| General Description |
- Puncture wounds and lacerations in wild animals are usually infected at
the time of presentation.
- Infection with Pasteurella spp. may be assumed for all animals
wounded by cats.
- Fresh wounds may be seen in e.g. small mammals or birds brought in by
cats, in animals which have been damaged by garden strimmers (particularly reptiles and
hedgehogs), in those caught on a barbed wire fence or similar.
- More commonly wounds may be several days old at the time of presentation.
- Myiasis is a common
complication of wounds in the warmer months.
- Areas of skin deficit may be large in territorial fight wounds and bites
from dogs.
- Puncture wounds in small mammals and birds caught by cats may not be
easily visible. Their presence should be assumed in all such casualties.
- Tissue trauma under bites from animals such as dogs, badgers and otters
may be considerable with crushing injury to the tissues as well as the visible skin wound.
In waterfowl
- Injuries may not be easily visible and careful examination may be
necessary.
- Matted areas of feathers may indicate underlying wounds.
- Damage to surrounding tissues may be considerably greater than visible
injury suggests, particularly for puncture wounds caused by predators.
- Lacerations may be seen more commonly in sparsely-feathered areas.
- Punctures and/or lacerations can be deep, usually become infected and may
become gangrenous.
- Contamination by the surrounding feathers is common.
- Abrasion of the surrounding skin may be seen.
- N.B. a single mink bite to the thoracic area of a cygnet
can be fatal .
(B10.20.w6, B11.36.w4,
P8.3.w1, V.w5, V.w6)
In hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus
- West European hedgehog):
- Wounds are often old and contaminated at the time of presentation (J15.21.w1)
- May be infested with fly larvae (See: Myiasis)).(J15.21.w1)
- Strimmer wounds are identifiable as clean
lacerations with cropped
spines at a uniform level;
- Other
characteristic strimmer injuries include bilateral amputation of hindlimbs or amputation of the snout.
- (V.w26)
In
badgers (Meles meles - Eurasian
Badger):
- Bite wounds (from territorial fights):
- Bite wounds from territorial fights are characteristically distributed around the head,
neck and rump areas of badgers
- May be severe, although bites are common and minor bite wounds may be an incidental
finding in a casualty presented due to another incident
- May be skin tearing, especially near the tail base.
- Bite wounds are often infected and the animal may have an associated
bacteraemia/pyaemia/septicaemia.
- Pyothorax (pus in the chest) may result from bites through the chest wall.
- (J3.105.w4, J60.2.w2,
P25.2.w2, V.w26)
In
deer:
In seals (Halichoerus grypus
- Grey seal, Phoca vitulina - Common seal):
- Lacerations may result from pups being thrown against rocks in rough seas.
- Pups may be bitten when their mother is being mated.
- (J15.20.w1)
In birds of prey:
- Lacerations from being caught on barbed wire fences.
- Injuries are most common on the underside of the wing.
- Prognosis varies with the severity of the wounds, whether the propatagial membrane and
ligament is intact (leading edge of the wing which is important in flight), the degree of
soft tissue contamination and desiccation at the site.
- Birds may be found caught on barbed wire from which they must be carefully removed. In
many cases where the bird is impaled on the wire and the feathers have become tightly
wrapped around the wire it may be preferable to cut the wire and take it along with the
bird into care. The wire can then be safely removed with the bird under general
anaesthesia.
- The bird will typically struggle in an attempt to release itself and may cause damage to
the feathers as they become wrapped around the wire and may also damage the muscles to the
upper wing.
- (V.w26)
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| Further Information |
TREATMENT
- In general, treatment of wounds is likely to require sedation or general anaesthesia of
the animal.
- This is particularly true if extensive cleaning and debridement (surgical removal of
dead and severely damaged tissue) is necessary.
- The stress and pain involved in wound management must be remembered: just because it is
possible to hold a conscious animal of a particular species sufficiently immobile for
wound management to take place does not mean that treatment of the conscious animal
without sedation and analgesia is appropriate.
Initial inspection and cleaning:
- Careful inspection should be carried out for the presence of fly eggs or maggots (which
may not be superficially visible) and action taken to remove these. See: Myiasis.
