Masked palm civet

Sarcoptic mange (scabies mites)

SignsIntense itching, hair loss on face and limbs, cracked skin with thick crusts, weight loss

PreventionAlways wear gloves when handling rescues, isolate from other animals, disinfect cage and tools every time, have the vet deworm/treat

Distemper

SignsEye discharge and runny nose, fever, vomiting and diarrhea, staggering and seizures, wandering in daylight

PreventionNo contact with dogs or ferrets, isolate and observe before intake, disinfect shoe soles at the facility

Parasitic infection

SignsDiarrhea, worms or white segments in feces, swollen belly, weight loss, dull coat

PreventionFecal exam immediately after intake, remove feces daily with gloves and incinerate or seal for disposal, have the vet deworm

Relapsing fever / rickettsial infection

SignsRecurring fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, attached ticks, anemia

PreventionRemove ticks at intake, mow grass around the cage, keepers wear long sleeves when working

Nutritional disorders / obesity

SignsBent bones, broken teeth, reduced activity, overweight from lack of exercise

PreventionDo not feed mainly fruit; combine animal protein and vegetables; provide climbing logs for exercise

Periodontal disease / tooth fracture

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

PreventionBuild the cage so it cannot chew wire mesh, do not give overly hard bones, oral check once a year

Road traffic trauma

PreventionAssume fractures and internal bleeding when rescuing; keep the transport box dark and small and do not move the animal

First aidLine a cardboard box with a blanket and load with thick gloves, press bleeding with a clean cloth, contact the prefectural government and go to the vet

Snare / wire lacerations

PreventionTraps only by permit holders, inspect every morning, keep wire away from around the cage

First aidDo not let it thrash; cover the eyes with a cloth, do not cut the entangled part, go to the vet; watch for coldness beyond the constriction

Tooth fracture from wire mesh

PreventionUse thick metal bars or panels, fit wooden boards where it chews, reduce stress sources

First aidBleeding usually stops within minutes; switch from hard to soft food; exposed pulp means a same-day vet visit

Falls / torn claws

PreventionFix climbing logs and shelves so they do not wobble, thick bedding on the floor, no wire-mesh ceiling at height

First aidPress a bleeding claw with a clean cloth; if it limps, rest it in a box and see the vet the same day; a tail abnormality suggests a fracture

SARS-related coronavirus

RouteUrine, feces, body fluids, droplets, close contact

PreventionWear gloves, mask and goggles, wash hands and change clothes after work, never bring it near your face

Sarcoptic mange (scabies mites)

RouteDirect contact, shared towels and cages

PreventionGloves and long sleeves, dedicated clothing, disinfect the cage with boiling water; see a dermatologist if a person develops itching

Tick-borne infections

RouteTicks on the animal move to people

PreventionCheck the whole body at intake, remove ticks with tweezers without crushing, check your own body after work

Bite-wound bacterial infection

RouteBites and scratches

PreventionNever touch bare-handed; if bitten, wash under running water and see a doctor the same day; check tetanus vaccination history

Food

• Mainly fruit (apple, banana, persimmon), fed once a day in the evening
• Animal protein (boiled chicken, egg, insects) about 30% of the diet, boneless
• Add vegetables such as sweet potato and pumpkin; remove leftovers the next morning

Water

• Heavy ceramic dish or fixed bottle, changed daily
• It climbs and tips dishes, so fix the dish to the floor; two places in summer

Toys & play

• Thick climbing logs, ropes, fixed shelf boards
• Logs or paper boxes to hide food in, to encourage foraging
• Fabric tunnels or a shallow water tub; check breakable items daily

Nest, bed & hideout

• Wooden box with a narrow entrance fixed high up, with hay inside
• Two or more dark, snug sleeping places, screened from human view

Bedding & litter

• Concrete or resin floor that can be hosed down
• Sand or pet sheets at the latrine spot, changed daily
• Hay or towels in the nest box, fully replaced once a week

Cage / housing material

Metal bars of 2 mm or thicker, or panels; it chews through wood and plastic

Size & space

At least 2 x 2 x 2 m, tall enough for climbing logs

Layout

• Nest box up high, climbing logs and shelves in the middle, feeding area and water on the floor
• Set the latrine spot in a corner far from the door
• Double door or antechamber to prevent escape when opening

Placement notes

• Keep away from where dogs, cats and ferrets are kept
• Ceiling and gaps 3 cm or less; lock hardware from the outside

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• No walks or outdoor exercise; exercise on climbing logs inside the cage
• It is active at night, so hide food after dusk for it to search out
• Let it sleep by day; clean briefly and quietly

Temperature & humidity

Temperature10–28°C; above 30°C provide shade and ventilation

Humidity40–70%; ventilate so the bedding does not go moldy

Summer & winter

• In summer add shade and water tubs and place frozen bottles
• In winter add hay to the nest box and block wind; keep heaters where it cannot chew them

Nail trimming

Worn down naturally on climbing logs; overgrown or split nails are treated by the vet under sedation

Brushing, skin & coat care

No brushing needed; watch from a distance for hair loss and crusts to catch mange early

Other care

Judge bad breath and tooth condition from how it eats; a dirty rear end is a sign of diarrhea

Protection from predators

• Contact with dogs and cats is a source of distemper and other infections; separate completely
• Wild civets approach the cage, so leave no food around it
• Mow grass around the cage and use screens against mosquitoes and ticks

Foreign-body ingestion

Chews off and swallows plastic, string and nails; keep them out of the cage; see the vet if vomiting or no feces

Being stepped on

Comes out underfoot in a dark facility; check your feet when opening doors; if stepped on, watch for limping and see the vet the same day

Getting pinched

Tail or toes get caught in the double door or cage door; check its position before closing; if caught, watch for tail swelling or discoloration and see the vet

Falls

Falls from wobbly shelves or a wire ceiling; fix shelves; if it does not move or limps after a fall, rest it in a box and see the vet the same day

Escape

Escapes through gaps of a few centimeters and is hard to recapture; always lock and use a double door; if it escapes, do not chase, contact the prefectural government; traps only by permit holders

Safe release procedure

1. Wear thick leather gloves and long sleeves; do not move and stay still
2. Cover its face with a cloth or jacket to block its vision
3. Push the bitten part toward it to make it loosen its grip
4. Once released, put it straight back in the cage, lock the door and leave the room

After the release

Wash under running water for 5+ minutes, see a doctor the same day about tetanus and antibiotics, and report the animal's condition to the vet

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Copy of the permit, date/time and place of rescue, weight and food intake, photos of stool and skin, any contact with other animals

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Do not call its name; tap the box lightly and watch for a response and chest movement
• Resting breathing is 20–40 per minute; fast or open-mouth breathing is abnormal
• Take the pulse at the inner thigh; white or purple gums are dangerous

Stopping bleeding

• Press with a clean cloth for 5+ minutes without lifting it
• For limb bleeding, keep the limb above the heart while pressing
• If the cloth soaks through, layer another on top and keep pressing

Transport

• Line a cardboard box or hard carrier with a blanket and keep it dark
• Wrap in a towel to keep warm; carry quietly without jolting