Uk Wildlife Rehabilitation 1 Flashcards
What is wildlife rehab?
“Wildlife rehabilitation is the treatment and
care of a sick, injured or orphaned wild animal
and its preparation for release to a successful
life back in the wild. “
Who is involved in wildlife rehab?
- LArge professional rehab centres
- Small centres/’backyard’ rehab
- Vet practices
- members of public
Are vets obligated to help wildlife?
YES. Provide first aid which may be euthanasia.
How to refer for rehab?
duty of care regarding where being sent - visit if poss
contact them first & send clinical notes +//_ transfer form?
What does Schedule 5 Wildlife and Countryside Act say on protected species?
all native birds listed others
Cannot be killed, taken or kept (unless vet care needed or u have a license)
What does Schedule 9 plus Invalive Alien Specie order (species who can’t be released) of Countryside act - what does it state?
Makes it illegal to release non-native wild animals
Some are native but cannot be re-released
Eg Grey squirrel, muntjac deer
(A few species can be released with a license) Eg. Canada goose, Chinese water deer,
Give an example of species-specific legislation.
Badger Act - license needed for marking including microchipping
What does Medicine Regulations say?
○ Should not use OOD drugs, storage, stock
control ect.
● If you are providing for small rehabilitators you are
responsible for legislative compliance.
What about food producing speies?
- Are some general licenses for hunting birds (wood pigeon)
- WP 28 d usually
- Lifetime withdrawal ‘do not eat’ ear tags
- Must have MRL in a food prod species (cannot use metronidazole)
What admissions are preventable?
- picking up litter
- responsibly using fishing equipment
-keeping netting in good condition & removing when not needed - Care on roads
- cats indoor at night
- Good bird feeder hygiene
List what zoonotic dx risks with what wildlife
What PPE should be worn?
- Always wear gloves and maintain good hand hygiene
- Aprons
- Face masks when respiratory pathogens are a
significant risk (psittacosis- see next time).
FFP3 masks give the highest level of protection - Additional PPE where relevant for avian influenza- see
later.
What animals don’t need to be admitted?
IF NOT INJURED:
- Fledgling birds
- Fawns and leverets
- Weaned fox cubs
- Hedgehogs out at nighttime
How to go about Triage?
- Determine wether tx indicated or just euthanase
- Assess as priority
- Assess prior to referral to wildlife rehab
What factors to consider during triage?
- Injuries
- Infectious dx
- Resources
- Legislation
- Migration
-Bhvr
Describe injuries
- Is it likely to survive? (emaciation indication for euthanasia)
- Is it likely to be fully functional -> all limbs full function, all senses intact, capable of reproduction
Describe infectious dx consideration
- Is it likely to fully recover? e..G myxomatosis
- Is it a serious zoonotic risk? e.G. lepto
- Is it a serious infectious risk to other mammals? e.g. PMV in pigeons
ResourceS?
- Can this animal be cared for until the point of release?
- Is there sufficient staff time to prove care?
Legislation?
can this animal legally be released? (grey squirrel)
Migration?
if migrating species, will it be fit for release in time?
Which species MUST BE RETURNED TO territory at release?
Foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, bats, birds of prey
What is involved in initial tx?
- Fluids
- analgesia
- Are AMs needed?
Describe fluid admin?
- Voluntary intake
- Oral gavage in birds
- Subcutaneous in small
mammals, sometimes large
mammals and birds - IV in collapsed foxes/
badgers/ deer/ larger birds - Oral tubing in seals
Analgesia?
If would provide analgesia to
a companion species with
this injury, should do so with
wildlife.
● Ensure fluids provided
alongside NSAIDs and care if
severely dehydrated/
shocked.
Are AMs indicated?
● Animals caught by predatorparticularly catted birds.
● Infected wounds.
● Should not be given as
blanket treatments
(are exceptions where large
numbers of animals and
parasite infections can be
devastating)
how should they be housed?
- Quiet as poss
- Provide cover/ hides
- Perches for birds (tail guard on raptors)
What common feed for wildlife?
○ Foxes/ badgers- dog or cat wet food plus biscuits
○ Hedgehogs- cat food (not fish) or hedgehog diets
○ Rabbits- provide fresh greens, rabbit pellets
○ Small rodents- proprietary foods
○ Bats- small mealworms
Commo, feed for birds?
○ Pigeons- seed mix
○ Passerines- variable
■ granivores- seed mixes (care not shelled or
excessively large
- most passerines can’t open).
■ insectivores
- live mealworms, suet, insectivore mixes
eg prosecto/ fat robin mix ideal but not always easy to
find. Fine unhusked/ milled seed mixes designed for
these species. Cat food only in very short term.
○ Birds of prey
- chicks/ mice (if not available tube feed A/d or
emeraid).
○ Waterfowl
- greens and proprietary food/ mixed corn.
○ Gulls
- fish (cat food only in emergency
- leads to poor feather
growth)
General approach to fractures?
Universally poor pg for all species if:
- Open fracture
- Joint fracture
- Multiple fractures
- Healing/ healed malaligned fractures
- Beak/jaw fractures
- Spinal fractures/ injury
- Non ambulatory pelvic fractures, any pelvic fracture in females
Wounds - what common indications for euthanasia?
- Exposed viscera
- Severe large wounds
- Permanent restriction of limb mov
- Ligament/tendon tears
- LBindness/ loss of other senses
- Significant loss of pectoral muscle mass
- Significant wounds of the propatagium in birds
What general approach to wounds?
