Wildlife Flashcards by Elin H

Criteria of Euthanasia

Some believe all animal presented have ‘failed the fitness test’ = PTS Some believe all life is sacred + no animal should be PTS

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the middle ground of euthanasia?

Save the savable, Early traige, Reasses constantly, Release releasable

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why does the performance of the animal depend on its release?

Kestrels = perfect vision, shoulder + carpal + leg + foot function, Ducks = Can cope with limb + wing injury or impaired visiion to a degree

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why would you treat wildlife in practice?

Welfare, Sentinels for disease in population, Personal satisfaction, Good PR, Training for nurses + vets

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What assessment do you do when a wildlife case comes in?

Full history (where possible), Knowledge of natural history (migration, breeding, territory), Full clinical exam, Diagnosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What diagnosis techniques can you use?

Examination, Radiography, Blood tests, Response to treatment

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the traige options?

Euthanasia, Release, Rehbilitation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why would you euthanise?

Animals that are not likely to be releasalbe, Exceptions: Breeding animals (red squirrels) & Display or Eduction (bats)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why is immediate realse rarely on option?

Trapped + Uninjured adult animals with no likelihood of occult injury only, Not approrpate for animals that are: dependant, poor condition, obvious disease + injury

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

List occult injuries

Electrocution (swans), Trapping, snares or other ligatures, Ballitic injuries (pellets etc), Delayed shock etc

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When would you retunr orphans?

As soon possible

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

You’ve deemed the animal treatable + releaslbe, what next?

Find suitable accommodation + food, Then treat + assess response to treatment

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Health + Safety risks regarding wildlife

Direct injury from animals (bites, footing injuries, antlers, kicks), Disease risk (zoonoses + risk to domestics)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What disease might you come into contact with when treating wildlife?

Rabies, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Common zoonoses from wildlife

Ringworm, Cambylobacter, Mycoplasm, Chlamydophiliosis, Lyme disease, Sarcoptic mange, Rabies, Tuberculosis, Seal pox, Brucella maris

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Human preventative health

Rabies vaccines (those working with bats), BCG vaccination (badgers + deers), PPE, SOPs + Training

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What legislations apply to wildlife?

Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981), Protectin of Badhgers Act (1992), Deer Act (1991 amended 2007), The conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations (1994))

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What doe the Wildlife & Countrside Act (1981) do?

Protect species from being taken, killed, kept, disturbed, habitats interfered with or destroyed

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Legal Consideration

Vet care of wildlife generally excempt from ‘taking & keeping’ portion of law, Finde becomes owner so cosent, Wildlife under Veterianry Surgeon act (VSA)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who controls treatment od Wildlife?

VAS medicine act, Animal welfare act

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What licenes do you need prior to release?

Natural England

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What animal are under release exemptions?

Grey squirrel, Canada geese, Muntjac deer

What about an animal that has been accidentally caught?

Can just be released straight away as this not considered an intentional release as the animal is not out of the wild

If you run a resuce centre, how long can you keep a listed invasve alien animal for, without a licence?

> 6 weeks

What penalties are given for breaking any laws regarding wildlife?

Warning, Served notice, Fined, Prison, Lose permit liscence + not allowed to renew for >5 years

What is the BVA + RSPCA memorandum of agreement?

Emergency care or euthanasia of small animals + wild birds brough to practices during normal surgery hours will be provided free of charge, RSPCA contribute to out of hours coat + large deer, Not legally binding agreement

What type of bird is often brought in?

Passeriformes - perching birds

Why might passeriformes be brought into practice?

RTA, Window collision, CBC (Caught by cat), Orphans

What are passeriformes prone to following puncture wounds?

Septicaemia

List UK wildlife organisations

Wildlife trust, Badger trust, Bat conservation trust, Biritsh hedgehod preservation society, British trust for ornithology, British wildlife rehabilitation council

What are the rehabilitation places you could take an animal?

RSPCA wildlife centres, Other specialist centres, Local rehabilitators, Veterianry staff with facilities at home

What are suitable release sites?

Ideally all adults go back to exactly where found, Juveniles need new sites, Safe, Population density suitalbe, Risk of disease transmission, Landowner consent

What reasons would a fox be admissioned?

RTA, Orphans, Snares, Old age, Shot

Reasons why deers would be admissioned?

RTA, Orphans, Dog attacks, Caught in railings

Red vs Grey Squirrel

Red - rare, protected Grey - Common, law actively encourages destruction + forbids release

Reasons for hedghod admissions

Predation, Orphaned, RTA, Poisoning

What GA agent is most common used for birds?

Isoflurane or Sevoflurane via mask

What birds fall under the columbiforme bracket?

Pigeon + Doves

Reasons for columbiformed admission

RTA, Window collision, CBC (Caught by cat)

What waterfowl are commonly seen?

Swans, Ducks + Geese

What do you need to keep in mind when handling Passeriformed?

Calmed by darkening room, ~Stressed to death, Presnce of predators (humans, domestic animals + BoP)

Duck facts

Mallards, Few are true wild, Many hybrids + semi-tame, Some migratory

Common swans§

Mute swans

How are waterfowl difficult to handle?

~Aggressive, Geese can bite, ~Scratch

How to handle waterfowl?

Restrain wings, head + neck, Point feet + tail away from you

What can you use for long term restrain of waterfowl?

Swan bag

Why would raptors be admitted?

Ballisitic injury, Impact trauma, Candidiasis, Ocular damage

Why would owls be admitted?

Fractures (wings + little owl legs), Ballistic injury (less common), Trichomoniasis, Eyes

Common reasons for hedgehod admission

Out during the day, Too small to hibernate, Rare - usually dead, Predation (uncommon), Entanglement, Lungworm, Skin disease, Misc trauma

How to not get ringowrm from a hedgehod

Tends to inoculate under skin from spines, Wear thick gloves, Wash hands in pevidine if spined, Scoop hog with newspaper,

How do you get a hedgehog to open up?

Stroke dorsum backwards from head, Bounce gently, Hold gind legs, Wheelbarrow posture to examine, Shallow water, GA

When would you always GA a hedgehog?

Stertorious breathing, Smell, Cannot walk, Don't eat, Obviouse/suspected wounds, Summertime

How are hedgehods with treatment?

Amenable, Difficult oral medication, Easily kept in captivity

Why would you always radiograph a deer that can't stand on its backlegs?

Common to find pelvic/spinal fractures