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Wildlife admitted for care and rehabilitation suffer from various
problems, including dehydration, emaciation, injuries, diseases,
parasites, stress or combinations thereof. It is imperative that
a rehabilitator undergo training
so that she or he is able to recognize and treat problems appropriately.
It is equally imperative that a wildlife rehabilitator work with
a supporting veterinarian who can examine, treat and medicate animals,
offer guidance and share up-to-date medical information and protocols.
In many countries, it is illegal for an individual who is not a
trained and licensed veterinarian to medicate wildlife or perform
any intrusive procedures.
To learn about the injuries and diseases of wildlife and other
subjects that relate to their medical care, choose a topic from
the right-hand menu. While the information offered herein is meant
to be informative, there is no acceptable substitute for proper
medical training, hands-on experience under the supervision of an
experienced and permitted rehabilitator and/or veterinarian, and
supervised internship under the guidance of wildlife professionals.
Injured and/or orphaned wildlife that have been captured and are
in captivity always suffer from stress. Stress is defined as anything
that is out of the ordinary, and stressors include pain, shock,
fear, capture, handling, transport, noise, heat, cold, lack of food
and/or water, injury, disease, parasites, foreign odors, strange
surroundings, unaccustomed food, and separation from family/conspecifics.
If the animal's life is in danger from bleeding, poisoning, choking,
convulsions, etc. treat the problem immediately. If the animal's
life is not in danger, allow it time to become calmer before examining
it.
- Stem bleeding and attend to any other life-threatening conditions.
This may be facilitated by calming the animal (as in step 2, below).
Do not feed an animal or give oral fluids to an animal that is
not fully conscious, or is cold or convulsing. Attend to the problems
by degree of urgency (e.g. stem bleeding or administer treatment
if animal is poisoned, choking, etc.) Then warm, rehydrate, and
medicate if indicated, as below.
If step 1 is unnecessary or has been accomplished:
- If possible, hood or blindfold the animal; many mammals and
birds become more relaxed when they are in the dark. Be sure that
the animal has plenty of air!
- Talk as little as is necessary and as softly as possible, and
do not play the radio, television or music
- Do not make eye contact with the animal.
- Handle it only as much as is absolutely necessary.
- If the animal is ill, injured, wet, thin, emaciated, dehydrated,
weak, shivering or very young, offer it warmth (e.g. brooder lamp,
incubator, etc.) If the animal is overheated, however, cool it.
This must be accomplished before food, fluids, or medications
are administered.
- Check the animal for dehydration, and rehydrate it before medicating
or feeding. Dehydrated animals cannot process food, and may die
if fed or, in some cases, if medicated.
- If the animal is emaciated, food must be introduced very carefully,
or the animal may die. Follow an established emaciation
protocol that is tailored to the nutritional requirements
of the species.
Initial treatment may well determine the animal's fate.
Rehabilitation manuals that address examination, triage, rehydration,
emaciation and wound management include:
IWRC
Skills 1AB Manual
NWRA
Principles of Wildlife Rehabilitation
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