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?