  I recommend the 50 ml size 1% sterile solution Ivomec Brand Ivermectin for cattle and swine as pictured above.  It averages $40 to $50 for 50 ml.  You will need to get a fat needle and syringe to draw it out of the bottle. Tractor supply Co sells vaccines that include a needle and syringe for administration, so you could spend a little extra on a vaccine and use that needle.  Some people have used the Ivermectin wormer paste for horses and say it works, though it isn't palatable  for the foxes and I personally have never used it. Use it as a last resort.  Don't use the  pour-on for livestock, as it would be toxic given orally!

UPDATE:  Save money by buying "Noromectin", and off-brand of Ivermectin.  It runs roughly $28 for 50ml online through online sources such as Amazon, Valley Vet or Jeffers Pet. 

Use 0.2 mL (or 0.2 cc)   Giving the solution orally (By mouth) in their food is safe and has a larger margin for error than injecting it in foxes.

Of course other wildlife might get to the food before the fox does, so try to use your judgment and administer it the best way that will target only the fox.  Placing a leaf or a little grass over the baited food will lower the risk of it being seen and eaten  by crows.  Using hard boiled eggs will decrease the chances of the food being eaten by cats. Ivermectin is a pretty safe drug and won't harm most wildlife.  Some breeds of dogs can be very sensitive to it, particularly the collie family and Australian shepherds . Don't use ivermectin if there is a chance a collie breed might eat the bait.   Use extra caution around domestic animals.  They use Ivermectin in third world countries to treat different things, such as scabies in humans.  Ivermectin is also used to treat dogs for mange.  It is also a good wormer for many animals. 

A topical product called Revolution can be obtained through your veterinarian and used to help prevent your domestic dogs from picking up mange in the grass surrounding your property.  I have found Revolution to be a very effective preventative for mange, but a very ineffective cure for mange, unless applied every two weeks during the month.  I apply Revolution to all my foxes just before they are released back to the wild as a preventative measure for them.  I have successfully used Revolution as a treatment on many  foxes and a dog that had mange, but it has to be applied every two weeks for at least 6 weeks in a row.  

Can people get mange? You bet, but it won't live and reproduce on your skin.  It will give you one heck of an itchy red allergic reaction if you are sensitive to mange mites though.   I have had it more than a few times. it won't bother some people, and others it will.  I happen to be one of those sensitive to it.  In fact, I have used my own skin reaction as an indicator of if an animal's skin condition is actually mange or not.  Often a veterinarians skin scrape can  miss the mites,  but, my skin doesn't.  I have diagnosed mange in fawns, coyotes, dogs, very young fox pups and other tricky things that a skin scraping  had missed.  I will share my personal mange experience in a future blog  :0) 

Please watch the beautiful short video on Youtube made by a gentleman on Long Island who was able to videotape his treatment of a Red fox with mange in his back yard. He used the treatment outlined above. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3435354263&feature=iv&src_vid=t07uQBU5O7M&v=AHe5ycjt-UI

 

Comments

[501 (c) 3 Not For Profit]

HI, Im not sure how to contact you for info. Please send me a private e-mail about your fox
[email protected]

Elise Able

East Concord, NY

http://foxwoodrehab.typepad.com/

[501 (c) 3 Not For Profit]

Please dont use revolution orally. There are ingredients needed to carry the active drug through the skin that are poisonous as well as extremely unpalatable. If the fox eats it if it doesnt die it will surely be unlikly to fall for the old baited meat trick again.

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

On Sat, Jul 2, 2016 at 6:50 PM, Typepad

[501 (c) 3 Not For Profit]

I dont know because I dont recommend that paste. There are palatability i $us with it and filleds. Please purchase the 1% injectable ivermectin or noromectin

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

On Fri, Apr 8, 2016 at 5:54 PM, Typepad

[Elizabeth]

Can you tell me if the treatment would cause adverse affects to the normal healthy ones? I assume not since I am worried that the healthy red foxes are also subject to this disease and so for them it would be preventative. Thank you so much.
REPLY: THE TREATMENT WILL NOT HARM HEALTHY FOXES, AND WILL SERVE AS A GREAT PREVENTATIVE

[Emma]

Beware of ivermectin if you have any sheepdog collie types around it will kill them

[jim]

Sad my town says shoot them.....they didnt even try to tell me how to help.....my dog has mange also.....i fixed him...now we r workin on the 3 foxs...hoping!!!

