wildlife initial care
TRANSCRIPT
Wildlife Initial Care
Helene Van Doninck DVM
Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Sept 24, 2015
COBEQUID WILDLIFE
REHABILITATION CENTRE
Cobequid Wildlife Rehab Centre
• Located in Nova Scotia, Canada
• Non-profit reg charitable organization
• Volunteer-operated organization
Variety of Species
Rehabilitation Details
• Rehabilitation Permits
• ~300 animals rehabilitated each year
• 90% birds.
• Special interest in raptors, seabirds, oiled wildlife, lead poisoning in wildlife
Mission Statement
• To provide veterinary
care and rehabilitation
to injured, orphaned
and sick wildlife
Mission Statement
• To release
rehabilitated wildlife
into suitable habitat
Mission Statement
• Through education, to
increase public
awareness and concern
for wildlife and the
environment
Our Policies
• Minimal Human Contact
• Education and Advocacy
• High Quality Veterinary Care
• Sharing of Data/Collaboration
– NA Database
Why Do Animals Come to Us?
Most Due to Human Interaction
Most Common Reasons For
Admission
• Hit by car
• Caught by cat
• Hit Window
• Poisoned ( LEAD)
• Orphaned
• Assumed Orphaned
• Starvation
• Intolerance of
homeowner
• Oil Contamination
• Unknown Injury
• Shot
History
• Where/when was it found?
• Major clues to etiology
• Names of people in contact
• Care given?
• How was it captured (myopathy)?
• Medical care?
• Fed, watered?
Know your Species
• Is this a species at risk
( SAR)?
• Look it up
• Take photos
• Connect with wildlife
officials, birders, etc.
Species at Risk
Safety
Safety
• Use your PPE
• Gloves
• Eye Protection
• Exposed skin covered
if necessary
Capture
• Species specific
• Protect yourself
• Protect the patient, do no harm
Capture of Birds
• Drop towel over and scoop
• Secure feet if those are of concern
• Locate head through towel and secure
• Body grip, maintain control of head
• Secure wings
• Keep head covered
• Anticipate struggle, be ready for it
Try not to Damage Feathers!
Flight and tail feathers in particular
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey - Safety
• Good gloves and a blanket/towel/net
• Drop blanket over bird and find feet first
• Must get out of net – can be hard
• Eagles- Face/eye protection and heavy
clothes
• All will flip on their back and present talons
when cornered
Birds of Prey - Safety
• Feet usually primary
concern
• Many will bite – Eagle
• Talon release
mechanism
• Need to straighten leg
to make let go!
Getting a Raptor out of a Box
• Containers that open from the top are best
• Slowly open top and drop blanket over
• Secure FEET first
• Secure wings with arms
• Cover head
• Front open boxes, secure feet first
Restraint - Birds
• Use towels/blankets
• Remember they have no diaphragm, no
death grips
• Invest in good gloves, don’t be a hero
Safety
Carry in Normal Position
Restraint
Never Tape or Cork Beak
• Use good head control
instead
• Grip at base of jaw
• Interferes with resp
• May Regurg
• Some seabirds have
minimal external nares
Mammals
Mammals - Small
• Nets, twist to secure
• Towels
• Good gloves
• Locate and secure head if you can
• Many wild mammals don’t have much of a
scruff
Initial Assessment
• Emergency ABCs apply to wildlife too.
• Full physical exam immediately might not
be in the animal’s best interest if it is
severely stressed.
• Deal with life threatening conditions first
• May need some warm/dark/quiet before
exam
The Big Picture
• Is this animal releaseable?
• If not releaseable, are there other options?
• Full physical exam, don’t get distracted by
the obvious
Physical Exam
Physical Examination
• Assess TPR
• Bird Normal Temp 40C ( 104F)
• Mammals – depends on size 37.8-39.5
• Assess Hydration
• Assess Physical Condition
• Head to Toe Exam
Assessing Hydration - Birds
• Dry or no droppings
• Eye Appearance
• PCV
• Birds- Check skin over breast muscle
• Wrinkled abdomen skin
• Ropey saliva
• Babies may not gape
Assessing Hydration
• Assume any animal down for a few days is
dehydrated
• If in doubt, treat for dehydration
Assessing Hydration - Mammals
• Same as domestics
• Skin not as loose
• Skin tent
• Tacky mucous
membranes
• Sunken eyes
Assess Hydration
• Sunken eyes
• Excessive skin
wrinkles
• Turtles float/unable to
submerge themselves
Cloacal Temperature
• Cloaca is very shallow
• Do not advance
thermometer in too far
• Normal 40C or 104F
Weight and BCS
• Average weights depend on geography, age
and season
• Look up average weight
• BCS – Body Condition Scoring
• Consider overall health of the animal
• Feel through fur for ribs and spine of
mammals, know normals
How can you assess body condition in birds?
