Care and rehabilitation
To reduce the risk of infection and injury to staff and stress to the patient , only essential staff who are capable and competent should handle the bird . Handling should be kept to a minimum and treatments grouped together as much as possible , as most wildlife species view humans as predators [ 21 ] – this allows the patient to remain undisturbed as much as possible , thereby reducing stress [ 9 ] .
The priority in wildlife care at the practice should always follow the same protocol : hydration , warmth and freedom from stress and pain are priorities , with stabilisation of breathing and circulation then paramount [ 16 ] . For most bird species , a quiet area that is free from the sounds and smells of predators , with appropriate food and water , is the minimum requirement for their admission [ 17 ] . Wire carriers or cages should be avoided due to the likelihood of causing wing damage [ 16 ] .
Avian body condition score ( BCS ) can be monitored in a similar way to that of mammals , using the keel prominence and pectoral muscle for scoring , rather than the spine . Alternatively , fat reserves can be reliably visualised by gently blowing the feathers away from the skin and noting the yellow fat deposits at the furcular depression and abdomen [ 22 ] . Hydration status can be assessed by checking the skin elasticity , corneal moisture and globe appearance [ 23 ] . If the patient is dehydrated , fluids such as Lectade Plus ® or Vetark Critical Care ®[ 24 ] can be given subcutaneously , intravenously , intraosseously , orally or via the cloaca .
Suitable food sources must be determined by the species of bird [ 25 ] . Fish-eating birds may not be tempted by dead or thawed frozen fish , so the water or food should be agitated to stimulate their feeding behaviour [ 26 ] . Predictably , most coastal species prefer a fish , crustacean and mollusc-based feed [ 24 ] ( Table 1 [ 24 ] ), with supplements such as Mazun Fish-eater tablets [ 24 ] .
Table 1 . BSAVA feeding guide [ 24 ] .
Weight of bird ( kg )
Weight of whole fish ( g per feed )
Frequency of feeds ( per day )
to feed themselves . Tube feeds are given laterally down the side of the oropharynx to avoid the glottis . If Emeraid ® is unavailable , a substitute can be made from two tins of Hill ' s a / d ® , 10 ml Ensure Plus ® , half an International Zoological Veterinary Group Aquavits tablet , and a 200 mg ferrous sulphate tablet added to 50 ml Lecatade ®[ 24 ] .
Wildlife rehabilitation is necessary and legal only until the animal is of appropriate health to carry out normal activities , such as independent movement and feeding [ 20 ] . Anaesthesia is indicated for surgery and imaging interventions , and is suitable before euthanasia via vascular access [ 7 ] at the medial metatarsal vein [ 24 ] when rehabilitation or release is not possible .
Pinnipeds
The Pinnipedia suborder ( Figure 2 [ 27 ] ) includes the Odobenidae ( walruses ), Otariidae ( sea lions ) and Phocidae ( true seals ), and these animals are easily distinguished by their appendage morphology [ 28 ] .
Otariidae
Stellar sea lion California sea lion Northern fur seal
Pinnipedia
Phocidae
Northern elephant seal Harbour seal Bearded seal Ribbon seal Spotted seal Ringed seal
Pinnipeds observed around the UK coast
Odobenidae
Pacific walrus
Figure 2 . Pinnipedia taxonomy [ 27 ] . © University of Alaska Fairbanks .
Grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) ( Figure 3 ) are mottled dark and lighter grey , with long , ‘ dog-shaped ’ noses . Pups are born between September and January , weighing 13 – 14 kg . They wean at around 40 – 50 kg and shed their fluffy white coat at around 16 – 21 days old [ 29 ] .
< 0.5 |
10 – 35 |
6 – 7 |
0.5 – 1.5 |
25 – 100 |
5 – 6 |
1.5 – 3 |
60 – 180 |
4 – 5 |
3 – 5 |
180 – 369 |
4 |
This is an ideal opportunity to test their ability to self-feed [ 11 ] . If they are unable to feed independently , assisted feeding may be required [ 24 ] . After rehydration , four 24 h feeds of up to 50 ml / kg can be given using Emeraid Piscivore ® with added fish oil for those unable
Figure 3 . Grey seals .
Volume 38 ( 2 ) • April 2023
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