European mink captive breeding

F. Medical Care

Restraint(immobilisation)

Whenever possible manual restraint of mink should be avoided. A handling cage can be used for all procedures such as examination, vaccination, anaesthetising, sample collection or for weighing. Measurements of the handling cage should be 12cm x 12cm x 30cm and include a sliding-door. The mink can be encouraged to enter the handling cage (located towards the latrine compartment) by carefully lifting the lid to the sleeping compartment from which it will leave. A towel placed over the handling cage makes it more inviting to enter. It may be useful to place sheet of glass under the lid to prevent any accidental escape when the sleeping compartment lid is open.

Only in extreme cases should mink be manually restrained. When this is necessary the mink must first be caught in the handling cage. A darkened bag is then placed over the `mouth' of the handling box from which the mink usually will run into. The animal should then be handled carefully with gloves through the sack. After use the sack should be washed.

This procedure will help reduce the amount of stress caused by manual restraint.

For immobilisation, the preferred injectable anaesthetic agent is a combination of 10% Xylazin(Rompun) and 5% Ketamine Hydrochloride (Ketalar, Ketaset, Ketaject, Vetalar) (1:1); having a wide safety margin it has been used successfully at Tallinn Zoo. In practice a dose rate of 0.2-0.5ml per animal (dependant on body size), by intramuscular injection is usually sufficient. It is better to administer small doses at first, with additional doses added until the desired response is attained. Relaxation is good, usually within 5-10 minutes (in some cases after one minute) and a duration between 10 to 30 minutes.

European mink are more sensitive than the European polecat, Mustela putorius, or American mink, Mustela vison, to overdoses of anaestetic agent. Respiration of the animals may stop and artificial respiriation may be needed to save the animal.

The use of Ketamine Hydrochloride as a sole anaesthetic agent is NOT RECOMMENDED having been known to bring on seizures and abnormal breathing.

It is recommended that for prolonged anaesthesia gaseous agents be used, with Isoflurane being the agent of choice and Halothane a suitable alternative.

Whenever an animal is sedated for whatever reason, the opportunity should be taken to carry out a full veterinary examination, blood collection for genetic and/or physiological data, weight and other morphological measurements etc.



Vaccination

In comparison to the American mink there is limited information on the susceptibility of European mink to viral infection or the routine use of vaccines to build up an immunity.

In common with other mustelids, the European mink is thought to be prone to a number of viral diseases, in particular, canine distemper, rabies, leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis. The American mink is the only known mustelid species reported to be susceptible to feline pankleukopenia (though it has been suspected in skunks and otters).

The European polecat (Mustela putorius), closely related to the European mink, are susceptible to pseudorabies (Aujesky's disease), that affects the nervous system and is characterised by puritus and self-mutilation.

Farm-ranched mink are routinely vaccinated against canine distemper, rabies, feline panleuokopenia and botulism.

At Tallinn Zoo, all adult European mink have been vaccinated with BIOCOM-P(United Vaccines, USA) and a month later with DISTEMINK(United Vaccines, USA)

NB!
No live vaccines or any kind of modified live vaccines should be used for vaccination as it can prove fatal to mustelids.

(In North America, live vaccines have been used on European mink at San Diego Zoo and on Black-Footed Ferrets at the Sybille Conservation Research Centre -where it resulted in the rapid death of vaccinated animals)


Endoparasites control

Wild European mink have been reported to have high levels of helminth infestation with over 17 species of parasitic worms(trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, acathocephala)recorded in one study area. Furthermore, parasite-related disease are infrequently encountered in mustelids generally, suggesting that such a parasite burden can be tolerable in healthy individuals.


Endoparasites have not caused any specific problems in captive European mink.


At Tallinn Zoo faecal samples are collected at least three times per year:

March - before the breeding season
July or August - after the breeding season
October-November - prior to the winter period

At Tallinn Zoo the following endoparasites have been found from faecal sampling and during post mortem examinations:

1. Eimeria sp.
2. Isospora sp.
3. Taenia sp.(T. sibirica??)
4. Contracaecum sp.
5. Capillaria mucronata
6. Capillaria putorii(Rud, 1819)

The most commonly encountered endoparasite has been Capillaria murconata. The use of "Ivomec" has been used successfully against helminths and sulfonamids against coccidians.



Ectoparasites

In common with other mustelid, external parasites of European mink include mites, fleas, lice and ticks. Treatment with a suitable, typically-applied, "anti-parasite" spray or powder, is usually sufficient. In severe cases of untreated animals, skin inflammation and severe irritation (pruritus) can lead to biting and scratching of the skin; or even severe hair loss.



Pathological & Physiological Data

There appears to be little available pathological and physiological information on the European mink; especially in comparison to that ammased on the American mink.

It is important that detailed clinical reports are provided. All EMCC participants are urgently requested to send post-mortem reports to the species co-ordinator and are urged to use the standardised post-mortem report found in the appendices (appendix 6); unless a more detailed autopsy report is available. In addition, where possible, tissue collection for taxonomic, genetic and pathological research is also important

Also, valuable physiological data (respiratory rate; heart rate; rectal temperature; heamatological parameters etc.) can be obtained during routine veterinary examination.



Identification

Various methods of permanent and unique identification have been used in the form of ear tags, tattoos and microchip transponders. The best method for identification of European mink is the use of microchips.

Back to Content
Next