Most of the items needed in a bat first aid box are probably already kept in the practice. The following items would be useful to include:
• Faunarium / small plastic box with holes to secure the bat in until a bat carer is able to collect it from the practice. A shoebox( with holes) can be used as an alternative; the only disadvantage is that it is not possible to see inside a shoebox to monitor the bat
• Gloves, which should ALWAYS be worn when handling bats. There is no single type of glove that is ideal for handling all bats. The thickness of the gloves should be chosen depending on the species to be handled. All bats can bite through surgical-type gloves, but these are still useful for preventing bat saliva reaching the handler ' s skin [ 2 ]. Latex or nitrile gloves are suitable, but it may also be worth keeping some cotton or gardening gloves in the box
• Face mask
• Tea towel to line the inside of the box, so the bat has something to grip on to
• Fine paintbrush / pipette for giving any food, water or medication
• Heat pad, such as a reptile heat mat or a microwaveable heat pad
• Clean lid from a plastic milk container for use as a shallow water bowl. Deep dishes should be avoided to prevent the bat from drowning
• Hill ' s a / d or Royal Canin Recovery food. Either of these can be used as an emergency food until a bat carer is able to collect the bat. EmerAid and Oxbow carnivore diets can also be used
• A good rehydration liquid for dehydrated bats, such as EmerAid Carnivore or Oralade Advanced GI +.
Admitting the bat
It is essential to ensure that the reception team knows to gather specific information when admitting a bat. All adult bats must be released where they were originally found, so obtaining detailed and accurate information on admission is vital. It may be helpful to design a dedicated admission form for bats, to help prompt the collection of key information( Table 1 [ 3 ]).
A Bat Rescue Register sheet is also available, which has been created by bat rescue worker Maggie Brown. It can be downloaded from the Bat Conservation Trust( BCT) website [ 4 ] and is a useful tool for gathering and recording important information about the bat.
Bat rabies
Bats can carry viruses commonly known as‘ bat rabies’, but these do not include the classic rabies virus. Only a small number of bats in the UK have been found to carry rabies-like viruses called European bat lyssaviruses( EBLVs). There are two known types: EBLV-1, found in serotine bats, and EBLV-2, found in Daubenton ' s bats [ 5 ].
EBLVs are transmitted via a scratch or bite from an infectious bat, or by its saliva entering the body via a wound or mucous membrane. There has been only one EBLV-associated death in the UK, in 2002, when an unvaccinated bat worker was taken ill with the disease [ 6 ].
In the UK, the risk from bat-related viruses can be significantly reduced through good handling practices. The small risk of transmission should not stop veterinary staff from dealing with bats, but care should be taken when handling them. People who regularly work with bats, such as bat carers or conservation workers, should be vaccinated against rabies.
Table 1. Key information to be collected when a bat is admitted to the practice.
Information
Location where the bat was found
Circumstances in which the bat was found
Whether anyone was bitten / scratched by the bat
Contact details of the finder
Finder ' s signature
Comments
Bats are territorial and have their own roosts. All bats need to be released in the exact location where they were found
For example, the victim of a cat attack or found grounded
The Bat Conservation Trust has an informative advice sheet on its website [ 3 ]. Anyone injured by a bat is also advised to contact NHS 111( NHS 24 in Scotland) for advice.
The finder may be able to provide further details about the bat ' s discovery, which can help with diagnosis, treatment or release
This confirms that the finder has passed the bat into the practice ' s care. Wildlife is not owned, so technically this may not be needed, but it makes the finder aware that any treatment or decision is the responsibility of the veterinary surgeon
12 Veterinary Nursing Journal