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Y3 MOD > Wildlife Triage and Rehabilitation > Flashcards

Wildlife Triage and Rehabilitation Flashcards

1
Q

What is the ultimate goal of rehabilitation?

A

Return that patient to the wild, with normal physical and behaviour function.

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2
Q

What is the main consideration of rehabilitation?

A

Animal welfare and health (other factors sometimes weigh in)

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3
Q

Questions to ask yourself in the initial assessment of wild life first aid?

A
  • Should I intervene?
  • How and when should I intervene?
  • Am I trained and my workplace equipped to treat this patient?
  • How likely it is a successful outcome?
  • 3 main decisions: Release, Provide first aid, Euthanasia
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4
Q

What are the considerations when placing an animal in captivity

A
  • Analgesia
  • Stress
  • Cross infections and Biosecurity
  • Changes in behaviour
  • Requirements in terms of enclosure, diet, repeated handling
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5
Q

What are the considerations when releasing an animal from captivity?

A
  • Pre-release general health check and disease screening
  • Release methods
  • Location and time of release
  • Season
  • Monitoring post-release
  • Ecosystems
  • Other wildlife impact
  • Domesticated animals
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6
Q

What are the main sources of wildlife casualty patients?

A
  • Members of the public
  • Charities working with wildlife (eg RSPCA)
  • Occasionally, specific wildlife projects
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7
Q

Describe telephone triage for a wildlife casualty patient

A
  • Record species, location and main presentation (eg injured, orphaned, etc)
  • Inform how to capture and transport the animal safely for both the human and animal
  • Inform of possible health hazards to humans (eg bites, zoonosis, etc)
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8
Q

Describe ideal transport containers for wildlife

A
  • Safe and escape proof
  • Stimuli and thermal isolation
  • Adequate ventilation
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9
Q

How are different wildlife transported?

A
  • Most species: cardboard boxes or pet carriers (covered)
  • Most carnivores (fox, badger): crush cages (covered)
  • Amphibians: plastic containers with some humidity
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10
Q

What are the most common casualties of wild animals?

A
  • Trauma
  • Natural
  • Orphaned animals
  • Poisoning
  • Infectious disease
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11
Q

What are the risks of handling animals to humans?

A
  • Bites
  • Scratches
  • Antlers (deer)
  • Toxic skin secretions (Amphibians)
  • Venomous species (adder)
  • Zoonosis:
    • Rabies/Lyssavirus
    • TB/Mycobacteriosis
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12
Q

What are the risks of handling animals to the animal itself

A 
- Iatrogenic trauma:
• Skin and hair
• Tail slip
- Stress
- Disease transmission/cross contamination  
- Imprinting and behaviour change
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13
Q

What equipment is needed to manually restrain and handle wild animals?

A
  • Latex gloves
  • Towels
  • Nets
  • Traps and other devices to safely capture/restrain wildlife
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14
Q

Which spp may require sedation/anaesthesia for examination?

A
  • Hedgehogs
  • Deer
  • Most carnivores
  • Large rodents
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15
Q

Which snake spp is venomous in the UK

A

Adder

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16
Q

What are the distinguishing features of adders?

A

Orange to red eye
Vertical pupil
Dark zig-zag dorsal pattern

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17
Q

What are the indications for sedation of avian pateints?

A
  • Routine clinical exam, sample collection, etc
  • Some species more prone to capture myopathy (eg cranes, bustards, etc)
  • Pre-medication for GA
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18
Q

What is used for avian sedation?

A

Midazolam and Butorphanol

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19
Q

What are the protocols for anaesthetising carnivore spp?

A
  • Ketamine + medetomidine. Reversed with Atipamezole
  • Ketamine + Midazolam. Reversed with Flumazenil
  • Can combine with Butorphanol
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20
Q

What are the considerations for anaesthetising deer?

A
  • Hyperthermia (>40° C)
  • Hypoxia (SO2 < 85%) – ideally should be >95%
  • Regurgitation
  • Capture myopathy
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21
Q

Which basic information should always be gathered?