[jim]

I have 4 very sick foxs....one passed away wow horriable death....3 i am now treating...like my dog every day?...2ml hard to define as there r three..article great ...thank you!!!

[Myra Socher]

We have been treating one little fox for the past 2 weeks per your guidelines. It seems to be slowly growing back its hair with a soft down-like growth. If I continue using the 4-5 week regimen How long before it has enough hair to protect it from the elements? We live near Washington DC.
Two nights ago another little one appeared and I started to treat it too.

[Pearo marita]

Hw long after the teatment doI have to give them more of the bimecten. They look healthy right now but I want to them to make it throuh the winter. Thank you soooo much for your advice they are doing so good from almost dying. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE HELP I NEEDED.

[ken hodgson]

very good article. comprehensive..I am a Veterinarian, and I too had scabies while at MSU. Anyone that contacted this dog became infected. I also developed a sensitivity like a skin test. While at MSU, if the clinicians suspected a case of Sarcoptes, they would drag me out of class, I wouLd rub the dog's head and ears with my forearm and break out in a rash, a positive for scabies...haha,,,KL Hodgson DVM

[tracey]

thank you for the article. My dogs were treated last year for mange and I noticed a sick fox in my yard this week. Just spoke to the vet on our corner who is willing and happy to help me treat it!

[Betty Bate]

We are feeding a Doe with 2 fawns, the Doe looks like she has the mange. Could i mixed Ivermectin with her food? If so, what would the dosage be? Your website has been very helpful. Betty

[Alex B]

Please try to treat the fox in its own habitat. Most often, animals taken to a rehabilitation place are killed and in most cases it is not just because the animals can't be helped. there are state laws on common animals etc...Be careful..the best thing to do is follow the above instructions and let the fox recover and go on its merry way.

[Anita Asche]

Will the oral ivermectin for horses in .2 ml concentration work on a fox?

[Lyn Swanson]

I did everything that you advised for our Fox, she is a different Fox now. Its been 6 weeks, she is eating, NOT SCRATCHING. Love it. Thank you. And thanks Tractor Supply.

[Marita Pearo]

Hi I have a fox who is in bad shape,I have the Ivermectin but undiluted.I thought if 1ml of Ivermectin to 9ml water would give me the 1 % and then give him the 0.2 ml dossage. Is that save for him.Thx

[gw]

Would .10 cc ivermectin harm an opossum, raccoon or barred owl if they ate the egg or chicken leg by mistake?
Answer: No

[Wanda Browning]

I bought the ivomec because there was a fox in the back yard that has mange. While I cook dinner on the grill she sits at the edge of the woods as if she is waiting for dinner.
The vet said give 2 ml ivomec for three days and in two weeks repeat. My problem is, I did not know she had 5 kits. So the day I started injecting the hot dogs with the meds the kits got the hot dogs. After about 5 days I only see the mother and one kit. Do you think 2 ml would kill the baby kits. The kits are a little more than half the size of their mother. Thanks you.....

Reply: Hi!
In response to your question, YES! 2 ml will kill the kits, and the momma and any other animal that eats it pretty much. I am hoping that you did not really put 2 ml of ivermectin in food and put it outside. The proper dose is 0.2 ml , only a tiny drop. So, the appropriate, safe amount is half of a half of one ML.

Then, give it EVERY THREE DAYS (example : Mon. Thurs. Sun, Not three days in a row) for three weeks, then every 5 days for 3-4 weeks after that. Then every 10 days for a few weeks after that..

