Fennec fox

Kidney disease

SignsExcessive drinking and urination, weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting, bad breath

PreventionWater available at all times. In old age, blood and urine tests twice a year for early detection

Obesity / fatty liver

SignsFat on belly and neck, inactivity, sudden loss of appetite followed by collapse

PreventionAvoid regular use of high-fat dog/cat food; manage weight with an insect- and lean-meat-based diet

Periodontal disease / tooth fracture

SignsBad breath, drooling, chewing on one side, facial swelling, avoiding hard food

PreventionAvoid very hard bones and cage chewing; yearly dental checkup. Acclimate to tooth brushing

Intestinal parasites

SignsDiarrhea, soft stool, weight loss, scooting the rear on the floor

PreventionFecal exam at acquisition and 1–2 times a year. Replace all sand and bedding regularly

Distemper / parvovirus

SignsFever, eye and nasal discharge, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures

PreventionSusceptible to the same viruses as dogs. Ask your vet whether vaccination is possible and which type

Stress-related self-injury / hair loss

SignsConstant licking of tail or legs, hair loss, pacing back and forth in the same spot

PreventionProvide hideouts and a place to dig. Avoid loud noises, sudden approaches and stimulation from visitors

Fracture from a fall

PreventionStrong jumper; climbs curtains and shelves. Do not leave climbable footholds; block off high places

First aidDo not touch; wrap in a towel and rest in a carrier. See a vet the same day. Do not splint a painful area

Ear laceration / hematoma

PreventionLarge ears catch on wire mesh and furniture. Use fine mesh and remove sharp corners

First aidApply pressure with gauze to stop bleeding. If the ear is swollen or torn, see a vet the same day. Do not cut it yourself

Trapped nail or toe

PreventionDo not use wire flooring. Mesh should be too fine for toes to fit through

First aidDo not pull; remove the mesh side instead. Apply pressure to bleeding; see a vet if a nail is torn off

Crash during panic

PreventionGuide to a hideout before sudden loud noises, visitors or vacuuming. Put markers on glass windows

First aidCalm it in a dark quiet place; check gait, nosebleed and eyes. If anything is abnormal, see a vet the same day

Rabies (on import)

RouteBites (no domestic cases, but beware of imported animals)

PreventionChoose legally imported, quarantined animals. If bitten, wash under running water and see a doctor

Salmonellosis

RouteFeces, handling raw meat, mouth-to-mouth feeding

PreventionAlways wash hands after care. Handle raw meat on a separate cutting board

Parasites (roundworm etc.)

RouteFeces, soiled sand or bedding

PreventionRemove feces daily; wear gloves when changing sand. Regular fecal exams

Bacterial infection from bites

RouteBites and scratches

PreventionWash wounds under running water; see a doctor if swelling or fever develops

Food

• Base of high-quality dog or ferret food, plus insects and chicken
• Twice a day, evening to night. Remove leftovers the next morning
• Small amounts of vegetables and fruit. Boiled egg and liver 1–2 times a week

Water

• Fresh water at all times. Use a heavy non-tip bowl together with a water bottle
• Easily fouled by sand play, so change twice a day

Toys & play

• Foraging toys that hide food, puzzle toys made from plastic bottles
• A sandbox for digging (at least 30 cm deep, fine sand)
• Cat feather wands and balls (play together at night)

Nest, bed & hideout

• Several dark, narrow nest boxes. One entrance, hidden from people's line of sight
• Fabric tunnels and dome beds (watch for chewing and tearing)

Bedding & litter

• Sand, coconut husk, wood chips. Deep enough to dig in
• Many learn to use a cat litter box. Place it in a fixed corner
• Remove urine and feces daily. Strong odor, so wash everything once a week

Cage / housing material

Large metal dog cage or multi-level cat cage. Wood and fabric get chewed through

Size & space

Minimum 1.2 m wide x 0.8 m deep x 1.5 m high. Ideally combined with a free-roam room

Layout

• Sandbox and litter box on the lower level, nest box and resting shelf on the upper level
• Space shelves reachable by jumping at a height that is safe in a fall
• Put the hideout at the back of the cage, out of sight of the door

Placement notes

• Avoid noisy, high-traffic spots such as near the TV, entryway or windows
• Avoid direct sun and cold drafts; ensure ventilation

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• 1–2 hours of free play indoors at night, supervised
• Outdoor walks are not recommended: high risk of escape and panic
• If you must go outside, use a double harness plus a carrier

Temperature & humidity

Temperature20–28°C. Heating is essential below 10°C

Humidity30–50%. High humidity causes skin disease

Summer & winter

• Summer: air conditioning to 28°C or below. Cooling plate inside the cage
• Winter: warm the nest box with a panel heater; watch for excessive dryness

Nail trimming

1–2 times a month. Wrap in a towel and trim only the tips, one nail at a time. Stop before the quick; if it resists, have the vet do it

Brushing, skin & coat care

2–3 times a week during shedding season with a soft brush. Check for skin redness, hair loss and fleas

Other care

Check the large ears for dirt weekly and wipe with moistened gauze. Acclimate to tooth brushing from a young age. Bathing is unnecessary

Protection from predators

• Keep in a separate room from dogs and cats. If chased, it panics and crashes into things
• Outdoors, crows, raptors and stray cats target it. Do not let it loose in the yard
• Mosquitoes: risk of heartworm. Ask your vet about prevention

Foreign-body ingestion

Chews up and swallows fabric, rubber, string and small objects. Vomiting, no stool or a bloated belly: go to the vet now. Do not induce vomiting

Being stepped on

Runs around your feet at night. Put a light at floor level in the dark and walk slowly during free-roam time

Getting pinched

Darts into door gaps. Fix doors with stoppers during free-roam time; check where it is before opening drawers or the fridge

Falls

Jumps over 1 m and climbs shelves and curtain rails. Remove climbable footholds; if it limps after a fall, see a vet the same day

Escape

When startled it bolts in a straight line and digs. Double-lock windows and screens. If it escapes, put out the nest box and favorite food at night and wait quietly. Report to the municipal office and police

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving, lower your arm and let the animal's feet touch the floor
2. Drape a towel over its head to block its view and darken
3. Splash a little water on its mouth or blow sharply on its nose
4. When the jaw loosens, slide your hand forward out of the mouth and let it retreat to its nest box

After the release

Wash under running water for 5 minutes and disinfect. Deep wounds, swelling or fever: see a doctor. Let the animal rest in a dark place and review the cause

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Line up a vet who treats fennecs in advance. Bring weight, food and water intake, photos of urine and stool, and video of its calls

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Call its name and touch it to check for a response. Check eye movement too
• Check breathing by the rise and fall of the chest. Normal is 20–40 per minute
• Place fingers on the left side of the chest to check the heartbeat. Normal is 100–200 per minute

Stopping bleeding

• Press with clean gauze for 5 minutes without letting go
• For ear bleeding, press from both sides. Do not let it shake its head
• For nails, use styptic powder or potato starch. If not stopped in 10 minutes, see a vet while maintaining pressure

Transport

• Wrap in a towel and put in a dark carrier. In winter, place a hand warmer on the outside
• Keep the car quiet; minimize vibration and noise. Do not carry it in your arms