- Clipping of hair around the wound should be carried out using curved, blunt-ended
scissors. Moist cotton wool may be placed in/over/along the edge of the wound to minimise
clipped hair contaminating the wound by falling into it. (P19.2.w5)
- The area clipped should not be excessive, as hair normally provides the animal with
protection from cold, some trauma etc. Loss of hair from a large area will increase the
risk of the animal becoming chilled, particularly in small animals. (P19.2.w5,
V.w5)
- For birds, feathers around the wound may be cut or may be plucked gently. Plucking will
encourage regrowth of feathers; if feathers are cut they will not regrow until the next
normal moult. The minimum area should be plucked and great care is required to avoid
tearing the skin.
- N.B. plucking of feathers is painful; this may be best carried out on an anaesthetised
bird if more than a few feathers are to be plucked.
- N.B. Care should be taken not to damage the feather follicles and thereby prevent proper
regrowth of feathers. This is imperative for the flight and tail feathers of birds of
prey, and any other species with a high dependency on flight such as swifts and swallows.
If there is any doubt, such important feathers should not be plucked until absolutely
necessary (which could be due to damage to blood feathers or the proximity of physical
damage). (V.w6)
(B13.16.w11, B14,
P19.2.w5, V.w5, V.w26)
- It is important to minimise the area of feathers removed as these provide the bird with
its protection against weather and water and loss of feathers may delay release until the
feathers regrow. (P19.2.w5, V.w5)
- The wound should be cleaned using a non-irritant antiseptic solution. Povidone iodine
0.5% solution is suitable. Savlon diluted 1:20 in water may be used. Product such as
Dettol and TCP should be used only a last resort as they sting severely on open wounds. (B13.16.w11, P19.2.w5, V.w5)
- For extremely contaminated wounds, thorough flushing with sterile normal (0.9%) saline
is recommended. When this is not available a suitable substitute saline solution may be
produced by dissolving one teaspoon of salt in a pint of water (preferably boiled and
cooled). (B13.16.w11, P19.2.w5,
V.w5)
- Hydrogen peroxide, diluted 1/10 with water, may be used for flushing contaminated wounds
such as abscesses (P19.2.w5)
- Considerable debriding of wounds may be necessary to remove contaminated and devitalised
tissue. Anaesthesia will often be necessary for this process as it will often be
appropriate to remove the damaged tissue as far back as to where there is an effective
blood supply (and thereby usually pain sensors) to encourage healing.
(B13.16.w11, B14, P19.2.w5, V.w5, V.w26, V.w6)
Suturing:
- Puncture wounds should never be sutured.
- Suturing may be appropriate with fresh lacerations or with older lacerations if the
tissue deficit following debridement is not too extensive.
- Absorbable sutures should be used to avoid the necessity for additional handling to
remove sutures.
- Consideration should be given to wound drainage; the placement of a drain may be
required.
- Care must be taken to avoid attempting to suture wounds with a large tissue deficit
which would place excessive pressure on the wound.
Encouraging healing by secondary intention:
- In many cases it may be necessary to leave the wound to close by secondary intention.
- The application of topical preparations that encourage epitheliogenesis (stimulate
healing) may be useful, e.g. Intrasite Gel (Smith and Nephew).
- Where possible, the use of dressings which promote healing may be used.
- Many wild animal casualties, particularly adult mammals, may not tolerate dressings and
bandages.
Antibiotics:
- All wounds in wild animals should be considered to be contaminated and appropriate
antibiotic treatment instigated.
- With "cat-caught" puncture wounds it is particularly important to ensure that
antibiotics are likely to be effective against Pasteurella multocida as
infection with this organism is very common.
Species/Group specific considerations:
In waterfowl:
- Insect repellent should be applied to avoid myiasis (Myiasis) (P4.1992.w1).
- Systemic and local antibiotics should be given
- Simple skin wounds may be cleaned, debrided as necessary, and sutured
with non-absorbable sutures (B10.20.w16, B14).
- "Freshly created (within eight hours), uncomplicated wounds should
be treated by primary closure with anticipated first intention healing; however, this is
not appropriate for the treatment of open, contaminated wounds." (B13.40.w13)
- Deep wounds should not be sutured. Remove necrotic tissue, flush twice
daily, ensure ample drainage (P8.3.w1, B11.36.w4).