A
  • Date and time
  • Species, age group (young vs adult), sex?
  • Finder’s contact details
  • Type of incident: orphan, injured, RTA, etc
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22
Q

Consider euthanasia of wildlife casualties for the following cases:

A
  • Imminent death
  • Extensive trauma +/- exposure of internal organs
  • Severe emaciation
  • Exposed fractures (specially birds)
  • Severe or extensive myiasis (maggots)
  • 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
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23
Q

What can be assessed whilst a patient is still in the carrier?

A
  • Mental status and activity
  • Abnormal behaviour
  • Gait and posture
  • Signs of dyspnoea/respiratory disease
  • Obvious lesions
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24
Q

What needs to be examined during the clinical exam of wild birds?

A
  • 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
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25
Q

What needs to be examined during the clinical exam of wild mammals?

A
  • 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
26
Q

What needs to be examined during the clinical exam of wild reptiles/amphibians?

A
  • Consider minimal exam/clear plastic container
  • Weight and BCS
  • Integument
  • Oral cavity and MMs
  • HR - doppler or direct observation (amphibians)
  • Coelomic palpation
  • Musculo-skeletal exam
27
Q

What are the main signs of severe dehydration in birds?

A
  • Cold extremities
  • Decreased corneal tension
  • dry mm with thick saliva
  • decreased CRT on ulnar vein
28
Q

Describe the routes of medication for birds

A

IV - ulnar vein, medial metatarsal vein
IM - pectoral
IO - distal ulna, proximal tibiotarsus
SC - intrascapular, flank

29
Q

Describe the routes of medication for reptiles

A

IV - ventral tail vein, intra-cardiac
IM - lumbar muscles, front limbs
IO - lizards: proximal tibia
SC - small volumes, limited

30
Q

What are the common presentations of shock in wildlife?

A
  • Blood loss and hypovolemia
  • Dehydration and emaciation
  • Poisoning
31
Q

What are they key points to note on the physical exam of a patient with shock?

A
  • Mental status (collapsed to quiet)
  • Hydration status (always assume 10-15% dehydration)
  • Temp (hypothermic)
  • Pain (might not show obvious signs)
32
Q

Describe the emergency treatment to give to shock patients

A
  • Thermal support
  • Oxygen supplementation
  • Fluids: bolus and maintenance
  • Correct dehydration
33
Q

What are some useful diagnostic tests for shock pateints?

A 
Bloods:
• PCV
• Total Proteins
• Blood smear
• Glucose +/- Urea
Radiographs:
• Specially on trauma cases
• Always under sedation/GA
• Only when patient stable
34
Q

Describe ongoing rehabilitation of wildlife key points

A
  • Limited contact with humans/other animals:
    • Biosecurity concerns
    • Stress
    • Changes in behaviour
  • Housing during treatment should meet the species requirements
  • Hospitalization area: ideally separated in avian, mammal and herp patients
  • Large outdoor enclosures
35
Q

Describe release of wild animals

A
  • Planning ahead release area:
    • Ideally same area where animal was found
    • Season and time of day
  • Pre-release general health-check and disease screening
  • Monitoring released animals
36
Q

How can different wild animals be monitored following release?

A
  • Birds – rings, wing marks, telemetry or GPS devices, data loggers, etc
  • Mammals – ID chip, telemetry colar
  • Reptiles – ID chip
  • Amphibians – not usually marked
37
Q

When would orphaned bird need examination/treatment?

A
  • Obvious trauma or lesions
  • Imminent risk of predation/injury
  • If still present on the same area after 12-24h
38
Q

Describe the initial approach to orphaned birds?

A
  • Provide supplemental heat
  • Once rewarmed provide fluids and supplemental feeding by crop tube
  • Reduce human contact to prevent imprinting and behaviour changes
39
Q

Name the different traumas that birds may present with

A 
Head trauma  
Wing fractures  
Leg fractures
Lacerations and bite wounds
Other less common trauma (luxation, spinal trauma, electrocussion)
40
Q

What are signs to look out for in birds with head trauma?

A
  • Altered mentation
  • Haemorrhage on oral cavity/ears
  • Hyphema (bleeding in the front (or anterior chamber) of your eye, between the cornea and the iris)
  • Anisocoria = unequal pupil size
  • Facial paralysis (check head feathers)
41
Q

What is given to provide analgesia in birds?