What you can do in a case like this, where there are pups, is put 0.1 ml in each of 5 small pieces of hotdog and scatter it around the den area.
Let me know if you have any more questions :)
E

[andi bauer]

Appreciate your website.... local wildlife rescue says that mange is self-limiting in fox this time of year but the poor fellow I have living in my neighborhood looks so sick and uncomfortable!-- I can't imagine not doing something to help.... Will try injecting ivermectin into an egg since I feed feral cats, raccoons and other outdoor critters -- If you have any additional suggestions, please share.... Poor fox was on my deck this morning going after the cat food -- he hardly showed himself all season so I was surprised to see him in such rough shape.... must be miserable. Thanks again

[KK]

Our town has an outbreak of mange in our local coyotes. We have been tracking one, located where he beds during the day, and baited it. He took bait for several days, and now no one has seen him. There's a lot of info on the treatment, but we are now wondering what to expect directly after, to know if we've been successful. Can getting the treatment change their behavior or patterns quickly? He had a pretty regular schedule, and now, no sign of him.

[Morgan06109]

Thank goodness I came upon this information. There's a poor hairless fellow hanging around my work. Animal Control just wanted to shoot him! I just put out a plate of dog food laced with Ivermectin. I pray I have helped him in time! Thank you so very much for putting this information out.

[Marg Wood]

I have been given 3 frozen mice injected with ivermetin from Sandy pines wildlife centre.
to treat a very small red fox pup with mange.1 a week for 3 weeks.I gave her/him 1 today. What does the first dose do and how long would it take to see an improvement? Thank you.

[Becki]

I just wanted to say thanks for such valuable information. I have a short success story for you, all thanks to the information I got here. We have a fox friend who has visited us since fall of 2011. In the spring of 2012 I noticed he was starting to look strange, weird scaly patches on his ears, hair falling in clumps from his body, puffy face and legs. I started searching the internet and ran across your site. I waited a little longer to be sure it was mange, sure enough it was. His tail looked like a rat's tail - long and skinny and no hair at all. I have pictures to send you if you'd like some before/during/ and after treatment. I gave him your recommended dosages for the entire time you suggested. I am happy to report he is almost back to normal now and the hair on his tail is full again. He even suprised us by showing us his new family of 3 kits and his wife (who are all very skittish). A million thank yous. It makes my heart smile to know our fox friend is able to see his offspring grow up and we are able to watch him play with his kits.

[Jill Jackson]

Can't thank you enough for this information! We have several foxes that travel across our property, and last week saw this unbelivably sad creature, unrecognizable as a red fox. Fortunately armed with info from your website we began a program of ivermectin in dose and timing you suggest. Hard boiled eggs seem the best tactic for the ivermectin dosage - crows/jays etc don't cart off the egg and we know a fox got the dose. Understanding their inability to hunt effectively with advanced mange, we instituted a daily feeding with plenty of kibble, canned dog food and fresh water at 2 feed stations to make sure there's enough for our variable fox population. Such a simple and humane approach! We are truly grateful to be able to help our little mangey fox tackle this horrible infestation. After a week she already looks better and more robust, although seeing how bad she looks now, even with her red coat growing back in, helps us understand how bad off she initially was and how far she's come. Heart felt thanks!

[Ronald Liss]

Why can't Durvet Ivermectin 1.87% be used on foxes. If I am careful with the amount I use will this be acceptable.
thanks, Ron

[Ronald Liss]

Why can,t I use the Durvet Ivermectin Paste (1.87%) mixed with cat food?
You can try that, though there may be palatability issues with pastes. let me know how it works

[ellen levine]

i have a fox with moderate mange that i am trying to give the ivermectin to, a local vet gave me 3 doses one per week, in the hopes i can trap him in that time and will take him to a wildlife rehab about 2 hours away.
i have the first dose in a ball of raw beef and kippers, on top of raw chicken and some dry cat food which he has been eating for the last couple of weeks,it is placed on a dish at the entrance of an open ended racoon cage. it has now been there for 24 hours.
i have crows squirrels woodpeckers and bluejasy and other small wildlife as well as a stray cat, i put peanuts and dry cat food out eveyday and he has been eating it during the day.
how can i get this fox to eat and not poison any other creature. how can i trap him?
i am so worried about her, it is a miserable death, i live in eastern canada where we still have 2 more months of winter.
she has classic mange signs, mussle ears tail and haunches and eyes but still lots of fur on belly and back and legs,
any advise on feeding trapping would be greatly appreciated.
but if i can get the medicine in to her i would even consider doing it weekly till she improves
thank you
ellen.
Comment From Elise: The Ivermectin is very safe and won't "poison" any other creature. Drizzle the ivermectin on the food you are feeding the fox. But, you need more Ivermectin than the vet gave you. Put it on the food every three days for at least 3 weeks. that way, if something else eats the food on a few days, the fox will still be getting what it needs. to clear up the condition. Foxes are very wary and difficult to get in a box trap. Keep your trap set, but also keep feeding and medicating the fox

