Skeletal Pathology of Farm-Reared Obese Juvenile Blue Foxes (Vulpes lagopus)

Mustonen, Anne-Mari; Lawier, D. F.; Ahola, Leena; Koistinen, Tarja; Jalkanen, Liisa; Mononen, Jaakko; Lamidi, Marja-Leena; Nieminen, Petteri

doi:10.21608/jva.2017.45445

Skeletal Pathology of Farm-Reared Obese Juvenile Blue Foxes (Vulpes lagopus)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine/Anatomy, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland &

² Illinois State Museum, Research and Collections Center, 1011 East Ash St., Springfield, IL 62703, USA

³ niversity of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Science and Forestry, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

⁴ University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Science and Forestry, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland &Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Green Technology, Halolantie 31A, FI- 71750, Maaninka, Finland

⁵ Punaturkki Veterinary Clinic, Satamakatu 20, FI-70100, Kuopio, Finland

⁶ Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Green Technology, Halolantie 31A, FI- 71750, Maaninka, Finland

⁷ University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

⁸ University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine/Anatomy, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

10.21608/jva.2017.45445

Abstract

Orthopedic abnormalities of farm-reared blue foxes (Vulpes lagopus) have increased recently, creating new concerns about their welfare. Therefore, skeletal condition of obese juvenile blue foxes was evaluated for relationships to degree of obesity. Two pilot study groups included less obese foxes (N = 5) and more obese foxes (N = 5); the latter group had visible carpal joint laxity and locomotor deficits. The principal aims were to examine forelimb deformities snd abnormal locomotion in light of degree of obesity. Overt and incipient (mild or developing) vvpathology were prevalent and reflected degree of obesity. It is likely that genetic selection and feeding practices were primary underlying problems, but disrupted mineral nutrition and housing practices may have been involved as well. These observations underscore the importance of new actions and additional studies of breeding, nutrition, and housing practices, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the welf are of farmed foxes.

Keywords