• Need to actually handle the bird to assess
breast muscle condition
• Regional weight charts can be a general
guide but must be coupled with breast
muscle assessment
Weight and BCS - Birds
• Breast Muscle Evaluation
• Can’t assess BCS without hands on exam
• Know species differences - i.e. diving birds
Body Condition Scoring
• Do with every animal
• Scale of 1-5, 5 is good condition, not obese
• Prognostic indicator, birds in particular who
have lost 30% or more of body weight are
hard to save
Assessment of Breast Muscle
• Normal breast tissue in
birds should be plump
and the keel bone
should not be prominent
• Some species variation
in loons and diving
birds, more
aerodynamic
Body Condition
Emaciation
Examine Mouth
• Look for signs of
trauma
• Parasites
• Fish hooks
Check Reflexes
• Most are the same as
domestic animals but
might not be as
obvious
• No consensual PLR in
birds
• Birds have voluntary
control over iris
muscles
Fundic Exam
Examine Ears
• Useful to examine the
caudal surface of the
eyes
• Visualize bruising,
fractures, hemorrhage
Parasites
• Parasites are common
• More numerous on
immunocompromised
animals
• Some are species
specific, some are not
External Parasite Control
• Lice are most common ( anemia and ick
factor)
– Pyrethrin spray 0.2% ( spray gauze and apply
strip down back, front, axillas, groin
– Ivermectin
• Hippoboscids ( flat flies)
– Pyrethrin spray
External Parasite Control
• Fleas
– Many commercial products
– Revolution on mammals
• Ticks
• Mites
Maggots
Maggots
• Capstar- Nitenpyram
• Can be devastating to wounds and lead to
septic shock
Internal Parasites
Palpate Crop
• Stasis is not
uncommon
• Window strikes and
other trauma can have
ruptured crop
• Crop is not hard to
repair, find a vet who
will do this.
Assess Legs and Wings
• Assess on exam
• Observe remotely
• Drooping may not be
apparent
• Balance issue
Observe for Symmetry
Birds Bruise Green
Uropygial Gland
Always Check The Feet
Examples of Criteria for Euthanasia
• Loss of use of one foot in a bird
• Fractures involving a joint
• Dead exposed bone
• Loss of any complete part of a wing bone in
birds
– Connect with officials on placement
possibilities, especially if SAR
Placement may be an option for some
animals
Contact wildlife officials
Categories
Recently injured but healthy
otherwise
Categories
Acute injury with Shock
Acute Injury
Categories
Chronic illness/injury leading to
starvation, dehydration, shock
Barred Owl
Shock
• Response of the body to insufficient
oxygenated blood to all regions of the body
• Triggers fight or flight
• Pools blood/resources to core and neglects
extremities
Shock
• Happens for most of the same reasons seen
in domestics
• Treated similarly for the most part
Signs of Shock
• Non-responsive/unafraid/flat
• Pale gums
• Cold extremities
• Altered mentation (neuro)
• Severe emaciation /dehydration
Signs of Shock - Birds
• Same as in domestic animals
• Apparent lack of fear ( unless young)
• No struggling
• Fluffed feathers
• Head tucked under feathers for extended
periods
Great Horned Owl
Slowing the progress of shock
• Heat, #1 first aid recommendation
– Bird normal body temp is 40C or 104 F, don’t
be afraid to put the heat to them
• Fluids – route variable depending on
condition, IV generally the best
• Keep stress to a minimum
– Calm quiet transport and handling
Slowing the progress of shock
• Analgesics
• Oxygen
• Stop bleeding or other causes
• Covered transport to medical care ASAP
Analgesia
Analgesia
• Meloxicam
– Must be well hydrated
– Used in wide variety of species
• Buprenorphine
• Opioids
• Gabapentin
Analgesia
• Discuss protocols with your vet
• You will need a good relationship with your
vet to get analgesics, this takes time
• Analgesia is basic and necessary
• If it’s a condition that hurts you, it hurts
them
• Withholding pain meds to keep them from
“moving too much” is old school and
inhumane
Stress
• All wildlife are highly susceptible
• Quiet dim room, minimal talking, no direct
eye contact