[vicki]

please help , my 14 yr old collie has contacted sarcoptic mange has been treated but is now covered in a yeasty skin infection and my vet really is unhelpful , i am desperate and she is close to being put to sleep , am heart broken , the derbishire fox rescue have sent medicine through the post but i feel it may be too late please help . ps i live in the uk, thank you.

[katie]

Hi i'm worried about a small mangy fox in my garden. i live in the UK and can't find ivermectin but can get ivomec for cattle- is this the same stuff?
Many thanks

[Melanie Tilghman]

Regards!

I wanted to thank you for the information you posted on this site, and for assisting me in helping our local fox. When I first started treated the fox, it was totally devoid of fur. It has been over 10 weeks, and through careful administration of the ivermectin, our fox, his wife and young child now all are beginning to grow fur coats once more. They are more difficult to catch sight of these days at the feeding station, as the healthier they get, the stealthier they appear to become as well. We are delighted that we have been able to help this young family become healthier, and that they will all have fur once more before winter.

Once again, thanks so much for your shared information, supplier information, and for taking time out of your hectic schedule to answer my initial questions. The only question I have remaining is whether these foxes are now dependent on us for their regular meals (they come nightly), as it would help as far as dog food bag planning (they love the chicken and rice Pro Plan kibble)?

Though I have been unable to catch a picture of the family once again growing their fur, I do have pics of the original "naked" fox should you desire to see how he started out with us.

[501 (c) 3 Not For Profit]

The Ivermectin would be a good wormer for the cats. It wont hurt them at all

Elise Able

East Concord, NY

http://foxwoodrehab.typepad.com/

[Emily]

Will Ivermectin harm the stray cats that I also feed. We've watched the fox's health deteriorate rapidly. It doesn't even look like a fox anymore. It almost looks blind. I wish I could catch it to have it put down. It breaks my heart.

[Keith]

There are no foxes or coyotes where I live, but instead of people calling them "chupacabra's", they should be trying to treat the mange in these native animals. Why let an epidemic like this kill innocent creatures when locals or any rangers can try to help rehabilitate them.

[Amymichel]

Thanks so much for this article. I know of at least one fox who lives in the cemetery where I walk my dogs, and is displaying classic signs of mange. Thanks to this article, I have ordered the ivermectin and am in the process of cooking chicken livers to medicate and leave out in a place only the foxes can access. One question, though: can ivermectin be toxic to foxes with heartworm, or is this a chance one should take? Anyways, I really appreciate all of the information. I will do my best to get pictures.

[Christine O'Keefe]

I can't seem to find the .27% solution on the Jeffers website - just a 1% solution. Am I reading this incorrectly? If you can let me know exactly which product I should buy for treating our foxes, I'd appreciate it! And thank you so much for your website! Great to know someone cares and offers a solution other than having the animals shot!
Chris

[LInda Izett]

A mother fox was killed on my road in May in Berwyn, PA. My neighbor and I have been feeding the six babies for 3 months. We have used ivermectin on all of them with success but our runt still has mange. The other 5 are hunting and just having a snack with us. We hope they will disperse in the fall. We are going to try to up the dosage of ivermectin in hopes of curing our last one who is still small, mangy, and very dependent on us.

[LInda Izett]

A mother fox was killed on my road in May in Berwyn, PA. My neighbor and I have been feeding the six babies for 3 months. We have used ivermectin on all of them with success but our runt still has mange. The other 5 are hunting and just having a snack with us. We hope they will disperse in the fall. We are going to try to up the dosage of ivermectin in hopes of curing our last one who is still small, mangy, and very dependent on us.

[Linda Baker]

I am just beginning an Ivermectin treatment for some mange infested fox which are frequenting my yard. What is the likelihood of the rabbits and birds and (me?) contracting this mite from the fox being in the yard?
Thank you for the great info in your website. Without it I would not know what to do for these suffering animals.

