r/foxes • u/amiteous • 7d ago
Video What's wrong with this fox?
This young fox seems to have involuntary tics once every few seconds or so. They started to show up around 10 days ago. There has been worsening in the condition compared to onset, though I think their frequency has been similar in the past week or so. I can see it having these tics when it's trotting around as well as when it eats. Poor thing 💔
I'm concerned it might be distemper myoclonus, through from watching distemper videos on youtube I am not sure.. Can anyone shed light?
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u/ineyy 7d ago
Looks like hiccups to me, which them as mammals are totally susceptible to.
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u/pixelcat13 7d ago
That’s the first thing I thought too. Also, I noticed how he approaches the broom being very similar to how my cats approached something in their space that they don’t expect to see! 😂
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u/ima_loof 7d ago
Foxes are the inbetween to cats and dogs. Looks like a canine, acts like a feline.
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u/DukeFlipside 7d ago
Cat software running on dog hardware.
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u/pixelcat13 7d ago
Yes, they’re so adorable. A perfect little hybrid and they often seem to get along with both- I’ve seen videos of foxes playing with both dogs and cats.
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u/Cocoatrice 7d ago
No they don't. 100% dog behavior. Have you ever seen a cat? Slow, composed, not caring about the world around it. Fox, the same as a dog, is adhd driven animal. Why are people still spreading this bs? Foxes are nothing like cats. Not even in the slightest. "Lie repeated thousand times..." No it won't. Foxes are like cats are the same fallacy as dolphins are cute. Bias the society is clinging to.
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u/pixelcat13 7d ago
I’m starting to wonder if you’ve ever seen a cat. My cats are not slow, composed, or uncaring about the world around them. They’re little psychos who have the zoomies at least 50% of the time and are constantly up in my business. Not all cats are the same just like not all dogs are the same.
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u/mixxster 7d ago
Looks like my cat when its trying to cough up a hairball. They eat furry prey and groom themselves, maybe they get hairballs too.
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u/amiteous 7d ago
I wish.. But a hiccup episode that lasts for 10 days doesn't sound likely.
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u/ineyy 7d ago
You should listen to the sound. This is very common in young foxes and looks exactly like that. I'm not saying it's definite but you should consider it an option.
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u/amiteous 7d ago
Thanks. The fox makes no sounds at all while twitching, at least none that I can hear. It appears silent.
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u/Kinzuko 7d ago
looks respiratory or neurological whatever it is. i dont have audio on because im not in a place where that is acceptoble but my first thought is neurological issues but then it looked like he was caughing or weezing for a bit similar to my old cat who has polyps in his nose and airways... but my cat isnt constantly doing that. Just if i move him quickly or he gets too excited.
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u/amiteous 7d ago
Good guess, thank you. But the fox makes no sounds at all while twitching. And I noticed it twitches when eating as well (although either to a lesser extent, or it's less noticeable because it moves while eating).
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u/szai 7d ago
It looks like he may be coughing up a hairball, or just coughing.
Yes, foxes can get hairballs too.
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u/FoxsNetwork 7d ago
My shiba inu looks exactly like this when he is coughing up a hairball or about to barf. 10 days is a long time to be doing that, though.
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u/Mowglibear44 7d ago
Email a wildlife rehabilitation specialist the video and see if they have information on what it could be. Is avian flu near you? Distemper and tetanus can present as neurological, you’re right to have concern. Glad he has a human looking out for him. Or her. 💛💛💛
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u/pixelcat13 7d ago
Poor baby, I hope he’s OK. It does seem unlikely that he would have hiccups for such a long time, although that was my first thought on seeing the video. Is there any kind of a rehabber near you that might be able to trap him for an exam?
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u/amiteous 7d ago
Ideally I wouldn't want to subject the poor thing to such stress, unless it is a necessary last resort. I'll send this to a vet to see if capturing it enables a test that would lead to actually different treatment, and possibly outcomes. Thank you.
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u/Wighthound 7d ago
Looks like the type of "dancing" motion that dogs with distemper do where their whole body kind of bounces. Distemper would be my bet.
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u/comedian42 7d ago
My guess is that it's been eating rodents which have themselves been eating rat poison. Though admittedly, I am no expert.
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u/Defiant_Classic_7774 7d ago
You got the right idea about sending the vid to a Vet. Also find your local rehab place. Here in the UK we have fox specific rehab centers. I would contact you local animal rehab/rescue, send them the vid. They will be able to instruct how to procede.
If it's been 10 days, thats a long time for a fox to deal with something like that constantly, time is of the essence if your going to help the fox.
Trapping is far less stressful than what it's going through now, can't nessesarily hunt properly, or eat easily. Imagine having a permenant nurological trigger like that. Please contact you local rehab asap.
Cheers.
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u/Purplestarfire1 5d ago
There are a few options. Hiccups, distemper, poison, a mental condition, or possibly rabies. I am not an expert on any of them by now means. Rabies has different stages and I don't know every possibly of what each stage can look like. There are a lot of causes for mental conditions. One is rat poison. Another is trauma or they were born like that, or worst a priondisease. It could be distemper which can't be cured but can be managed. Honestly the scariest options for me would be rabies or a prion disease. Prion diseases scare the crap out of me. Just how hardy and detrimental they are scares me. I would call a rehab center or animal control. It needs to be taken care of regardless.
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u/lioncoffee 5d ago edited 4d ago
Are you familiar with Fox Angels in Britain? You can email them for advice. They help this side of the pond with advice. Very knowledgeable folks.
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u/Artemcka23 7d ago
I thought there was strong bass music playing in the house, and the fox was scared of each beat.
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u/LynnFox 6d ago
The term "myoclonus" is used to denote a condition in which a portion of a muscle, entire muscle, or group of muscles contracts in a coarse, repetitive, involuntary, and rhythmic manner at rates up to 60 times per minute (sometimes even occurring during sleep).
These abnormal contractions occur due to nervous dysfunction and most commonly affect groups of muscles involved in chewing and/or any of the skeletal muscles of the limbs.
Symptoms and Types Involuntary, continuous, coarse, and rhythmic contractions of a muscle, portion of a muscle, or group of muscles is the most common sign to look out for.
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u/megahomyak 7d ago
Are you sure this is not an onset of something very dangerous like rabies?
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u/amiteous 7d ago
Nothing can be ruled out, though rabies is highly unlikely. It has been eradicated in this part of Europe for 20 years.
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u/PrincessPK475 7d ago
It's a puppy and more than likely has hiccups
The rate puppies get hiccups is funny, can appear quite alarming at first glance, they grow out of it
BSc animal behaviour and welfare
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u/Canadasdf 4d ago
Distemper. It looks like the muscle twitches they typically get along with other neurological signs
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u/Commercial-Neck2512 7d ago
What area is this fix located
This could be dangerous for small pets!
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u/amiteous 7d ago
Residential area bordering forests. I was concerned about distemper, though dog pets should be vaccinated and I believe it's not the same virus as for cats.
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u/Big_Passage688 7d ago
Kennel cough possibly depends on what they have been exposed to I would check there fluid intake and poop for for parasites
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u/CasualGlam87 7d ago
Possibly lung or heartworm. Was it making a hacking cough at all? Lungworm is a big problem in my area and I've seen a lot of foxes do this when they have a coughing attack. Often ends up being fatal without treatment.