DOI : https :// doi . org / 10.56496 / MKBW5051

Amy Peat , FdSc Applied Animal Behavioural Science and Welfare , RVN

DNA Vetcare Group , Kent

ENVELOPE Amy _ Peat93 @ hotmail . com

Amy is a surgical nurse working in a 24-hour veterinary hospital . She has a keen interest in anaesthesia and exotic species . In her spare time , she walks her two dogs and helps out at a friend ' s zoo , Hemsley Conservation Centre in Sevenoaks .

ABSTRACT A maned wolf named Marley was presented to the practice by a local conservation centre . She was non-weight-bearing on her right forelimb , which showed significant swelling .

The patient was sedated and then underwent radiography of the right forelimb , which confirmed there were no fractures present .

When the forelimb was clipped , two puncture wounds were identified and these were treated . She was then returned to the centre as soon as possible .

Keywords maned wolf , exotics , anaesthesia , radiography , zoo

Introduction

Maned wolves ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) are part of the Canidae family and live predominantly in South America [ 1 ] . The rare species has a fox-like head , long red-brown fur , long black legs and an erectile mane [ 2 ] .

There are around 17,000 maned wolves left in the wild . They are classed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) Red List , with their biggest threats being hunting and trapping , road traffic accidents , agriculture and habitat loss [ 3 , 4 ] .

In the UK , there are 26 captive maned wolves in eight collections . Because there are so few in captivity , it is rare to have a maned wolf in practice and there are few written protocols for their anaesthesia and monitoring .

38 Veterinary Nursing Journal