[James crawford]

I live on a farm in Michigan and have a fox den under a barn the a mother and three kits the mother had mange some guy spotted her and came to the house and said I had to shoot her I told him to leave her alone the S.O.B must have came back and shot her skined her and through her pelt in my driveway Iam just sick its A fruit farming area and fox are beneficial well there are still three kits I fed them some dog food is this the right thing to do what should I do I whish I got that guys plate number when he pulled out of my driveway Iam very angry I never seen him before In my life thats crazy I guess my question is will it be alright to feed them and if so should I put a half dose of Ivermetin In food

[Bob in Boston]

This is great. My in-laws have a family of foxes near their house in the Rocky Foothills (Colorado). A number of the foxes have developed mange, hopefully this will help them if we can get the treatment going. They are such beautiful animals, a shame to see them go sick and suffer. Thanks again!

[cson johnson]

thank you for this detailed information. we have had fox with mange on our property and yes, being a rabies vector species no one wants to trap and get them to rehab, just euthanize. we have been treating our fox with ivomec injected into a hard boiled egg and she has no problem accepting the snack. we set up a "feeding station" of sorts (raised up off the ground) and though we have no positive results yet, i will be looking for them.

[Nicole Macleod]

I have a fox as well in my yard and it comes very close to my kids and everything around here. I can see that she is in trouble. As a human i feel it is my job to help out, and so that what i have done. I called for help for the fox. Now I'm waiting for the help!!

[Gary Morgan]

Thanks so much for the info. on ivermectin, I just got back from tractor supply and have put out a plate for a very sad looking red fox with a pretty bare looking tail. I am not sure how long I should do this for and would appreciate it if someone could advise me. Thanks, Gary.

[Rob Wilson]

I have a mangy fox in our yard that I thought I would treat. I see the 0.2 ml ivermectin advice but not the frequency. On another site, I saw a recommended treatment of once a week for 5-6 weeks. Is that right?

[Wendy Graziani]

We have a fox on our farm that definielty has Sarcoptes. I am a vet so we are going to treat it with Ivermectin. Thank you for your article, it was very helpful.

Dr. Wendy Graziani
Friendsville, TN

[Bob Russell]

We have fox that come around our bird feeders, chase squirrels, etc. Saw one of them today and his tail was completely void of fir and his rump was balding.

Is this mange or did he get in a fight?

I guess i didn't get much time to study him but he looked generally "mangy" I guess I was wondering if it could be rabies.

Thanks for your time.

[501 (c) 3 Not For Profit]

Wow!

How nice!

Thank you! I am so happy for your fox that she found someone compassionate to help her through that mange! Thank you very much!!!!!

Any photos of her?

Elise

Elise Able

East Concord, NY

http://foxwoodrehab.typepad.com/

[Steve Glovinsky]

I thought you would be pleased to hear about a success story, following your instructions – We have a fox den on our property in Westport CT – a real “foxhole”, dug out under an old stone wall in the woods about 50 yards from the house that’s only visible in the winter. In early spring last year we saw a red fox there, feeding a goose to her two kits. Then in late October I saw her a few times running by the house, but most of the fur on her hind quarters and tail was gone. Having spent many years in developing countries, it was easy to recognize as mange, which was confirmed when a neighbor mentioned seeing a hairless fox on the road near his house. The local wildlife shelter said they don’t treat foxes because they are rabies vectors, and I should call the DEP who will shoot it. A relative who’s a vet said that she was not allowed to give me advice without a wildlife rehabilitation license. So I googled “red fox mange”, and here I was. I ordered the Ivermectin and needles from Jeffers Livestock, and when it came I put it in dog food in a bowl and put it in the den in the evening. Next morning it was gone - and so was our bowl. So I switched to paper plates and continued the treatment… I followed the feeding schedule, but as it got colder I added some untreated food in between, since I figured that she would be in no shape to hunt without a coat. Over this time we didn’t see her at all, but the food got eaten. Then in the first snowfall, around Christmas, I checked for prints, and they were there. Last week, with the treatment done, we saw her come out of the den, looking fit, with her fur short but growing back, and off she went….