• Cover head for procedures, use GA when
necessary
• Keep away from high traffic areas if
possible
Emergency Care
Emergency Care
• ABCs as with any other patient
• Heat
• Fluids ( IV preferably, SQ second)
• Emergency drugs
– Pain Meds ( metacam, buprenorphine)
Fluid Administration
Think Butterfly Catheters
IV Fluid Therapy
• Butterflies are wonderful for fluid admin
• Often a repeated bolus, most won’t tolerate
a catheter
• 50-90 ml/kg/d total, divided into 2-3
boluses
Basilic or Wing Vein
• Best Spot for Fluid
admin in most birds
• Follow up closer to
axilla
• Use a butterfly
• Calc 50-100 ml/kg
• Give 1/3 of this as a
bolus, SLOWLY
Median Metatarsal Vein
• Most prominent in
waterfowl and
seabirds
• Hold in normal
sternal position with
head covered
Venipuncture with Less Stress
Venipuncture with Less Stress
Subcutaneous Fluids - Birds
• Groin, can use both
• 50 ml/kg ( 25ml/kg in each groin pocket)
• Beware of air sacs, don’t go too deep
• Never over scapulae in birds
Subcutaneous Fluids - Mammals
• Typically loose skin between shoulder
blades on the back
• Guidelines for amounts, but skin shouldn’t
feel tight
Oral Fluids
• Must be able to hold head upright
• Generally placing fluids into crop or
proventriculus
• Watch for swallow motion on admin
• Kink tube on withdrawal
• Watch for double back of tube
• Typical volume is 3-5% BW for birds
Crop Tubing
Crop Tubes
Owls Do Not have a Crop
Never tape or cork beak…EVER
Never Tape or Cork Beak
• Use good head control
instead
• Grip at base of jaw
• Interferes with resp
• May Regurg
• Some seabirds have
minimal external nares
Initial Nutrition
• Animals will be admitted in various states
– Clinically normal
– Acutely injured but otherwise healthy
– Chronic injury
– Chronic injury/issue with starvation or
emaciation
• All have different nutrition requirements
Initial Nutrition
• Must be species specific
• Many animals won’t be fed in the first 24
hours until hydration status is corrected and
medical issues/shock are treated
• Emaciation?
Species Specific Nutrition
• Look up what they normally eat
• There is no “generic” bird diet
• Best to have a variety of items on hand if
you see wildlife regularly
• May need to go shopping
Trophic Categories
• Carnivore
• Granivore
• Omnivore
• Insectivore
• Piscivore
• Frugivore
• Aerial Insectivore
Nutrition in Clinic
• Think of how they normally eat
• Will often not eat in your presence
• Unless you are set up to house properly
after medical needs are addressed, best to
transfer
General Considerations
• Species
• Time of year ( GI bact will be different)
• Body condition/emaciation
Caloric Requirements
• Formula
• Kcal/24 hours = Taxonomic constant x (wt
in Kg)0.75 x 1.5 x Physiologic factors
• Should work this out especially for animals
not gaining weight
• Weigh regularly
Calculating Kcal/24 hours
• Taxonomic constant x (wt in Kg)0.75 x 1.5 x
Physiologic factors
• This formula is more easily understood
broken down into steps
Formula Breakdown
• Taxonomic constant x (wt in Kg)0.75 • BMR ( Basal metabolic Rate)
• BMR x 1.5 • MMR (Maintenance Metabolic Rate)
• Kcal/24 hr = MMR x physiologic factors
Taxonomic Constants
• Non-passerine birds 78
– eagles, grouse, gulls, usually over 100g
• Passerines 129
– Songbirds etc under 100g
Formula Breakdown
• Taxonomic constant x (wt in Kg)0.75 • BMR ( Basal metabolic Rate)
• BMR x 1.5 • MMR (Maintenance Metabolic Rate)
• Kcal/24 hr = MMR x physiologic factors
Physiologic Factors
• Physical inactivity – 0.7-0.9
• Growth – 1.5-3.0
• Starvation – 0.5-0.7
• Sepsis, burns, bact infection – 1.2-2
• Mild trauma, elective Sx – 1.0-1.2
• Severe Trauma – 1.1-2.0
• Head injuries – 1.0-2.0
Caloric Requirements
• Formula
• Taxonomic constant x (wt in Kg)0.75 x 1.5 x
Physiologic factors = Kcal/24 hours
Handfeeding/Force Feeding
• May be necessary after stabilization
• Can be done easily with whole fish, mouse
pieces etc
• Use forceps unless you are very
comfortable around beaks
Presentation Matters
• Fish in water?
