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Environment
Animals that are in shock, weak, emaciated, injured or very ill
should not be kept outdoors. They should be protected from the elements,
their environment sheltered and warm. Comfortable, clean bedding
or substrates should be provided for those that require them.
Many animals will require supplemental heat. Temperature-controlled
incubators, brooder lamps or heating pads are effective. The animal
should be able to move away from the heat source if it so desires.
Lamps and heating pads must be used with caution, to ensure the
animal is not burned or overheated. A heating pad must be in good
condition, and the animal should not come in direct contact with
it. The pad should be wrapped in a thick layer of towel, and should
be used only on the "low" setting. If heating pads or
lamps are used, electrical cords must be kept away from the patient,
so that it cannot 'chew' wiring or become entangled.
Cleaning
If the animal has diarrhea or cannot move well, it must be cleaned
so that feces do not harden and prevent defecation or urination
or irritate the skin. Bedding or substrate should be cleaned if
damp or soiled.
Feeding
Never force feed an animal that is cold, dehydrated, emaciated,
in shock, convulsing, semi-conscious or unconscious. Stabilize and
warm it first, and treat shock or injuries. Rehydrate the animal;
if it is emaciated, follow emaciation protocol (see nutrition).
If the animal is capable of feeding itself, allow it to do so.
Offer food and water ad lib. If the animal cannot feed itself but
is capable of chewing/swallowing food, offer it pieces of food from
tweezers. If the animal cannot or will not eat, it may need to be
fed via feeding tube. Ensure that the feeding mixture has sufficient
water to meet the animal's fluid requirement and that the foods
used are natural to it. For example, a rabbit might be fed alfalfa
pellets that have been ground to powder and blended with water until
smooth. An insectivorous bird might be fed insects (corrected with
calcium) blended with water until smooth. A squirrel might be fed
acorns, peanuts and rodent blocks, blended with water until smooth.
A bird of prey might be fed blended defrosted mice, and so on.
Vitamin C should be added to all captive diets in appropriate amounts,
typically 50-100 mg/kg of food.
Specific and reliable information on the care of wildlife in rehabilitation
is not readily available on the Internet. There are a number of
rehabilitation manuals published in North America. Most are not
peer reviewed and information may range from poor to reliable.
A list of rehabilitation manuals can be viewed at http://www.wildliferehabtoday.com/
Behaviour
Small birds may peck at the ground in an effort to soothe themselves.
Some birds may seem depressed and huddle quietly. Others attempt
to hide. Signs of agitation or fear include ruffling of feathers
or flicking of the tail or wings, as well as repetitive attempts
to escape the housing. An aggressive bird may hunch forward in a
threatening posture, fanning its tail and/or opening its mouth.
For more information on psychology and behaviour, click here.
Stress
Birds are extremely sensitive to captive stress, since nearly all
species perceive humans as predators. Signs of stress in birds include
open-mouth breathing, 'clicking' related to breathing, and vocalizations
(screams, cries, etc.). Many birds, however, are silent when stressed.
The eyes may be wide open and fixed on one object, or the nictitating
membrane may go up. Heart rate and temperature increase. The bird
may experience diarrhea.
If the bird is too stressed to handle, it may help to dim the lights.
If the bird requires treatment, it will be calmer if it cannot see.
A hood or a hand across the eyes may be enough to relax it.
The cage should be in a very quiet place. It should be draped with
translucent material (e.g., bedsheet or paper towels) so the bird
can see to eat and drink but feel enclosed and safe. Cage cleaning
may be better left until late evening, when the bird is sleepy.
The stress of cleaning the cage of a perching bird can be minimized
if the walls and top a single piece separate from the bottom/floor.
The upper part can be gently moved to a new, clean substrate with
little disturbance to the occupant.
Follow the bird's natural sleep/wake cycle; remember that an owl,
for example, will be additionally stressed if it is fed or forced
into activity during the day.
Environment
If the bird is weak or injured and cannot perch at a normal height,
evaluate its abilities. If it is able to stand and its feet can
grip, offer it a low perch that allows the tail to clear the floor
of the enclosure. If the feet will not grip or if it is a species
that does not perch, a log, block of wood, box, or a rolled towel
can be used. Its substrate should mimic its natural substrate (e.g.
bark, grass, sand, gravel, etc.).
If the bird is not able to stand, reduce pressure on the keel by
creating a 'nest' of rolled towels to support it. Check the bird
frequently: a bird that cannot move normally or that cannot stand
may have trouble eliminating. The vent may become caked with feces,
and if feces are not removed, the bird may not be able to defecate
(with serious consequences). The vent, tail feathers and legs/feet
may be cleaned with a warm damp cloth or cotton swabs.
Feeding
If the bird is debilitated and cannot feed itself, it must be hand-fed.
Methods depend upon the problem the individual is experiencing.
In some cases, tube feeding is necessary. In other cases, small
pieces of food can be placed at the back of the throat. Care must
be taken to prevent food or water from entering the glottis.