So many thanks for your advice; it is nice to know there’s a place to go to for help…

[s]

Thanks!
I have begun folowing your advice ... i am hopeful it will work

[Jeramie Dreyfuss]

I use the Ivermectin 12 oz powder and can promise that it works. I keep running out because I give it to everyone here in Idaho because if fish and game had their way all red foxes would die from mange. It is so sad. Sometimes you think they are healthy and they come close and their eyes are almost sealed shut. I treat with the powder one week in a row then every three weeks to kill any eggs that reinfect or hatch. Hair all growing back, eyes open. I mix it with a can of dog food on top of dry food and always put out clean water. They love eggs and always put out 8 eggs every night. Nutrition alone will not save them from mange. Only Ivermectin can do it. Please treat these poor babies. The death is a terrible one. We can save them. I have saved foxes that looked like it was too late.

[Tina Farnsworth]

Thank you for this info. We had a fox on our deck one day and then came out from under our deck the next. It ran fairly quickly from our home, so I was not able to get a good look. At first sight, I did not think it was a red fox since it did not have its red furry coat and a skinny tail. Just today, I came face to face with it in our driveway as I went out to the car. I got a good look this time and it was a red fox (the tip of the tail was white). The poor thing looks horrible, and since it has been lurking around our house, I am assuming that it has mange. I think I may call my vet to see if she can do something. Thanks again for the info.

[Peggy Bashline]

I cannot thank you enough for this invaluable information. I was crushed to discover my pal behind the fence developing what looks like a crusty muzzle. When I noticed his eyes appeared sleepy about three weeks ago, I had suspicions .... until I googled 'sleepy eyes red fox' and found your article. Maybe I will be able to save this magnificent sweetheart.

I still worry about the spread of disease ... for me, my husband, my dog and cat .... who relish the back yard??? Presently, we're very healthy with good immune systems I suppose, but we would like more info regarding just how possible it might be to become infected. What scenarios might put us at risk? Should we avoid rolling/sitting on our lawn? Are wet lawns more dangerous? Does cold weather kill the mites? Will the other foxes in the area likely contract this disease from the infected fox? I have noticed they do not come close him as of late, as if he is being shunned. It is all so painful to watch. I must see the sick one well and happy again, playing with his buds.

Details, Details, Please. Thank You So Very Much!!!

Peggyb

[Don Drysdale]

We were woken up the other night by horrible screams. I thought they were human screams of a women but my wife said it was an animal. The neighbours tell us it is a fox with mange however I didn't read any remarks confirming this as one of the symptoms.

[Valerie]

I have a fox neighbor who most definitely appears to have mange. Little or no coat (including tail) and he sits out in the cul de sac scratching himself and rubbing his back on the asphalt. I've ordered the Ivermectin. He spends much time in the drainage gulley under our driveway so that is where I will leave dogfood with the added medication. (I'm hoping no other animals, esp cats, will get at the food since it seems to be his home when the weather is not wet and rainy - hopefully the cats avoid the fox scent.) I'll let you know if there is any improvement!

[JC]

Thank you so much for this information. We have had red foxes living around our house for years. Late this spring, my husband observed one of the pair scavenging around the base of our bird feeders for crumbs of suet. She/he had an obvious case of early-stage sarcoptic mange (severe hair loss on rear quarters and around neck). Our initial research indicated that our only recourse would be to put the poor animal out of its misery, which we didn't have the heart to do. Fortunately, we found your site, ordered Ivermectin through the mail and began treating it aggressively.

When we spotted the fox again last week, s/he looked completely healthy, happy and cured. Her/his coat was again full and glossy. We are at the phase-out stage of treatment, and should be completely finished in two weeks.

Thank you so much for the information on your site. With your help, we have saved this magnificent creature's life.

[M.Crossman]

Hello. Although the dates on your website are fairly old, I found the information very helpful as long as I'm able to get the ivermectin. I have a fox that has been around all winter and his coat is very scruffy now and he's scratching a lot. I thought he might just be losing his winter coat, but he's very thin and his hair is falling off very rapidly. I have 2 dogs that are walked in the same area so I need to prevent them from catching it, if that's what he's got. He has a family somewhere around as well but they would be hard to treat since he's the only one that comes. But thanks for the information. I am going to see if I can help him and also keep my dogs safe.

