ANESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF A 4-MONTH-OLD RED FOX (VULPES VULPES) FOR ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

A 4-mo-old red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was found recumbent after a vehicular accident. Radiology revealed several limb fractures and the fox underwent surgery after 24 hr of initial stabilization. Premedication consisted of dexmedetomidine and morphine. Anesthesia was induced with ketamine and midazolam and maintained with isoflurane. Lidocaine, bupivacaine, and morphine were administered epidurally and further analgesia was provided with meloxicam. The heart rate and respiratory rate of the fox remained stable during surgery and, except for a mild hypothermia, the recovery from anesthesia was uneventful. The postoperative pain scores were low and the animal was transported to a rehabilitation facility and eventually released to the wild. The low pain scores postoperatively should be attributed to the successful application of epidural anesthesia and analgesia. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a wild carnivore of the Canidae family native to Greece and is not currently under threat. A search in scientific databases came up with a few reports regarding anesthetic protocols for the immobilization and capture of wild red foxes, 3,6,8-10 but no report could be found regarding anesthesia for major surgery. A wild 4-mo-old red fox weighing 1.95 kg was found recumbent by a wildlife rescue organization (Action for Wildlife, http://drasi-agriazoi.gr/), presumably after a vehicular accident, and was referred to our clinic. On presentation, the animal was alert with 115 heartbeats/min, 52 respira- tions/min, a strong pulse, pink mucous mem- branes, a rectal temperature of 398C, and no clinical signs of any contagious disease. The animal could easily be handled with the use of a basket muzzle and no sedation was needed. The complete blood count was within normal limits, but orthopedic examination and diagnostic imag- ing revealed three physeal fractures, one in the distal physis of the right femur, one in the left femoral head, and one in the left greater trochan- ter, as well as a spiral diaphyseal fracture of the right humerus. The animal was hospitalized for 24