• Whole fish ( head on and not gutted)
• Whole bodies ( think mice not steak)
• Mealworms
• Berries on branches
• Leaf Litter
Temporary Nutrition
• Most songbirds classified as seed or insect eaters
• All nestlings eat insects initially so protein important
• ***Tip for small animal vet clinics***A/D or Kitten Growth Formulas can be used for a temporary diet(add 900 mg Ca carbonate to A/D)
• All meat diets are seriously deficient for any species
• Proper calcium :phosphorus ratios important, especially during growth phase.(2:1)
Nutrition
• Species specific
• Most animals won’t be fed in the first 24
hours until hydration status is corrected and
shock is treated
Emaciation
Extreme weight loss and thinness due
to loss of subcutaneous fat and
muscle throughout the body
Emaciation/ Severe Dehydration
Do not feed!
How can you Assess Emaciation?
• Mammals – often obvious by rib and spine
exposure, often need to feel through coat
• Birds
– Very difficult without detailed hands on
assessment
– Normal weight comparison not trustworthy
Emaciation Protocols
• Feeding an emaciated animal too soon will
kill it, plain and simple.
• Emaciation protocols are especially vital to
save thin and weakened birds
Emaciation Protocols
• Rehydration first, IV if possible
• Oral fluids
• Elemental diet like Lafeber Emeraid
• A/d or other species specific highly
digestible tube or oral feeding slurry
Tube Feeding Formulas
Emaciation Protocols
• Muscle meat
• Chopped whole Diet
• Whole diet small amounts
• May take days before solid food is
introduced
• Watch hydration and thermoregulation
Emeraid
• Omnivore
• Herbivore
• Carnivore
• Piscivore
Other Tube Feeding Formulas
• Kaytee Exact
• A/d
• Recovery Diet – Royal Canin
• Oxbow
• Custom species specific mixes
– Contact a vet with wildlife experience, rehab
centre or zoo
Emaciation Protocols - Raptors
• Rehydration
• Oral fluids
• Elemental diet i.e. Emeraid
• Muscle meat
• Chopped whole Diet
• Whole diet small amounts
• May take days before solid food is
introduced
• Watch hydration and thermoregulation
Emaciation Protocols – Other Species
• Rehydration
• Oral fluids
• Elemental diet i.e. Emeraid
• Highly digestible species appropriate
portions of regular diet
• Chopped whole diet small freq amounts
• Whole diet
When to progress to the next level?
• Monitor fecal output, weight, hydration
• First 10% weight gain is rehydration
• Do the feces look exactly like the food?
• Odour?
• Starting to look like feces?
• Once processing current diet, take it to the
next level.
Avian Anesthesia
Avian Anesthesia
• Inhalant is safest for most procedures
• Premed for painful procedures
• It’s not that hard, REALLY!
• Place non-cuffed ET tube but watch closely
post tubing
• May just have to mask some birds
Anesthetic Recovery
• Hold them until they
can stand if possible
• Keep warm
• Provide U-towel if
you can’t stay with
them
• Place in sternal
recumbency
Avian Radiography
• Preferably under anesthesia
• May be possible to do quick survey rads on
a moribund bird for prognostic purposes
• Multiple view very important
Avian Fracture Healing Considerations
• Birds heal much faster than mammals
• Often hardware out in 3-4weeks
• Prolonged immobilization can result in
permanent damage
Avian Bandaging
• Fracture stabilization
• Wound care/protection
• Feather care/protection ( tail sheath)
Avian Bandaging
• Many should be done under anesthetic
• Remember pain control
• Birds are not feathered dogs or cats
– Think healing time and patagium
Try not to Damage Feathers!
Flight and tail feathers in particular
Avian Fracture Healing Considerations
• Birds heal much faster than mammals
• Often mostly healed in 3 weeks
• Prolonged immobilization can result in
permanent damage
Temporary Fracture Immobilization
• Must immobilize the joint above and
below the fracture
• Should prevent a closed Fx from becoming
and open Fx
• Should decrease pain
• Should decrease contamination risk
Wing Wraps/Body Wraps
• Should be done under anesthesia
• Not too tight, approximate normal position
• Suitable to rest wing for soft tissue healing,
non-displaced radius OR ulna fractures,
coracoid and scapula fractures
• Patagium function must be preserved
• Physio at least Q3d, under GA initially
The Patagium
The Patagium
Avian Wound Care
• Very thin skin and sparse soft tissue
• Don’t bandage easily
• Keep moist and clean, lavage is great
• Tegaderm rules!
