General Chat

Glynis, after watching and reading the links that were sent to me last night, I to found it truly disturbing, but I cannot catch the fox!!

Eldrick, I thought you were going to stay off my thread?

Sarcoptic Mange commonly known as fox mange (canine scabies) is caused by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic mites can invade the skin of healthy foxes, dogs or puppies and create a variety of skin problems, the most common of which is hair loss and severe itching. While they will infect other animals and even humans they prefer to live their short lives on foxes & dogs. Fortunately there are several good treatments for this parasite and the disease can be easily controlled.
What is the life cycle of Sarcoptes scabiei?
The mites usually spend their entire life on an animal. The female mite burrows into the skin and lays eggs several times as she continues burrowing. These tunnels can actually reach the length of several centimetres. After she deposits the eggs, the female mite dies. In 3-8 days the eggs hatch into larvae which have 6 legs. The larvae mature into nymphs which have 8 legs. The nymph then molts into an adult while it is still in the burrow. The adults mate, and the process continues. The entire life cycle requires 2-3 weeks.

The mite’s activity causes the skin to react and this intense pruritus causes the animal to bite and scratch constantly, self inflicting open wounds and secondary bacterial infection often follows. All the scratching and biting opens the burrow and once the female mite is exposed she dies. The eggs and faecal debris left behind continue to cause pruritus which in turn causes more self mutilation, more females to die, more pruritus, more self mutilation etc etc.
This intense irritation is often made worse by heat. A fox suffering from mange will often act abnormally. It’s fear for humans often appears lost. It will walk around almost aimlessly during daylight hours constantly biting and scratching at the irritation. Always on the move and unable to rest for long periods, many of the affected foxes will be dehydrated, often observed drinking for a duration of minutes as opposed to seconds. In most cases the mange starts at the rear end and the great majority of foxes will have one leg off the ground, due mainly to the self inflicted open wounds causing apparent soreness to the back end.
If the mite infestation in addition to the secondary bacterial infections and the dehydration wasn’t bad enough, many animals will also suffer some degree of conjunctivitis. In four months an untreated dog or fox is likely to be dead.


My personal view is it is cruel to leave any animal suffering like this....................so I hope the fox is caught and either treated or humanely destroyed as soon as possible.

I dont do screaming off rooftops!

Taff.......the enviromental health peeps should be sorting this out..............they have a duty.....

As soon as I get an undertaking from you to keep off mine I will go.

In the meantime, have you actually contacted environmental health or not?

what about enviromental health Taff have you tried them ?

Hi Taff still no news i take it, see Eldricks been his usual naughty self................ignore him and he will go play else where. your hearts in the right place.xx

Thank you kitty, that was one of the links i read last night,I'me affraid at this stage all I can do is rely on the rspca for a speedy visit.

I will try enviromental health now tory.

No granny, I haven't been naughty.

Scroll back and you will see that Taff made a personal attack on me. Totally unwarranted. She has been asked to apologise and has declined.

I leave it to you to decide who is naughty.

All I want from her is an undertaking not to come onto any of my threads and I will leave this little one all alone as it so richly deserves :-)

leave then please!!

just kiss and make up then bugger of to your own thread...............no more arguing...........hear me????

Taff is following her heart and thats her right, same as its your to disagree.

Re:Walt Disney World-does that mean I don't exist??

Eldrick.....rather than keep complaining that she doesnt agree and is being moody or what ever why not just go elsewhere and stop arguing please. This isnt about anyones personal beliefs. This is about a fox that is ill through no fault of its own. Do NOT make personal attacks on any one.....any of you. I WILL NOT SIT BACK AND WATCH YOU LOT ACT LIKE KIDS!!!!!!!
i think you and taff should keep away from each other for a while.
Lou x

No no no Taff and Granny.

I will leave you alone when you either apologise to me or give me an undertaking not to ever come near any of my threads. Why is that so unreasonable?

Now Granny, if you dont want to get involved, you stay out of it.:-)

enviromental health are shut until to-morrow, so will try again then!

Right......................Eldrick...............come with me...............!!!

I hereby promise NEVER to come anywhere near one of your threads ever again.
o.k. now?

Lou Lou Im not complaining about her being moody or anything. I couldnt care less!

But what is so difficult about apologising or merely saying OK, I will not come near you in the future....?

Im happy to give that undertaking, unequivocally!