A

Meloxicam

42
Q

How are wing fractures managed?

A
  • Immobilize wing as soon as possible
  • Different splinting techniques:
    • Coracoid/Humerus – figure of 8 bandage + body tape
    • Radius/ulna – figure of 8 bandage
    • Carpus/metacarpus – tape splint
  • Once stable, GA + radiographs
  • Ideally, orthopaedic surgery to restore normal wing function
43
Q

How are leg fractures managed in wild birds?

A
  • Immobilize leg as soon as possible
  • More difficult to stabilize than wing fractures Different splinting techniques:
    • 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.
  • Once stable, GA + radiographs
  • Ideally, orthopedic surgery for femoral and tibiotarsal fractures
44
Q

What are the general principles of wound management?

A
  • 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
  • Analgesia + Antibiotics (specially if bite wounds) – Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid
45
Q

Which wild birds have an increased risk of lead poisoning?

A

Swans and waterfowl

Birds of prey

46
Q

What are the sources of lead?

A

Gun pellets left in the environment/game

47
Q

What are the clinical signs of lead poisoning?

A
  • Variety of neurologic signs
  • Pale mucus membranes
  • Haemoglobinuria
48
Q

How is lead poisoning diagnosed and treated?

A
  • X-rays: look for metallic densities on GI tract
  • Lead blood levels: significant if > 0.02ppm
    Treatment (options):
  • Calcium EDTA
  • Penicillamine
  • Supportive care
49
Q

What is the cause of botulism in wild birds?

A

Ingestion of toxin type C produced by Clostridium botulinum

50
Q

What are the clinical signs of botulism?

A
  • Progressive flaccid paralysis (+ neck muscles)
  • Associated with more or less high mortality
  • Outbreaks can last several weeks
51
Q

How is botulism treated?

A
  • Fluids
  • Activated charcoal
  • Supportive care
  • Anti-type C toxoid serum (not cost-effective)
  • Severe cases should euthanized
52
Q

Describe treatment for oiled birds

A
  1. Supportive care (fluids, activated charcoal, bismuth subsalicylate)
  2. Provide supplemental heat
  3. Clean mucosas and eyes first with sterile Saline 0.9%
  4. Start prophylactic antifungals
  5. Remove oil from plumage (water 40° C + Fairy®)
  6. Remove detergent from plumage – soft warm water
  7. Dry plumage
  8. Restore feather structure
53
Q

What are the common presentations for hedgehog casualties?

A
  • Trauma (eg RTA, bite wounds) – nasal trauma carries poor prognosis
  • Complicated wounds – necrotic tissue, infection, flystrike
  • Emaciation
  • Neonates
  • Respiratory disease – incl. hedgehog lungworm
  • Limb entrapment
  • SC emphysema
  • Accidental poisoning
54
Q

How must bats always be handled?

A

Always handle bats with latex + garden gloves due to risk of zoonosis

55
Q

What are common problems in bats?

A 
Trauma:
• Cat bites
• Wing tears and lacerations
• Fractures
- Entanglement
- Contamination (glue, oil) + chemical burns
- Intraspecific bites (during breeding season) + facial abscesses  
- Orphan pups
56
Q

What are common problems in foxes

A
  • Trauma (wounds, fractures)
  • Mange: Sarcoptes scabiei, potentially zoonotic!
  • Dental trauma (during capture/captivity)
  • Orphan pups
57
Q

Describe the pathophysiology of capture myopathy

A

Intense muscle activity -> Tissue acidosis (Lactic acid) -> Metabolic acidosis -> Inflammation and muscle necrosis (incl. myocardium) -> Acute renal failure

58
Q

What are the risk factors for capture myopathy?

A
  • Acute stress
  • Capture/restraining
  • High temperatures
59
Q

What are the clinical signs of capture myopathy?

A
  • Paresis
  • Paralysis
  • Ataxia
  • Sudden death
60
Q

How is capture myopathy treated?

A
  • Fluids
  • Midazolam
  • Vitamin E + Selenium?
  • NSAIDs?
  • Even aggressive treatment is frequently unrewarding
  • Consider euthanasia if not responding in 24h

Y3 MOD (23 decks)

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