ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS INHIBIT HYPERTHERMIA-INDUCED BY HANDLING IN FARMED SILVER FOXES (VULPES-VULPES)

As a contribution to the ongoing work aiming to improve welfare in far med silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes), the present study attempted to inves tigate stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) as a physiological indicator of fear or anxiety in this species. Measuring rectal temperature (T-re c) sewed as a stressor and immediately elicited SIH. Then, the foxes r eceived either the anxiolytic drugs, diazepam or buspirone, or sterile saline. T-rec in the foxes treated with diazepam and buspirone was si gnificantly lower 90min after treatment. The results indicate that SIH induced by handling was attenuated by anxiolytic drugs, which support s the hypothesis that anxiety contributes to the development of SIH.