Wildlife Flashcards
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
What is the middle ground of euthanasia?
Save the savable, Early traige, Reasses constantly, Release releasable
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
Why would you treat wildlife in practice?
Welfare, Sentinels for disease in population, Personal satisfaction, Good PR, Training for nurses + vets
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
What diagnosis techniques can you use?
Examination, Radiography, Blood tests, Response to treatment
What are the traige options?
Euthanasia, Release, Rehbilitation
Why would you euthanise?
Animals that are not likely to be releasalbe, Exceptions: Breeding animals (red squirrels) & Display or Eduction (bats)
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
List occult injuries
Electrocution (swans), Trapping, snares or other ligatures, Ballitic injuries (pellets etc), Delayed shock etc
When would you retunr orphans?
As soon possible
You’ve deemed the animal treatable + releaslbe, what next?
Find suitable accommodation + food, Then treat + assess response to treatment
Health + Safety risks regarding wildlife
Direct injury from animals (bites, footing injuries, antlers, kicks), Disease risk (zoonoses + risk to domestics)
What disease might you come into contact with when treating wildlife?
Rabies, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis
Common zoonoses from wildlife
Ringworm, Cambylobacter, Mycoplasm, Chlamydophiliosis, Lyme disease, Sarcoptic mange, Rabies, Tuberculosis, Seal pox, Brucella maris
Human preventative health
Rabies vaccines (those working with bats), BCG vaccination (badgers + deers), PPE, SOPs + Training
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))
What doe the Wildlife & Countrside Act (1981) do?
Protect species from being taken, killed, kept, disturbed, habitats interfered with or destroyed
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)
Who controls treatment od Wildlife?
VAS medicine act, Animal welfare act
What licenes do you need prior to release?
Natural England
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