[Sally Bee]

We have a red fox in our farmyard that shows many of the signs you mention ... but NO itching or scratching. However, she is shedding a LOT of winter hair on hindquarters and is quite thin ... she is feeding kits under one of our sheds so we thought that might account for some of her thinness and hair loss. (We haven't seen a male around ... only the one adult.) We have been putting some food out for her. Her haunches seem almost bare but checking her with binoculars the hair is there, just very short. So ... to you think it's mange? If it isn't, would giving her Ivermectin anyhow be bad? She shows no fear of us.

[Elaine]

We are trying to determine if the fox in our yard actually has mange. His tail is almost hairless but the rest of him seems okay, just scruffy, and he's a little skinny. No abnormal behavior, though, just comes through the yard every evening. Could anyone tell me if this is likely to be mange? I'd love to start the Ivermectin but only if it's worth it...

[Amanda]

Hi I work at a small town bank in Maine we have a red fox around that has only lost hair on its tail but just the middle it looks like a poodle cut! The game warden "is to busy" to come put a trap out! How would we know if it is mange or rabies? He is very brave and is around town in main street often. I was driving home the other night and he had a cat in his mouth! What do you suggest we do? Thank you So much

[jane evenson]

We have a fox that has been coming by for a couple of years. We were gone for a wk., and returned to find it's tail looking as if it had been twisted, about half way up the length. The fox seemed less, not more friendly. Could this be mange?

[Chris Smith]

In the UK, we have found it easiest to order ivermectin from http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk (who also provide the tiny syringes required).

[cathy pilla]

We have been feeding a red fox with the mange for sometime. We have been trying to trap it so we could bring it to an animal rescue facility for treatment; however, unsuccessful. I read your article and I felt hopeful that I could help the animal. I thought I could contact my veternarian and ask for Ivermectin. I explained the reason and they would not allow me to get the Ivermectin because it is a prescription and would need to see the animal. As you know that would be impossible. So my question is there any way I could get that medication. The animal is really in poor conditon. He is eating and drinking but looks awful and is scratching constantly. I want to give him relief Your help in this matter would be very much appreciated.

From Elise: Ivermectin is not a perscription product. You can easily buy it at Tractor Supply Co stores and online from catalogs such as Jeffers. I have modified my original post to reflect this as many people have asked me where to get it.

[Karen]

Thank you SO much for posting this! I had two red fox in my yard, and they were so beautiful at the start of summer. Lately I've only seen one at a time, and just a quick glimpse. It walked through my front yard in the middle of the day today, and I saw that it had mange REALLY bad. I am going to see if I can get some of this and put it out for him/her. Hopefully I have caught it in time. I'm concerned, as it has very little hair left. Just a tuft on the back of it's tail, and not much on it's body. Poor baby.

[Elaine Randle]

i have found a fox very near to where I live with a severe mange infestation and i WOULD LIKE TO HELP IT IT WAS SEEN ON MONDAY AT 6.15 SITTING BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WATCHING THE TRAFFIC AND ITCHING i KNOW ROUGHLY WHERE IT COMES FROM DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ME SO THAT I CAN HELP IT

[Marcus von Weigert]

I've been treating my pack of California Coyote buddies with Ivermectin, following this information, since the beginning of December.

This has really worked miracles and probably saved the little Moon Dogs' lives. They are growing their hair back and the big red, infected looking, sores all over them have healed - they are returning to the happy, healthy, handsome looking animals they were before they caught this terrible affliction.

I haven't been able to get any good photos of them yet, and since they are feeling better they seem to be getting more shy and reclusive again - only 3 of the 8 or so coyoets that come here on a regular basis generally show up during daylight any more (the rest come after dark), and of those only 1 still lets me get fairly close to him.

I've been mixing dry and canned dog food together, putting a pretty good size pile on each of about dinner plates I use for this purpose, and then mixing .4 cc of the injectable ivermectin into each plate full. Each time I put this food out, I put out about 10 to 14 plates full over the course of the evening and night, to try to ensure that everybody gets one.