What Are Some Of The Symptoms Of A Sick Armadillo?



Armadillos are a wonderfully hardy species, and one of their biological traits is that they have a body temperature which is a few degrees lower than that of other animals. The result of this particular feature is that the majority of bacteria and infections that can be transmitted by other species find it difficult to survive within the body of an armadillo, meaning that they do not always get sick to the same extent as other species. However, there are some diseases such as leprosy and rabies that can take a hold among armadillos, so the symptoms of a sick armadillo are actually quite distinctive.

Unusual Fearlessness Around People Or Other Animals

This is one of the key indicators that you need to be cautious around an armadillo, as they are normally very cautious and will either flee or hunker down beneath their armor if they encounter people. There are several diseases, with rabies being the most serious, that cause an armadillo to act in an unusual way, and while they may not be as aggressive as a rabid dog for example, it is still worth minimizing contact and staying away from such an armadillo. Bites and scratches from the species are quite rare, but there have been examples where diseases have been transmitted to people by armadillos.

Loss Of Weight Or Appetite

Armadillos do not naturally keep a heavy layer of fat on the body anyway, which means that they need to eat regularly in order to be able to keep up their energy levels and to survive. Their natural habit is to forage around dusk and into the early night time, when they will dig shallow holes in the ground where their sense of smell indicates the presence of insects. If the armadillos do not eat and lose appetite, they can quickly lose weight which becomes a threat to their survival, and is an important sign of a sick animal.

Excessive Activity During The Day

Like most species, there are some factors, particularly maternity which can cause armadillos to change their habits and to be active during the day, but if this is a regular occurrence then it can be a sign of disease causing the change in the animal's habit. The armadillos are normally only active for a few hours around dusk, so seeing an armadillo in broad daylight is a fairly rare occurrence, and should be a sign that you should be cautious when approaching these animals.

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