Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Stephen Courtney — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:34:18 GMT

I assume the scent glands of a fox are anal glands?Or do they have supernumerary scent producing abilities?

i think foxes in this situation are protected by the same laws that apply to any animal regarding unnecessary mutilations. Certainly the legal advisor at the RCVS thought so., got a response for a qualified solicitor by email within the half day. Warmed my heart, to see my retention fee pound at work!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:02:02 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]Only if you remove it's anal glands ;-)

[/quote]

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Mark Rowland — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:55:56 GMT

Only if you remove it's anal glands ;-)

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:53:21 GMT

[quote user="Stephen Courtney"] It is NOT legal to remove the scent glands unless there is something wrong with them. [/quote] So does that mean it is illegal? Forgive me for being naive but who exactly lays down the law on what is correct in rescued orphan wildlife, as far as I'm aware foxes aren't a protected species or covered by dangerous animals legislation species, there is no compulsion to return them to the wild, so who exactly is going to stop you so long as you are not intentionally causing harm?? There is a lot of difference between what is ethical/moral and legal or even unprofessional so what has the RCVS got to do with this? We're currently raising an orphan hedgehog - am I going to be shot at dawn?

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Anthony Todd — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:19:22 GMT

[quote user="alex gough"]

Statistically speaking, half of all veterinary practices are below average standard. I think the RCVS should do something about this.On the plus side 90% of driver's consider themselves of above average standard.

[/quote]

You know how stupid the "average member-of-the-public" is; just realise that 50% are more stupid than that.....

There's always a thread on here where I can use my old gathered quotes.

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:03:19 GMT

[quote user="alex gough"]

[/quote]

Even worse, did you know that 20% of all weekdays are Fridays? I personally find that unacceptable!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Alex Gough — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:37:04 GMT

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:31:59 GMT

Patrick, statistically speaking, naked bike riding is safer than driving a car, as I understand hardly anyone is killed while riding a bike without any clothes on! I love it when people fling around small sample sizes as science!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

patrick murphy — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:21:29 GMT

sorry, but I seem to be the only one to read the Sunday Times vet advice column, where this week he said that a wild fox was statistically a safer pet than a dog. I e-mailed him re. his ovariectomy comments, no reply, then he poses with a teacup dog on his shoulder?

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

toby travis — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:49:21 GMT

Thanks very much for the advice/comments, I don't know if anything will come of it but if it does then we certainly won't be publicising it on our practice facebook page!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Stephen Courtney — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 22:57:01 GMT

Not in this case. i hadn't thought things through, and to be honest the rescue wanted to take the cub on from the so called owner from the first, and raise it in a way that would limit imprinting, with a view to releasing it into the wild, presumably so that it could be run over in its turn, leaving another orphaned litter....

The local private wildlife rescue that was discussing this with me are a pretty good bunch, this was my first political experience though.

Where i grew up it was not uncommon for people top have wildly inappropriate wildlife as pets - ranging from Vervet monkeys and baboons through to cheetahs. It was also considered perfectly acceptable for vets to remove canine teeth from potentially dangerous 'pets' so their loving owners didn't get chewed up. Times change - thankfully. i am embarrassed I didn't see the ethical minefield before i had wandered into it.

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

plantagenet — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 22:40:40 GMT

[quote user="Stephen Courtney"]the local wildlife rescue was up in arms [/quote]

ruddy hypocrites!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Rajat — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:05:14 GMT

Anyone seen the documentary on the genetic experiment on attempting to make foxes tame from Russia?

Synopsis - http://scienceblogs.com/thoughtfulanimal/2010/06/14/monday-pets-the-russian-fox-st/

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:22:00 GMT

I had a client ask the same thing, and also fr us to remove scent glands. I have to admit at the time I did not consider implications. the local wildlife rescue was up in arms about the whole thing - fortunately at that point i had not actually done anything to the fox - but after discussing implications with the wildlife people - namely that the fox would never be able to re enter the wild without scent glands and should not be kept as a pet - I decided to ring the RCVS to ask about the legalities.

It turns out spaying is OK as this considered acceptable for population control. It is NOT legal to remove the scent glands unless there is something wrong with them. so this was a close call - i truly did not think it through. the 'owner ' was adamant that he was keeping the fox - it had been rescued while still blind, and completely hand reared and his opinion was if he had not done this, it would have died, therefore although not ideal it was already imprinted and was safer with him than being re educated to live wild.

the owner ended up spaying the fox elsewhere, and shortly thereafter it promptly ran away. i think they now have another one, but it has not come my way. thankfully. It was my first taste of the politics of wildlife and could have been a PR disaster- though i have trouble thinking of anything smaller than a deer as wildlife!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:04:35 GMT

Difficult to know what to advise-whether or not spaying is a good idea before thinking how to do it Will spaying make it more likely to remain cub like and therefore content to stay at home, or will it still leave home once grown up and be more vulnerable as unable to find a mate? They do live in pairs not packs so a spayed female will be solitary if she ever reverts to the wild

Wynne

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

James Laidlaw — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:51:07 GMT

[quote user="alex gough"]

Can I plead colour blindness in defence? Going to have to change my profile pic now, but given the comments about showmanship in another thread, I think I might wear shades in the next one!

[/quote]

Then hang the scope off the shades and wear your scrubs inside out, see if you can really wind some people up!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Alex Gough — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:42:46 GMT

Can I plead colour blindness in defence? Going to have to change my profile pic now, but given the comments about showmanship in another thread, I think I might wear shades in the next one!

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Mark Rowland — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:39:48 GMT

It's hunting pink actually and take that bloody stethoscope off from round your neck :-) :-):-) I think the only horns blown at my practice are those of celebration when I leave for the day sadly

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Alex Gough — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:18:58 GMT

Would there be any value in dressing in scarlet, wearing a hat and having your nurse blow a horn when in theatre?

Alex

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:07:22 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]

Speying is the same.

I dont think these animals make good pets though. I would be warning the owner that when this fox grows up it may be a different kettle of fish.

[/quote]

I had a pet fox. I agree.

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:16:12 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

[quote user="toby travis"]PS - this is a request for advice, not for a commentary! [/quote]

Damn

[/quote]

Hahaha - I was thinking the same.

Arghhh....I can't help myself. Wrong. Very wrong.

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:00:03 GMT

[quote user="toby travis"]PS - this is a request for advice, not for a commentary! [/quote]

Damn

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

Mark Rowland — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:42:57 GMT

Speying is the same.

I dont think these animals make good pets though. I would be warning the owner that when this fox grows up it may be a different kettle of fish.

Re: Anyone ever spayed a fox?!

James Laidlaw — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:22:34 GMT

[quote user="toby travis"]PS - this is a request for advice, not for a commentary![/quote]

LOL!

Good luck :)

I'd imagine it's the same as a dog, but I'm sure the exotics people can advise.