Put food to the back of the throat, at the bird's right side. Solid
foods (e.g., pieces of fish, insects, pieces of fruit, etc. depending
upon species) may be placed in the mouth towards the back of the
throat. The bird must swallow the food before more is given.
Clean spilled foods from the feathers or bill as soon as the feeding
is complete. Hardened food can cause feather damage, skin irritation,
and can lead to bacterial infection. Use warm water and a clean
soft cloth or cotton swabs.
If the bird is able to self-feed but is not standing, place a shallow
feeding platter before it. Position the platter so that the bird
can reach the food comfortably. A shallow bowl for drinking water
should also be placed within easy reach.
For many species, even those for which live food is a minority
of the normal diet, moving prey (insects, earthworms, fish) is a
strong stimulus to eat.
Recovery
When the bird has recovered to the point where it does not require
supplemental heat, can stand and has enough control to roost or
perch, it can be graduated to a larger enclosure. The enclosure
should offer it a measure of privacy and enough room to move comfortably.
Substrate, roosts and perches should be natural, and of the type
the bird would use in nature. If it has impaired mobility, offer
food and water on the ground, in shallow dishes. A bird that is
in wing wrap or bandages, unsteady or that doesn't see well can
drown in very little water. Offer just enough water for drinking.
As the bird's condition improves and, if injured, it has regained
use of its wings and legs, dust baths, baths/pools, etc. can be
introduced.
When the bird is fully recovered, in good flesh and ready for flight
conditioning, it should be moved to an appropriately sized aviary,
weather and season permitting. A neotropical migratory bird cannot
tolerate cold, thus must be wintered indoors if it has missed migration.
The bird should be conditioned to the outdoors slowly so that it
can adapt to night temperatures. When the bird is conditioned to
the outdoors, begin to offer its natural diet, and foods that are
in season. Upon release, the bird must be digesting the foods it
will find in nature.
Behaviour
Signs of fear and aggression in mammals are species-specific. Animals
such as rabbits may freeze when they feel threatened, eyes staring
at one spot. They may tremble, pant, vocalize (cries, screams) and
some may cry. Signs of aggression include 'puffing up', foot stamping,
tails bristling or spreading, hackles or fur rising, growling and
other threatening vocalizations, spitting, snorting, head thrusting,
etc. The position and movement of the tail can be telling. An animal
that lowers its head or stamps its feet may be preparing to lunge
or charge.
Stress
Signs of stress are species-specific and may include trembling,
panting, elevated temperature and heart rate, crying/soft vocalizations,
huddling, dejection, depression and diarrhea. The animal may pace
or move about in stereotypical patterns, or lick or bite itself.
Environment
If the animal is weak or injured and cannot stand, it should be
bedded down. Depending upon species and the animal's size, this
may involve blankets, straw, towels, etc. If the animal is able
to stand, substrate should be as close to natural as possible. If
it is a species that normally nests, offer it a nesting box or pet
carrier with comfortable bedding.
Cleaning
Blood, urine, feces, vomit and food should be washed from the fur
with a damp warm cloth, so that it does not harden and cause fur
loss, skin irritation or allow bacterial growth. Do not soak the
fur, as the animal will become chilled. Clean bedding or substrate
frequently, and if straw is used, check the animal for ectoparasites.
Feeding
When the animal is able to self-feed but has not regained normal
movement, place shallow food and water dishes within reach and at
a suitable height. Diets must be based upon the animal's natural
foods, but it may be necessary to present the foods in such a way
that the animal can manage them. For example, a squirrel recovering
from a jaw injury would require pureed foods until the injury heals,
and it would be introduced to whole foods gradually.
Recovery
When the animal has recovered to the point where it does not require
supplemental heat, can stand and has enough control to move to food
and water, it can be graduated to a larger enclosure. The enclosure
should offer it a measure of privacy and enough room to move comfortably.
Substrate should be natural, and of the type the animal would use
in nature.
When the animal is fully recovered, in good flesh and ready for
exercise and conditioning, it should be moved to an appropriately
sized pen or enclosure, weather and season permitting. A species
that hibernates (e.g. bat, bear, chipmunk) or semi-hibernates (squirrel,
raccoon, etc.) will have to be provided with appropriate conditions
and release may have to be deferred until spring. If a mammal has
been in care for a short time and it is known without a doubt where
the animal originated, late fall or early winter release is possible.
However, if the animal's origin is not known, especially if it is
a species that 'stashes' food for winter (e.g. squirrel), release
should be deferred until natural foods are once again plentiful.
Prior to release, the animal's diet must include the foods that
are available in nature at the season of release.
The signs of stress in reptiles and amphibians are varied and species-specific.
They include lethargy, digging, snout banging, changes in skin colour,
changes in urination and defecation, changes in appetite, dehydration,
pale mouth, and other physiological changes.
Because of their permeable skin, an improper substrate or environment
can quickly kill amphibians.
Excellent information on all aspects of care can be found on the
following websites:
Melissa Kaplan's
Herp Care Collection
The
Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians
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