The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) is a canid widely distributed in South America and is considered the only representative of the genus Cerdocyon. These are nocturnal animals, measuring about 65 cm of body length, with light grey coat and yellowish base, a black dorsal band that extends from the nape to the tip of the tail, darker legs and feet and relatively short hair (Ramos Júnior et al., 2003). This species is often seen in the wild animal surgical clinic, as they are constant victims of trampling or chase, accused of preying domestic animals (Gonçalves et al., 2016). Due to its phylogenetic proximity with domestic dog, the last is used as model for medical approaches in the Cerdocyon thous, once there is a lack of morphophysiological knowledge of these individuals (Ferrigno et al., 2014;Gomes, 2007).The phrenic nerve is the main motor supply of the diaphragm, and it is composed, in most domestic species, by ventral branches of the fifth, sixth and seventh cervical spinal nerves (Ghoshal, 1986).However, diaphragm can also be innervated by intercostal nerves, as