- Small open wounds usually granulate if kept clean and fly-free (P4.1992.w1)
- Bite wounds should not be sutured (P8.3.w1)
In hedgehogs (Erinaceus
europaeus - West European hedgehog):
- Sedation/general anaesthesia is required for adequate examination, cleaning and
debridement of the wound (B22.27.w3)
- Cut the spines surrounding the wound short by using a short pair of
sharp-edged blunt-ended scissors placed flush with the skin surface. Electric hair
clippers are not suitable for cutting hedgehog spines (J15.21.w1,
B156.7.w7, V.w26)
- Old and contaminated wounds and those with large deficits may best be
treated by cleaning and debridement, then allowed to heal by secondary intention (J15.21.w1).
- All wounds must be checked carefully for fly eggs or maggots
- Rapid healing of large wounds may be promoted by the application of
topical medication such as Intrasite gel (Smith & Nephew) or Orabase (ConvaTec). (J15.21.w1, V.w26)
- Fresh wounds may be closed using standard suture techniques and drainage
provided using e.g. fenestrated drip tubing (J15.21.w1)
- The muscle layers should be identified and sutures should be placed in
appropriate layers. (B22.27.w3)
- Strimmer wounds (fresh) can often be flushed, debrided and sutured
for primary closure (V.w26).
- Systemic and local antibiotics may be used to control or prevent
bacterial infection (B228)
In badgers (Meles meles - Eurasian
badger):
- Extensive wound flushing and debridement is essential for management of badger bite
wounds.
- Under-run tissue and sinuses must be explored, flushed and debrided and examined for
evidence of fly eggs or maggots (Myiasis).
- Hair clipping must be performed over as small an area as possible. The badger's thick
coat provides some protection against attack and therefore clipping a large area of hair
may mean that release must be delayed for a period exceeding that required for wound
healing whilst the hair regrows (V.w26, P25.2.w2, P25.3.w3).
- Wounds are generally highly infected and should NEVER be sutured.
- Healing by secondary intention is advised although skin grafting onto a prepared and
clean tissue bed has been suggested for closure of large deficits in some cases (P25.2.w2).
- Appropriate antibiotic and analgesic medication should be given and topical preparations
that encourage epitheliogenesis (stimulate healing) may be used (Intrasite Gel,
Smith and Nephew).
- Bacterial examination of wound pus smears with gram or Diffquick and Ziehl-Nielson
stains, culture and sensitivity may be advisable. Culture of Streptococcus
spp., Staphylococcus spp., Pasteurella spp. and anaerobes
(organisms that grow in anaerobic conditions) occurs
commonly. (P27.5.w5)
- Euthanasia may be advisable for aged emaciated animals with severe wounds or dental
attrition. (B157.w10, P27.8.w8,
V.w26)
- Protective clothing, gloves and face masks may be appropriate when dealing with badger
bite wounds given the possibility of tuberculous infection in the badger.(V.w26)
- any staff involved with handling badgers should ensure that their BCG vaccination is
current and immunosuppressed individuals should not deal with badger casualties in
particular V.w26 and B151.
In seals (Halichoerus grypus
- Grey seal, Phoca vitulina - Common seal):
- Fresh wounds may be sutured, however dehiscence (wound breakdown) is common due to the
elasticity of the skin in these species.
- Bite wounds should not be sutured; they are invariably infected.
- Old, contaminated wounds should be left open with frequent flushing and debriding, and
allowed to heal by second intention.
- (J15.20.w1)
CONTROL MEASURES
- When using garden strimmers, check for animals hidden in the
undergrowth before using.
In waterfowl:
- Ensure captive waterfowl are protected by predator-proof fencing and
netting.
- For waterfowl on e.g. park lakes, provide islands to roost on safe from
predators.
- Consider the risk of lacerations / punctures which may result from
collision with sharp objects and structures (e.g. nails, wire ties, protruding corners)
within cages / enclosures, particularly if birds are chased or panicked.
(P4.1992.w1,
V.w5)
In animals in captivity:
- Consider the risk of lacerations / punctures which may result from
collision with sharp objects and structures (e.g. nails, wire ties, protruding corners)
within cages / enclosures, particularly if animals are chased or panicked.
- Care must be taken when choosing which individuals may safely be placed
together in pre-release or other longer-term accommodation to reduce the risk of bullying
or fight wounds.
- (V.w5)
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