Wildlife and zoological medicine Flashcards
what laws effect veterinary surgeons when dealing with wildlife?
Veterinary Surgeons act 1966
Animal Welfare act 2006
Wildlife and Countryside act 1981
Animal Health act 1981
what is the ultimate goal of wildlife rehabilitation?
returning the patient to the wild with normal physical and behavioural function
what are the three main steps of wildlife rehabilitation?
initial assessment
ongoing treatment/managing captivity
release
what should be thought about during an initial assessment of a wild animal?
is intervention needed
how to intervene
how likely is a successful outcome
what should be considered when releasing a wild animal?
method disease screening health check location season monitoring
what are the main sources of wildlife patients?
members of public
charities
wildlife projects
what should be done during a telephone triage of wildlife?
record species, location and presentation
inform how to capture and transport
inform of health hazards - zoonosis, bites…
how can most wildlife species be transported?
cardboard box or pet carrier
how should carnivores be transported?
in a covered crush cage
how should amphibians be transported?
plastic container with some humidity
what are the most common reasons for wildlife casualties to be brought in?
trauma natural orphans poisoning infectious disease
in what mammals should sedation/anaesthesia be considered to exam/handle?
hedgehogs
deer
most carnivores
large rodents
what should be worn when handling amphibians?
powder free latex gloves that are moistened with water (very delicate skin) - try to do most examining inside their container
what are the distinguishing features of an adder?
orange to red eyes
vertical pupil
dark zig-zag dorsal pattern
what animals can gas anaesthesia be used on?
hedgehogs
large rodents
some avian patients
what is a common combination of drugs used to sedate avian patients?
midazolam and butorphanol (IM or intranasal)
what should always be done to wildlife patients under anaesthesia/sedation?
cover eyes and ears
what are some options for anaesthetising carnivores?
ketamine and medetomidine
ketamine and medazolam
what can medetomidine be reversed by?
atipamezole
what can midazlolam be reversed by?
flumazenil
what are the options for deer anaesthesia/sedation?
ketamine and medetomidine
etorphine
xylazine
what position should deer be placed in when anaesthetised? and why?
sternal recumbenecy to prevent tympanisms (accumulation of gas in GI tract)
what are some examples of cases in which euthanasia should be considered?
imminent death exposed internal organs exposed fractures permanent disability untreatable disease legal reasons
what is usually used in birds to assess body condition?
pectorals
how can dehydration be assessed in birds?
dry MM cold extremities shock CRT (usually assume birds brought in are between 7-10% dehydrated)
what routes of medication can be used in birds?
IV (difficult) - ulna and medial metatarsal vein
IM - pectoral
intra-osseous - distal ulna and proximal tibiotarsus
subcutaneous
what are the best routes of injection for wild mammals?
intramuscular
subcutaneous
what routes can be used to administer medication in reptiles?
IM and intraosseous (only lizards) are best
what can cause a wild animal to present with shock?
blood loss and hypovolaemia
dehydration and emaciation
poisoning
what is the emergency treatment of shock in wild animals?
thermal support
oxygen
fluid therapy
what are some diagnostic tests that should be carried out for wildlife patients?
PCV total proteins blood smear glucose urea radiographs
how are debilitated birds fed?
gavage/crop tube
how are debilitated small mammals fed?
syringe feeding
why should contact with wildlife be limited during ongoing treatment and rehabilitation?
biosecurity
stress
behaviour changes
when are orphan birds usually seen?
late winter to summer
most orphaned birds are in fact what? and what should be done with these?
fledgelings so should be left in a secure place
what are some common traumatic injuries seen in wild birds?
head, wings, leg trauma
lacerations and bites
what signs should be looked for in suspected head injuries to birds?
altered mentation haemorrhage of oral cavity/ears hypheama anisocoria paralysis
what is hypheama?
accumulation of RBCs in the anterior chamber of the eye
what is anisocoria?
uneven pupil size
what first aid should be given to a bird with head trauma?
put in a cool dark place
analgesia
take care with over-hydration
what should be done first when presented with a wing fracture?
stabilise the wing
why does care need to be taken the treating/immobilising wing fractures?
can cause fibrosis/lesions of the patagium
how should wounds/bites be damaged?
sedate/anaesthetise to examine flush remove necrotic tissue cover with hydrocolloid gel analgesia and antibiotics
what are common causes of poisoning in wild birds?
lead
botulisms
what are the clinical signs of lead poisoning in birds?
neurological signs
pale MM
haemoglobinuria
how can birds with lead poisoning be treated?
calcium EDTA
penicillamine
supportive care
activated charcoal
what causes botulism?
ingestion of toxin type C produced by Clostridium botulinum
what are the clinical signs of botulism in wild birds?
progressive flaccid paralysis (neck muscles)
high mortality
outbreaks lasting several weeks
how should oiled birds be treated?
supportive care supplementary heat clean mucosa/eyes remove oil - fairy remove detergent from plumage - warm water dry plumage
what are some common hedgehog injuries?
trauma flystrike emaciation neonates respiratory disease limb entrapment poisoning
what is the approach to bat casualties?
start observing from a distance
always handle with latex and garden gloves
warm them (most hypothermic)
oral hydration and glucose
what are common problems seen in bats?
cat bites
wing tears/lacerations
fractures
entanglement
what is the role of zoos?
preventing extinction - conservation, research, education
what are some zoological governing bodies?
BIAZA
EAZA
WAZA
what are the main legislations around zoological medicine?
zoo licensing act 1981
animal welfare act
what are the roles of zoo vets?
medicine animals imports/exports populationmanagement conservation work pathology animal welfare
what are the 4 categories of preventative medicine?
parasites
vaccination
herd health plans
disease surveillance
