Wildlife is likely to fall into one or more categories:
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Those that have an infectious or parasitic disease (e.g. tuberculosis, louse infestation), |
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Those that have an injury (e.g. a broken wing), |
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Those that have been poisoned, intentionally or accidentally, |
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Those that have been electrocuted or burnt, (e.g. on power-lines or in a fire), |
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Those that are oiled or have other chemical damage, |
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Those that are, or appear to be, orphaned, |
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Those that have been displaced for some reason, (e.g. birds that fly off-course during a storm). |
| Several questions should be asked when dealing with a wildlife casualty: |
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When and where was it found? |
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What species is it? Some species of birds in particular are protected by legislation and steps may need to be taken to inform the Department of Conservation and gain a permit to rehabilitate this animal. HOWEVER, if the animal is in pain or suffering in any way, or needs immediate care, I personally wouldn't wait until someone gets out the rubber stamp behind an office desk. Get the priorities right.
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Do you have the necessary facilities and staff to deal with this animal? Some species — birds in particular, e.g. penguins, harrier hawks etc, require a great deal of individual attention whereas others, e.g. hedgehogs are less demanding. |
| From the outset it is necessary to determine whether it is in the animals best interests to embark on care and treatment — this can be a difficult decision. The most important factors to consider are: |
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Is the animal so unwell / injured that the odds of survival are poor and it is in severe pain? |
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If the animal is likely to survive, will it be possible to return it to the wild when recovered? This must be the aim of treatment of all wildlife casualties. |
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If it cannot be rehabilitated in the wild, can it be properly retained in captivity. Will it have a reasonable quality of life? |
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Although the treatment of wildlife is challenging and stimulating, this must not be allowed to obscure the fact that the kindest approach to some casualties is euthanasia. If in doubt, take it to the Vet. |
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Keep proper records of species, date of arrival, diagnosis, treatment, outcome, prognosis. |
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Carry out all handling, examination and treatment with care — wild animals are easily stressed. |
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Remember that nursing plays a very important part in the care of wild animals. Warmth, fluids and feeding coupled with attention to wounds and discharges will often go a long way towards keeping the patient alive and facilitating recovery. |
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Getting the animal to eat voluntarily can prove difficult and needs a lot of patience. Force feeding may be necessary initially. |
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Rehabilitation and release can prove time consuming, difficult, and sometimes impossible. Help can be obtained from people who specialise in wildlife care. |
Pain assessment and welfare considerations:
It is safe to assume that what is painful for a human is painful for an animal. It is helpful to consider this aspect of welfare under the following headings:
Pain is a physical phenomenon with which all humans are familiar. Pain can be acute or chronic, mild, moderate or severe.
Discomfort is also a physical phenomenon but is milder than pain and may only be an inconvenience or irritation to the animal, e.g. a piece of bandage that has become loose and makes it difficult for the animals to walk or to lie down comfortably.
Distress is a psychological phenomenon and may be associated with pain or discomfort, or can be entirely distinct. It occurs, for example, when a mother is separated from her young, or a social animal is kept alone. These and other stressors can cause stress in an animal.
There are many ways a care-giver can contribute to the relief of pain, discomfort and distress in wildlife.
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Ensure the animal receives the best possible care in terms of good feeding, handling and general management. |
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Provide an environment that is appropriate to both the species and the particular individual e.g: |
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Animals that like to burrow such as hedgehogs should be permitted to do so, even if it is artificially induced burrowing,
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Social species should not be kept alone, |
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Species that fight or strongly challenge one another should not be kept together. |
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Attend promptly to wound, infections and other problems. This must include supportive care (e.g. cleaning ocular discharges and hand feeding) as well as specific therapies. |
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Make appropriate changes to management, e.g. use rubber mats to reduce pain and minimise further damage to a rabbit with sore hocks or a wading bird with bumble foot. |
Pain relief should be part of any therapy
The question of euthanasia must never be overlooked if pain is severe or quality of life compromised. Pain assessment is made subjectively, clinically and on responses.
Subjectivity is probably a good guide. If under similar circumstances a human would be in pain, assume the animal is also. Thus if any species is not eating or lethargic after surgery, assume post-op pain as one of the likely causes.
Clinical indications: (These may be general) — loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, dehydration, (or may be specific to the species) — e.g. rats failing to groom, rabbits head pressing against a cage wall. Experience of the normal behaviours of the species assists the assessment of pain, discomfort and distress.
Responses: If in doubt, tend to stress and pain and see if there is a response, e.g. pain relief v's none. The Bach Flower essences, even if you just have Rescue Remedy, can may a big difference for the immediate relief of stress and pain. This can be applied in the drinking water or directly into the mouth via a dropper or syringe.
Common Problems and Diseases
Diseases of exotic species can be infectious or non infectious. Often there is an overlap and many apparently infectious diseases (e.g. respiratory conditions in rabbits, foot infections in birds) are due to, or precipitated by, poor management or an inadequate diet.
Zoonoses — A disease of animals: Clinically refers to disease of animals that may be transmitted to humans.
Some zoonotic diseases are common to a wide range of species, e.g. Salmonella can be acquired from animals ranging from ferrets to frogs.
Animals with zoonotic infections need not show clinical signs of disease as they may be incubating the disease or carrying the organism without displaying symptoms.
Tick diseases include:
Campylobacter, Chlamydia, Equine encephalomyelitis, Morbillivirus.
| Be aware: |
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That such infections exist and that apparently healthy animals can transmit them. |
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Reduce unnecessary exposure to animals that may be a source of zoonoses. |
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This may involve not handling an animal unnecessarily, or ensuring that it cannot scratch / bite when it is handled. |
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Practising good hygiene so that infections are less likely to spread. Handwashing and other standard safeguards are usually adequate. |
Oiled Wildlife
Birds preen and swallow oil, this damages their intestine and they die from dehydration and shock. Thin birds passing oil will usually die.
Priority is to treat shock with warmth, food and fluids:
• Wrap in dry cloth with head and feet protruding — prevents struggling and preening,
• Confine in a warm draught free area,
• Change lining frequently,
• Begin feeding and fluids tube if necessary,
• Seabirds feet need frequent hand cream applications to prevent drying.
Cleaning the plumage — the aim is to retain the water repellant properties of the plumage.
Prepare 1% mild dishwashing solution @ 40-45 degrees C.
Immerse bird up to neck for 10 seconds massage all oiled parts use soft brush on head transfer to similar bath(s) until all oil has been removed rinse off with warm water thoroughly remove all oil and detergent to allow water proofing dry off and keep in warm draught free area for at least 2 hours before transferring outside house in shelter for 3 days ensure access to water when the plumage is observed to be waterproof the bird can be released.
Homoepathic Tx: Treat for shock, useful remedies include Aconite, Arnica, Camphor, Opium,Carbo veg, depending on the cause of the shock and the condition of the animal. Treat for toxicity e.g. Nux vom, Okoubaka.
Herbal Support: Treat gut if neccessary with a little Slippery Elm paste mixed into their food. Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy. |
