ECC in British Wildlife

Question 1

What is the aim of wildlife triage?

Answer 1

To differentiate between wildlife that have a good chance of survival and eventual release and those requiring immediate euthanasia.

Question 2

What are the things to consider when triaging wildlife?

Answer 2

Clinical exam may be all you have to use, so do this thoroughly, head to tail. But remember you can opt to stabilise first.
Most patients will be suffering from shock, so initial mentation may not be reliable.
You do not need to decide on the spot, you can want x-rays or to treat for shock and re-assess.
Triage decision should be made within 24-48 hours for welfare reasons.

Question 3

What are the important things to consider when triaging a wild bird?

Answer 3

Injuries need animal related context e.g. a fracture wing is sometimes treatable without surgery and a pigeon can survive well in the wild after this type of healing, but a bird of prey will not.
Remember to check birds’ eyes!
It is illegal to take birds of prey from the wild and keep them without a Defra licence, unless it is receiving treatment from a vet or person registered to treat and release.

Question 4

What are the criteria in a wildlife pre-release assessment?

Answer 4

If applicable, can they:
Avoid predators/danger (including humans)
Hunt and/or forage food
Find and defend territory
Adapt to weather conditions
Reproduce
Hibernate
Migrate

Question 5

How can wildlife cases be initially stabilised?

Answer 5

Warm and dark environment
Fluid therapy (route and how much?)
Duphalyte - vitamins and electrolytes
Initial patient related treatments e.g. antibiotics and analgesia if it has a wound.
NSAID should be delayed until rehydrated.

Question 6

Give examples of analgesic drugs used in rabbits

Answer 6

Meloxicam
Buprenorphine
tramadol
Maropitant
Carprofen
Lidocaine CRI

Question 7

Give examples of prokinetics used to treat GI stasis in rabbits

Answer 7

Cisapride (SI and LI) or metoclopramide (stomach and SI)
AND ranitidine (chronic or gastric ulceration)

Question 8

What the methods of fluid therapy for rabbits?

Answer 8

Oral feeds
Subcutaneous fluids
IV/IO

Question 9

Describe oral feeds as fluid therapy in rabbits

Answer 9

10-20ml/kg per feed
6 feeds per day

Question 10

Describe subcutaneous fluids as fluid therapy in rabbits and birds

Answer 10

Max 10ml/site
Isotonic saline, warmed

Question 11

Describe IV/IO fluid therapy in rabbits

Answer 11

Shock rate: 60-90ml/kg/hr (15 minute boluses)
Maintenance: 4ml/kg/hr

Question 12

Give examples of fluid therapies in birds

Answer 12

Crop feeds
Subcutaneous fluids
IV/IO

Question 13

Describe crop feeds as a fluid therapy in birds

Answer 13

Start at 1% BW and increase 1% every day until 3%
3 feeds per day

Question 14

Describe IV/IO fluid therapy in birds

Answer 14

Shock rate: 90ml/kg/hr (in boluses)
Maintenance: 100ml/kg/day

Question 15

What are possible repair methods for avian fractures?

Answer 15

Cage rest only (pelvis or clavicle)
External stabilisation (if bone too small for internal)
Internal stabilisation (IM pins work well in avian bones)
‘Hybrid’ fixation (IM pins with external fixators

Question 16

What antibiotics are safe in rabbits? Medications For Treating Small Mammals

Answer 16

Medications For Treating Small Mammals:
M - metronidazole
F - fluoroquinolones (except pradofloxacin)
T - tetracyclines
S - sulfonamides
M - macrolides (except erthromycin)

Question 17

Which antiobiotics are unsafe in rabbits? PLACE

Answer 17

PLACE:
Penicillins
Lincosamides
Aminoglycosides
Cephalosporins
Eryhromycin

Question 18

What are the requirements for temporary housing for wildlife in practices?

Answer 18

Quiet, warm, secure, away from predators.
Newspaper, towels, hay, straw
Small mammals: hides
Bird: perches if strong enough, nests
Hygiene: daily clean and disinfect, F10
Barrier nursing