- Cleaning ) wait until animals has calmed - may need GA
- Dressings can be used but not always tolerated
- Preventing interference can be challenging
- Wounds can be closed with tissue glue conscious, suturing under GA in all species
- Need for Am similar to domestic species in principle
What frequently used diagnostics in wildlife?
- Radiography
- In house faecal testing (wet prep smears and zinc sulphate float)
- In house dermatophyte cultures
- Sellotape prep for mites
Occasionally used diagnostics?
- US rare
- Blood tests
- C/S
What types of release available?
- Hard release -> no aftercare, suitable for the majority of animals
- Soft release -> often used for juveniles (support provided)
Location of releasE?
- Territorial species returned to their original location
Timing of release?
- Migraitons
- Weather/ seasons. Hedgehogs can be released in winter
- Time of day appropriate for species (e;g evening if nocturnal, morning for diurnal)
What common presentations of Hedgehogs?
- Too small to hibernate (need to be roughly 600g by Nov for hibernation
- Gardening injuries and traffic accidents
- Entrapment
Note on hedgehogs out during the day (OOD) ?
- Indication that individual is struggling and needs assessment
- Except in spring/ summer may see pregnant or recently parous females in day time
How to examine hedgehog?
Wheel borrowing technique
GA if won’t uncurl after 24h or immediately concerned about injuries
also GA to:
- look in mouth
- to anything uncomfortable
- radiography
- euthanasia
Describe faeal samples in hedgehogs?
- Ideally 3 day pooled but will see most infections on single sample
- Basic smear & flotation
- All autumn juveniles, other if clinical suspicion
What parasites do hedgehogs get?
- Crenosoma larvae
- Capillaria species (respiratory and GI)
- Fluke (Brachylamus)- can cause hyperactivity due to GI
pain. - Occasionally see coccidia- associated with diarrhea
What is also a common cause of GI symptoms in hedgehogs?
Salmonellosis> green faeces with blood, inappetence and weight loss
Which Skin disease most common in hedgehogs?
- Mites = Caparina spp
- Ringworm
Describe hedgehog mites?
● Surface mite, are visible with naked eye, easily seen on
sellotape preparation test (unstained).
● Usually thick scabs, particularly on head and legs.
● Treatment eg ivermectin 3 x weekly doses
Describe Ringworm?
● Up to 30% carry but commonly becomes clinically
significant (…can be secondary to mites).
● Can do in house dermatophyte culture.
● Trichophyton spp., do not fluoresce with Wood’s lamp
● Scurfy skin, spine and hair loss mainly over dorsal and
ventral body. Can have scabs.
● Treatment preferably with oral terbinafine in food
-
formularies says BID, SID will normally work
Overall treatment of hedgehogs - how to?
- Give meds SC, oral difficult
- Fluids SC
- Parasites -> Levamisole
High dose sc ivermectin / topical moxidectin
Oral fenbendazole
Lungworm -> supportive care also
Wound tx in hedgehogs?
- Assess wounds under Ga,sometimes even large wounds can be sutured and heal well
- Cut spines with scissors to close skin
- Very mobile skin, be aware will be tension when curl up
- Must be able to curl up after healing
What common presentations in Foxes & Badgers?
- RTA
- Entrapment
- Illness (jaundice or sarcoptic mange in foxes)
- Conspecific aggression
What conspecific aggression do we see?
- Bite wounds common in foxes
- Severe conspecific woudns common in badgers (rump and ears) indicate rejection from sett:
1. Young males naturally dispersing - if otherwise healthy release in same area)
2. Old individuals will not reintegrate - euthanasia kinder
Common presentation: Lone cups?
- If eyes/ ears closed shoudl not be above ground
- Weaned ubs may be exploring - parents often around
- Often can be reunited if have been picked up
- Cubs must be grouped - lone cups become tame very easily
Medication in Foxes & Badgers?
At dog dosages
- Once stable can medicate sith food - Often put into IV if very ill but remove as soon as active
IM sedation in Foxes & Badgers?
● Foxes 0.04mg/kg medetomidine, 0.4mg/kg butorphanol
● Badgers 0.04mg/kg medetomidine, 5mg/ kg ketamine
Describe sarcoptic mange in foxes?
● Only mild to moderate cases treatable.
● Diagnosis usually on clinical signs, could do skin scrapes
● 3 x weekly ivermectin (sc or po) 0.2mg/kg
● Bravecto orally works very well.
● No bathing- not necessary.
● Treat secondary infection if needed.
How to deal with bovine TB in Bedgers?
- In higher risk areas consider wearing a mask
- Clinical suspicion need euthanasia
- Adults not routinely tested
- Cubs 3 x serologicall blood test a month apart prior to release
- can be vaccinated badge BCG vacc after final blood test
Common presentations of small rodents/ rabbits?
- CAT ATTACKS
- Entrapment
- Rabbits - myxomatosis
Common presentations of bats?
- Cat attacks
- Trapped in buildings
- found grounded
What species of bats seen?
- Many species majorily Pipistrelle, next most common Brown Long eared
What dx of bats?
European Bat Lyssavirus (1 & 2)
- Some seropositives mainly scotland
all staff handlign bats should have rabies vacc & wear gloves
Notes on other Species?
Rearing juvenile mammals?
● Bottle feeding at comparable intervals, toileting needed.
● Commercial milk replacers used (RC products for many
species, lamlac for deer).
● Very time consuming.
● Provide warmth
● Hydrate before start feeding
● For all must prevent taming- handling ONLY when feeding.
>Creching essential for foxes and badgers
>All other will do best in group- consider referral
● Pinkies of all species poor prognosis- consider euthanasia.
● Note baby bats are extremely challenging
