Occurrence and comprehensive control of fox ketosis

Fox is a carnivore, the gastrointestinal volume is small, and the intestinal length is only 4-5 times of body length, so it is only suitable for diets based on animal feed; if we do not pay attention to scientific feeding and management in production, it is easy to cause ketosis, which should be paid great attention to.

From 1993 to 1995, the author successively came into contact with 3 cases of mass disease in western Liaoning. Although the timely diagnosis and treatment did not cause too much economic loss, it had a great impact on the growth and development of young foxes and the health of adult foxes. The average body size of young foxes from peeling to peeling period is smaller, and the elimination rate of adult foxes is significantly higher than in previous years. If it is not diagnosed and treated timely and accurately, it will not only cause great economic losses to the breeders, but also risk the destruction of the whole population.

1. The occurrence of fox ketosis

1.1. Clinical symptoms and diagnosis

Diseased foxes have decreased appetite or abstinence, dry nose, depressed spirit, reduced activity and eyelids; most diseased foxes have normal body temperature, breathing and heartbeat, and their urine is acidic. The occurrence of the disease also showed that the young fox was more serious than the adult fox, most of the individuals with strong appetite were more serious, the disease of blue fox was more serious than that of silver-black fox, and the incidence rate of blue fox was higher than that of silver-black fox.

The onset process of the disease is generally long, often occurs in large groups, and there is rarely a sudden death, and the incidence of a fox does not affect the nearby fox farm. A preliminary diagnosis can be made according to the clinical symptoms and characteristics of the disease.

1.2. Relationship with feed and feeding management

The period from July to August is the peak period for the growth and development of young foxes. In order to meet the needs of their rapid growth and development, feed with high fat, medium protein and low carbohydrates is usually used, resulting in metabolic disorders of foxes.

Because the carbohydrate level is too low, the fox body can no longer meet its energy needs by relying on carbohydrate combustion alone, and needs certain fat and protein to provide energy. However, the catabolism and combustion of fat and protein in the body do not completely produce carbon dioxide and water like carbohydrates, but produce a large amount of pyruvate and other intermediates-ketone bodies. The production of ketone bodies is out of balance with the transformation and utilization of ketone bodies, and in severe cases, ketosis can be caused.

In the case of unscientific feed ratio, insufficient drinking water can induce and aggravate ketosis.

1.3, seasonal

Fox ketosis mostly occurs in the hot season from July to August. Fox is a long-haired fur animal, the skin sweat glands are underdeveloped, very afraid of heat, the weather is hot in this season, the fox body water loss is large, therefore, it is easy to promote the occurrence of ketosis under the synergistic action of other factors.

The shading effect is usually poor in summer, and fox farms with poor ventilation are more likely to occur. Several cases of fox ketosis that the author came into contact with occurred in this season, but rarely in other seasons.

1.4. Effects of vitamin B and 1 on the occurrence of ketosis.

Vitamin B1 is one of the components of carboxylated coenzyme, which can decarboxylate and detoxify pyruvate, which is the intermediate product of metabolism in the tissue. Therefore, the synthesis of carboxylated coenzyme will be affected in the case of vitamin B1 deficiency. Pyruvate in brain tissue and blood will accumulate a large number of ketosis. In the feeding of foxes, when feeding uncooked freshwater fish, thiaminase and oxidative rancidity of feed will greatly destroy vitamin B1, resulting in the accumulation of ketone bodies in foxes.

2. prevention and control measures

2.1. Treatment

For seriously ill foxes, 20% glucose is injected intravenously to reduce fat decomposition to produce more ketone bodies and to promote ketone body exclusion; to ensure normal synthesis of carboxylated coenzymes and promote ketone body transformation, 0.5 mg of vitamin B1 is added daily during infusion; in order to correct acid-base balance, sodium bicarbonate injection is injected intravenously; according to the clinical manifestations of the disease, antibiotics can be added during infusion to prevent secondary infection. Feed adjustment should be carried out to increase the amount of drinking water.

2.2. Feed adjustment

Fodder therapy should be generally adopted in diseased foxes. Reduce the proportion of animal feed, especially the proportion of fat-rich feed, increase the proportion of cereal feed rich in carbohydrates and the proportion of vegetables in the diet. Adding appropriate amount of white sugar to the feed is beneficial to rapidly increase the level of blood glucose and reduce the production of ketone body in foxes. Adding vitamin B1 2~3mg to the feed daily can improve the decarboxylation and detoxification ability of animals. After 7-15 days of adjustment, when the foxes return to normal, they can return to normal breeding.

2.3. Prevention

During the peak growth period from July to August, young foxes should be fed with high fat, medium protein and low carbohydrate diets. When dealing with the three major nutritional relationships, we should take protein as the core, first make sure that the protein supply is at the middle level of the year (the highest in the winter hair growing season), and then select the corresponding fat and carbohydrate levels in the list of the three major nutritional relationships. and in the floating range, fat chooses the upper limit, while carbohydrate chooses the lower level.

We must not mistakenly choose the highest level of fat in different periods, resulting in excessive fat level, nor can we choose the lowest level of carbohydrate in different periods, resulting in too low carbohydrate level. in this way, due to nutritional supply imbalance and lead to fox nutritional metabolic disorders, resulting in ketosis.

Foxes are carnivores. In order to meet the needs of vitamins and promote the normal peristalsis of digestive tract, foxes should pay attention to the addition of vegetables to meet the needs of vitamins in different periods. In order to maintain the normal metabolism of foxes and prevent the occurrence of ketosis, vitamin B1 0.4mg should be added to the diet, and the Arctic fox should also increase the supply.

In the hot season, foxes should use free drinking water, early feeding should be in advance, late feeding should be properly delayed, and noon supplementary feeding should be fast to reduce feed oxidation and rancidity; freshwater fish should pay attention to cooked feeding. Pay attention to the ventilation of the fox farm, often sprinkle water on the ground to cool down to avoid direct sunlight.