Wound management and rehabilitation of an injured common toad ( Bufo bufo ) following foot amputation
DOI : https :// doi . org / 10.56496 / ILPM2657
Charlotte Busuttil , BSc ( Hons ), RVN , DipVNZS , APVN ( Zoo )
ENVELOPE cgbusuttil @ hotmail . co . uk
Since graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2018 , Charlotte has pursued her passion for exotic species through volunteering and CPD opportunities . She is an active member of the Association of Zoo and Exotic Veterinary Nurses and British Divers Marine Life Rescue . Alongside volunteering for rescue centres and wildlife rehabilitation facilities , Charlotte has worked clinically in zoological collections in the UK and abroad . She is committed to environmentally friendly practices and advocating for wildlife and exotic animal welfare .
ABSTRACT In the UK , common frog ( Rana temporaria ) and toad ( Bufo bufo ) numbers are falling , with common toad numbers in the UK declining by 68 % in the past 30 years . Causes for the decline include roads dividing the land between toads and breeding ponds , cat attacks and gardening accidents .
This case report describes the treatment of a common toad with a traumatic amputative injury of the hindlimb , including nursing care through to release . The case is evaluated to improve future veterinary care of amphibians and raise awareness of this threatened species .
Keywords amphibian , toad , Bufo , wildlife , rehabilitation
Introduction
Common toads ( Bufo bufo ) are anurans in the class Amphibia , and are native to the UK [ 1 ] . They have an average lifespan of 4 years . Adults weigh up to 80 g , with males being smaller than females [ 2 ] . Toads will emerge from overwintering sites in spring and begin to migrate to breeding ponds . They spend most of the summer months largely in one place , emerging from refuge areas to feed in the evenings . Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates [ 3 ] . In the autumn , preparation for overwintering occurs ; toads will find somewhere safe – either under compost heaps , among dead wood or by burying themselves into the ground – where they will spend most of their time . This overwintering in the form of brumation differs from hibernation as , during periods of milder weather , toads will come out to forage [ 4 ] .
Sadly , toad numbers in the UK have declined by as much as 68 % over the past 30 years [ 5 ] . Causes include traffic and disruption to migration routes , loss of habitat , cat attacks and gardening accidents [ 4 , 5 ] . Woods et al . [ 6 ] found that in 1997 , the UK cat population killed around 5 million reptiles and amphibians .
Learning outcomes
• Improved confidence in amphibian care .
• Improved knowledge of the hospitalisation and nursing care of amphibians in veterinary practice .
• Understanding of common toads and their natural behaviours and migrations .
• Understanding of the status of amphibians in the UK and the importance of preserving the species .
52 Veterinary Nursing Journal