Fox First Aid 2 How to help a sick, injured or orphaned fox

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First Aid

Healer Do No Harm Continued

Homeopathic remedies worth carrying to treat shock

Aconitum 12c : This is the main remedy to consider which usually allays symptoms in a short time.

Arnica 30c & China 6c: Useful remedies if weakness and shock are a result of haemorrhage.

Carbo Veg 30c: Good for cases that show air hunger and collapse.

R.T.A. / Collapse

Always use extreme care when dealing with road traffic accident victims or those collapsed. External signs of injury will be obvious, but there could be serious internal trauma - how this is dealt with in a first aid instance could make or break the final outcome.

Spinal injury: May be present without nervous signs. Don't prod or handle/move too much as any spinal fracture could move or sever the spinal cord. In a case of RTA/spinal injury/paralysis roll, pull or drag the injured animal onto a makeshift stretcher. When the fox is restrained on the stretcher you could initially check for reflexes by pinching between the toes or the end of its tail.

• Slip one hand under the fox's chest and the other under its rump.

• Gently pull it on to the stretcher.

Place ropes or strips of cloth under the stretcher before sliding the fox on, then tie the fox to the board. Do not tie its neck down. If a board is not available slide the fox on to a blanket or large towel. Wrap the blanket round the fox and use this to transport it. If injuries are very serious, do not waste time looking for items to support. Get to vets as quickly as possible but avoid sudden movements that may cause further injuries. When lifting and transporting an injured fox, avoid bending or twisting its body.

Shock: By checking the fox's heart, breathing rates and gum colour, you are checking whether the fox is in shock. Shock can be caused by excessive bleeding, heart failure, vomiting and/or diarrhoea, electrocution, severe trauma, a twisted stomach and many other injuries, illnesses and accidents. Treating shock takes precedence over other injuries, including fractures and broken bones. Untreated shock may lead to loss of consciousness and death.

The signs of early shock are:

Faster than normal breathing

Faster than normal resting heart rate

White or pale pink gums

Restlessness or anxiety

Lethargy or weakness

Slow capillary refill time - more than 2 seconds

Normal or just subnormal rectal temperature

The signs of late shock are:

Shallow, slow breathing, Irregular heartbeat

Very pale or blue gums, Lack of response

Extreme weakness or unconsciousness

Very slow capillary refill - more than 4 seconds

Very cool body temperature

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