Wildlife Triage + Rehabilitation Flashcards
What is the main area of action in wildlife medicine?
First aid of wildlife casualties
What are laws directly affecting veterinary surgeons?
*Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
◦ Only registered Vets can practice Veterinary Medicine
◦ Exceptions: RVNs, Veterinary Students
*Animal Welfare Act 2006
◦ Applies to domestic animals and wild animals while under captive care
*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
*Animal Health Act 1981
◦ Regulates the control of some notifiable diseases (eg TB, Avian flu, Rabies)
What are common wild bird species seen?
Waterfowl
Swans
Buzzards
Kestrels
Owls
Magpies
Crows
What are common small / garden birds seen?
Pidgeon
Blue tits
Robins
Finches
What are common wild mammal species seen?
Hedgehogs
Foxes
Rabbits
Bats
Squirrels
Wild deer
What is the goal of rehabiliatation?
*Ultimate goal:
= return that patient to the wild, with normal physical and behaviour function.
*Main consideration = animal welfare and health
What needs to be done with telephone triage?
*Record species, location + main presentation
*Inform how to capture + transport
*Inform of possible health hazards to humans
What is the risk to humans of handling wildlife?
*Bites
*Scratches
*Antlers
*Toxic skin secretions
*Venomous species
*Zoonosis - rabies / TB
What is the risk to animals of handling wildlife?
*Iatrogenic trauma - skin + hair
- Tail slip
*Stress
*Disease transmission / cross contamination
*Imprinting + Behaviour change
What needs to be done when handling birds?
*Minimise pressure on chest
*Keep in upright position
*Avoid talons
*keep wings folded + controlled - towel
*CAn injure themselves badly if long legs
What needs to be done when handling bats?
Always wear latex gloves - risk of rabies
Why are adders relevant?
Venomous
What are distinguishing features of adders?
- Orange to red eye
- Vertical pupil
- Dark zig-zag dorsal pattern (but coloration varies)
When would you use gas anaesthesia?
Routine examination of Hedgehogs, large rodents + some avian patients
What would you use to sedate avian patients?
Midazolam + Butorphanol IM/intra-nasal
What would you give injectable anaesthesia to and how would you deliver it?
Mammals – Carnivores, Deer
Delivery:
◦ Crush cage
◦ Darts – special licenses required!
When would you consider euthanasia?
- 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
What % dehydration would most wild birds be when coming to practice?
10% dehydration
What is emergency treatment?
*Thermal support
*Oxygen
*Fluids - Maintenance fluid + Correct dehydration over 24-48hr
When are orphan birds seen?
Late winter (owls) to summer
What traumas are seen in wild birds?
*Head trauma
*Wing fractures
*Leg fractures
*Lacerations + bite wounds
What are the signs of head trauma in birds?
◦ Altered mentation
◦ Hemorrhage on oral cavity/ears
◦ Hyphema
◦ Anisocoria
◦ Facial paralysis (check head feathers)
What first aid care should you give for a head trauma?
*Dark, cool place
*Analgesia - meloxicam
What should be done with wing fractures?
Immobilize wing as soon as possible
-figure of 8 bandage / tape splint
What should be done with leg fractures?
Immobilize leg as soon as possible
-lateral / tape splint
What should be done with fractures once stable?
General anaesthesia + Radiographs
What should be done with wounds/bite 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
- Analgesia + Antibiotics (specially if bite wounds) – Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid
What birds are at an increased risk of getting lead poisoning?
*Swans
*Waterfowl - duck, geese
*Birds of prey
What are clinical signs of lead poisoning?
*Neurological signs
*Pale Mucous Membranes
*Hemoglobinuria
How is lead poisoning diagnosed?
*X-rays - metallic densities in GIT
*Lead blood levels - >0.02ppm
What are treatment options for lead poisoning?
◦ Calcium EDTA
◦ Penicillamine
◦ Supportive care
◦ Consider flushing/removing large lead pieces from GI tract
◦ Activated charcoal
What birds are at risk of getting botulism?
◦ Swans and other waterfowl
◦ Gulls and other aquatic birds
What are clinical signs of botulism?
◦ Progressive flaccid paralysis (+ neck muscles)
◦ Associated with high mortality
◦ Outbreaks can last several weeks
What is the treatment of botulism?
*Fluids
*Activated charcoal
*Supportive care
*Anti type-C toxoid serum
-Severe cases = euthanasia
What is the treatment of oiled birds?
- Supportive care (fluids, activated charcoal, bismuth subsalicylate)
- Provide supplemental heat
- Clean mucosas and eyes first with sterile Saline 0.9%
- Start prophylactic antifungals
- Remove oil from plumage (water 40 C + Fairy®)
- Remove detergent from plumage – soft warm water
- Dry plumage
- Restore feather structure
What are the zoonosis to be careful with in hedgehogs?
*Ringworm
*Salmonellosis
What is capture myopathy?
Intense muscle activity -> Tissue acidosis (Lactic acid) -> Metabolic acidosis
=Inflammation and muscle necrosis (incl. myocardium)
= Acute renal failure
What are risk factors of capture myopathy?
*Acute stress
*Capture / restraining
*High temp
What species are susceptible to capture myopathy?
*Deer
*Some waders
*Geese
*Cranes
What are the clinical signs of capture myopathy?
- Paresis
- Paralysis
- Ataxia
- Sudden death
What is the treatment of capture myopathy?
- Fluids
- Midazolam
- Vitamin E + Selenium?
- NSAIDs?
- Suspend patient in hammocks
What are viruses found in birds?
Avian flu
Avian pox
papillomatosis in finches
Paramyxovirus infections
What are the species of seal seen in the UK?
Common seal
Grey seal
What are the seal casualties brought in?
Usually pups - starvation, dehydration + trauma
Why is sedation + GA dangerous in seals?
They have a very strong diving reflex = will cause them to hold their breath