• Wound gels, honey, sugar
• C+S like anything else
• Wet-dry bandages with boot lace sutures
Wing Wrap
Body Wrap
Foot Ball Bandage
Masking Tape Splint
Toe Splint
Masking Tape Splint
Altman Splint
Altman Splint
Waterfowl “socks”
Bumblefoot
Selected Topics
Window Strikes
Window Strikes
• Very common
• Have seen some with no deep pain response
turn around in 24 hours
• Heat, quiet, subdued light, meloxicam,
fluids, postural support
• www.flap.org
Peregrine Falcon – Window Strike
Husbandry of Seabirds
• Maintaining waterproofing imperative
• Foot care
• Feather care, prevent soiling
• Stress
• Aspegillosis
• Feeding behaviour
Overflow Pools
Bumblefoot
Oiled Wildlife
• This is a 1-2 day course normally
• Multi-factorial involvement in oiled wildlife
management
• Don’t worry about getting oil off initially
• Stabilization most important
• Heat, IV Fluids, GI protectant, food
Zoonotic Disease
• Aspergillosis
– Eagles, falcons, loons, waterfowl, seabirds
– Bedding major issue
– Prophylactic meds may be indicated
• Rabies
• Psittacosis
Imprinting
Eyes not open?
• Beware of imprinting
• Transfer ASAP
• Shouldn’t see human
faces as first visual
Avoiding Imprinting
Puppets Mirrors
Upside Down Heads - Torticollis
Boreal Owl - Anisocoria
Avian Wound Care
• Very thin skin and sparse soft tissue
• Don’t bandage easily
• Keep moist and clean, lavage is great
• Tegaderm rules!
• Wound gels, honey, sugar
• C+S like anything else
• Wet-dry bandages with boot lace sutures
Subcutaneous Emphysema
• Common in birds that have had trauma
• Can be puncture, air sac rupture, or fracture
• Often self limiting unless up around neck
and acting like a pneumothorax
Subcutaneous Emphysema
Lessons Learned
• Deciding when to switch to oral liquids
• Oiled wildlife wash timing
• Not feeding emaciated wildlife
Brood Patch
Husbandry
• Species specific and aimed at decreasing
stress
• Minimum standards documents
• Main part of veterinary hospitals are not a
great place for long term rehab unless
species specific housing can be designed
• Best to do medical stabilization and transfer
if possible to rehabilitation centre
Husbandry
• Cleanliness imperative
• Never use shavings, straw, wood fibre with
birds
• Appropriate perching/nutrition to prevent
bumblefoot
Semipalmated Plover
Orphaned Waterfowl
Orphaned Waterfowl
• Give a mirror
• Get with conspecifics ASAP
• Taxidermy mount?
• Shallow dish of water
• Mealworms to encourage eating
Cat Predation
Cat Predation
• Vigorous flushing helps
• Antibiotics are indicated if in a cat mouth,
punctures are hard to find
• Analgesia
Lead Poisoning
Lead Poisoning
• Any scavenging species
• Most common in eagles, loons, waterfowl,
ravens, crows
• All eagles in particular should be tested,
xrays not diagnostic
Radiographs not Diagnostic for Lead
Birds that Strand on Dry Land
• Loons
• Cormorants
• Pelagic seabirds
– Alcids (Murres, Dovekies)
– Petrels
Loons Out of Water Need Help
Release
• Self feeding
• Waterproof
• Acclimatized to temperatures
• Fully recovered
• Adult – near where it was found
• Young – Able to forage for approp diet
• Mouse school?
Release
Is this animal releaseable?
If you aren’t sure, connect with
someone who can help
Top 10 Reasons to Work with Wildlife
10. They are awesome
9. Education/Learning Opportunity
8. Public Relations
7. They matter!
6. Species Preservation/Conservation
- Common species?
- SAR ( each one can matter)
Top 10 Reasons to Work with Wildlife
5. They have few options for care, you may be
the only chance they have
4. 95% + are brought in due to human
interaction
3. People want something done
2. You get to do what is needed, your choice
Top 10 Reasons to Work With Wildlife
#1 NO OWNERS
Questions?
Questions?