Wildlife Triage and Rehab Flashcards
Proto cols or carnivores
go over lecture
Protocol for deer
go over
When is euthanasia a reasonable option?
Imminent death Extensive trauma +/- exposure of internal organs Severe emaciation Exposed fractures (specially birds) Severe or extensive myiasis Blind/naked neonates Untreatable disease Permanent disability Legal reasons Any circumstance where the patient’s welfare and release back to the wild can’t be guaranteed
Grey squirrel
What to do in the initial clinical exam of wildlife patients?
Usually no clinical history As brief and thorough as possible Reduce stress to the patient Always examine patients while still in the carrier/before clinical exam: Mental status and activity Abnormal behavior Gait and posture Signs of dyspnea/respiratory disease Obvious lesions Consider sedation/GA in selected cases
What do you need to check in the clinical exam of wild birds?
Weight and BCS: pectoral muscles and SC fat (migratory birds)
Check: eyes (if possible, full ophthalmologic exam), nostrils, ears and oral cavity
Hydration status
RR and HR (if possible), auscultate lungs and air sacs
Palpate crop and coelomic cavity
Musculo-skeletal exam
Check integument: wounds, bruises, hematomas, damaged feathers
What do you need to check in the clinical exam of wild mammals?
Weight and BCS Temperature?
Hydration status Integument
Mucus membranes and CRT
Teeth and oral cavity Eyes, nostrils and ears Auscultation, HR and RR Abdominal palpation Musculo-skeletal exam
What do you need to check in clinical exam of wild reptiles/ amphibians?
Consider minimal exam/clear plastic container
Weight and BCS
Integument
Oral cavity and mucus membranes
HR - doppler or direct observation as thin skin (amphibians) Coelomic palpation
Musculo-skeletal exam
Animal come in collapsed, cold, blood loss. What are your thoughts?
SHOCK
probes poor hydration status, hypovolawmic
Could be dehydrated and emaciated.
Poisoned?
Needs emergency treatment = Thermal support O2 Fluids Maintenance fluid therapy
Dehydration should be corrected 24-48 hrs
What are useful diagnostic tests?
PCV - Total Proteins Blood smear Glucose +/- Urea Radiographs: - Specially on trauma cases - Always under sedation/GA - Only when patient stable
Orphan birds:
What time of year?
What is the case most often?
Common from late winter (owls) to summer
Most “orphans” are actually fledgelings and should be left in a secure place – not actually injured, still near nest. Can quickly check if any injury but less handled the better. Put back in place!
When do orphan birds require examination/ treatment?
Obvious trauma or lesions
Imminent risk of predation/injury
If still present on the same area after 12-24h
What should your initial approach to orphaned birds be?
Provide supplemental heat
Once rewarmed provide fluids and supplemental feeding by crop tube
Reduce human contact to prevent imprinting and behaviour changes – once released won’t show normal species behaviour = big issue
Orphan mammals - what should you do if someone calls up reporting one?
Not really “orphans”: but normal behaviour for that species to “lay low”
Deer fawn
Leverets
Carnivore pups and baby rabbits when starting to come out from their burrows
Seal pups
If someone brings in fawn, likely it will be rejected from mum. If on phone tell them to Report to RSPCA that can monitor as if they bring it in you have to send it to rehab centre
When should you examine a orphaned mammal
If not one of those that tends to lie low
Any neonate with closed eyes left unattended
What should your initial approach me to orphaned mammal>
Provide supplemental heat
Oral fluids and glucose
Adequate nutrition and nursing care – with mammals we adapt cat replacement milk
Care with imprinting and behavior changes – will that animal be releasable?
Most common traumas in wild birds include:
Head trauma Wing fractures Leg fractures
Lacerations and bite wounds
Other less common trauma (luxation, spinal trauma, electrocussion)
How to approach a wing fracture
Immobilize wing as soon as possible to prevent further trauma and damage
What are the different splinting techniques for birds?
Coracoid/Humerus = figure of 8 bandage + body tape Radius/ulna = figure of 8 bandage Carpus/metacarpus = tape splint
Once stable how do you approach wing fracture. What to remember about fixing bird wing
Once stable, GA + radiographs
Ideally, orthopedic surgery to restore normal wing function
Careful with patagium lesions/fibrosis – memb on cranial rim of wings. Will limit ability to use
Bird leg fractures…. approach
More tricky than wing sometimes! as more difficult to stabilise
Immobilize leg as soon as possible- XRAY once stable
Ideally, orthopedic surgery for femoral and tibiotarsal
fractures
Different splinting techniques for a bird leg fracture:
Femur – difficult to stabilize hip joint, require surgery
Tibiotarsum – lateral splint with lightweight material
Tarso-metatarsum – lateral splint or tape splint (birds <
150g)
Digits – cage rest (small birds), ball bandage or snowshoe splint.
How do we approach wounds/ bit wounds?
Consider sedation/GA for wound examination/management
Flush with sterile Saline 0.9%
Remove any necrotic tissue
Cover wound with hydrocolloid gel, Manuka honey or Silver sulfadiazine creams
Wet-to-dry dressing or non-adhesive dressing applied
Most wounds are contaminated/infected – healing by 2nd intention, do not suture – would be enclosing bacteria in skin
Analgesia + Antibiotics (specially if bite wounds) – Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid
Not beta lactams in – rodents and rabbits xx
Severe or extensive wounds might require euthanasia Fishhooks and tangled material
