Wildlife Triage and Rehab Flashcards
What areas does wildlife medicine involve?
- First aid of wildlife casualties
- Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Wildlife disease surveillance
- Emerging diseases
- Wildlife capture, translocation and release
What laws directly affect Veterinary Surgeons in wildlife?
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Animal Health Act 1981
What does the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 state which is significant when dealing with wildlife…
Only registered VS can practice Veterinary Medicine
Exceptions applied to wildlife: RVNs, Veterinary Students, providing first aid, Some groups (fish and invertebrates are outside the scope of this act)
What is significant with the Animal Welfare Act 2006
wrt wildlife…
Applies to domestic animals and wild animals while under captive care (even temporary)
Significant of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Permits taking an animal from the wild for treatment and rehabilitation, until released.
Illegal to release certain species in the wild (eg. Grey squirrel), except under license (transmitting pathogens to red) If grey squirrel brought to practice, you cannot release it back
Role of the Animal Health Act 1981
Regulates the control of some notifiable diseases (eg TB, Avian flu, Rabies)
When someone brings a wild animal in what is our ultimate goal and main considerations?
Ultimate goal=
return that patient to the wild, with normal physical and behavior function buttt
Main consideration=
animal welfare and health (other factors sometimes weigh in)
What is the overall process of wildlife treatment
- Initial Assessment
- Ongoing Treatment managing captivity
- Release
In the initial assessment what re the 3 main decisions
Release, Provide first aid, Euthanasia
When animal is in captivity following a medical intervention what should you consider?
Analgesia Stress Cross infections and Biosecurity Changes in behavior Requirements in terms of enclosure, diet, repeated handling, etc.
When releasing a wild animal following treatment what should you consider?
Pre-release general health check and disease screening
Release methods
Location and time of release
Season
Migratory birds, cannot release in wild of particular season
Monitoring post-release
What info should you gather when telephone triaging?
Record species, location and main presentation (eg injured, orphaned, etc)
Inform how to capture and transport, especially member of public
Inform of possible health hazards to humans (eg bites, zoonosis, etc)
Ideal transport containers for wildlife
Safe and escape proof
Stimuli and thermal isolation
Adequate ventilation
Ideal transport containers for specifically... Most species Most carnivores Amphibians Marine Mammals
Most species: cardboard boxes or pet carriers (covered) Most carnivores (fox, badger): crush cages (covered) Amphibians: plastic containers with some humidity
Marine mammals: very specific requirements, unlikely to be seen in practice Some species require sedation/tranquilizers for safe capture and transport
List the most common casualties seen with wildlife
Trauma Natural Orphan Animals Poisoning Infectious Disease Others
