Plus-Hex CLINICAL to a long-term recovery tank ( length 37 cm × depth 22 cm × height 25 cm ) ( Figure 5 ), which was filled with a deep , loose substrate mix of sphagnum moss , bark and coco coir at a depth of at least 20 cm , with places to hide and a shallow water bowl . The enclosure was kept in a cool , frost-free environment , with disturbance minimised to weekly weight and wound checks , and feeds .
Figure 6 . Left : Pre-release swim test , with Orabase visible on the affected area , and a duck temperature gauge to monitor water temperature . Right : Pre-release radiograph , with evidence of callus around the wound site .
Evaluation of the nursing care
Figure 5 . A natural , bioactive environment in the recovery tank .
Following introduction to the vivarium , light therapy was reduced to once weekly alongside the weight check to minimise disturbance . After the wound had fully closed , small custodians ( springtails and isopods ) were added to the vivarium to create a more natural , bioactive environment . This provides a food source that encourages natural hunting , helps with substrate turnover , and maintains enclosure hygiene as these custodians will feed on faeces and decomposing plant matter [ 29 ] . Although toads are less active during the winter , they do come out to eat in warmer periods . To replicate the natural diet as much as possible , a wide range of feed invertebrates were offered weekly , including slugs , snails , calci worms , wax worm moths and earthworms [ 1 ] .
Release
Prior to release , a full health check was performed , including radiographs to ensure there was no osteomyelitis of the affected bone , and a swim test to ensure that mobility both on land and in water was adequate for the toad to cope in the wild ( Figure 6 ). Ideally , the toad would have been released close to where it was found , to prevent the spread of disease between toad populations [ 13 ] , to reduce disorientation and to preserve the toad ' s annual migration to the same breeding ponds . However , the area in which the toad was found was deemed to be unsafe , as it was a builtup area with a busy supermarket , road traffic and no known body of water nearby . After careful consideration and advice from ARC , it was decided to release the toad close to a known population of toads and an appropriate breeding pond .
As little is known about amphibians ' responses to different analgesic drugs , multimodal analgesia is the best approach for these patients [ 19 ] . In future cases , the author would encourage consideration of butorphanol , due to its availability and evidence of its efficacy [ 21 , 22 ] .
Literature also suggests that medications can be applied topically [ 10 ] . Topical administration of medications may reduce stress , due to the less invasive nature of administration . Certain drugs are irritant when administered via this route ( i . e . enrofloxacin ), so care should be taken to dilute the drug prior to application . Alcohol-based formulations or those with a non-neutral pH should be avoided [ 10 ] .
The author suggests providing moist paper towel , shredded or rolled into balls , inside hide areas . This may provide some security and prevent damage through abrasions and burrowing against the rough plastic of most commercially available caves and reptile hides .
Another challenge was the breakdown of the surgical wound . Sutures seemed to break away from the skin . An alternative suture material that could be used is monofilament nylon , which was found to have the least histological reaction when used in African clawed frogs [ 30 ] . Alternatively , second intention healing , with close monitoring and wound management , may be favourable in amphibians , where this is possible [ 9 ] .
The successful release of any hospitalised wildlife depends on an accurate and detailed history being obtained on admission . An animal should ideally be released as close to where it was found , due to its familiarity with nearby food sources and territories [ 13 ] . This is particularly important for toads , as they can remember the route to their hatching pond , to which they return annually to breed .
Volume 39 ( 4 ) • August 2024
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