C-SWHC cheat sheet

Minimum database for a stranded or admitted wild animal: body weight and body condition, hydration status, packed cell volume and total solids, blood glucose, and a full physical exam before any treatment.

Body condition scoring in wild species relies on palpation of ribs, spine, pelvic rim, and fat depots; a score outside the species-typical range predicts poor release prognosis.

Reference intervals for free-ranging species differ from captive and domestic values; interpret hemograms and chemistry against species-, age-, and season-matched references.

Restraint-induced artifacts are common: capture stress raises glucose, creatine kinase, lactate, and heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, so draw samples as soon as possible after capture.

Reptile and amphibian evaluation depends on environmental temperature; core body temperature below the preferred optimal range depresses immune function and distorts blood values.

Avian physical exam sequence: weight, keel and pectoral muscle, oral cavity, nares, coelom, vent, feathers, and a fundic exam for ocular lesions in raptors.

Neurologic assessment in wild mammals uses menace, pupillary light reflex, proprioception, and gait observation; abnormal findings must be documented before release decisions.

A complete admission record includes species, sex, age class, location and date of find, and handler; these data support both clinical care and population-level analysis.

Initial stabilization order: warmth, then fluids, then analgesia, then diagnostics; hypothermic animals cannot metabolize drugs or rewarm effectively without external heat support.

Fluid resuscitation in birds and mammals uses warmed isotonic crystalloids at roughly 10-20 mL/kg bolus for shock, repeated to effect; subcutaneous routes are inadequate in shock.

Hypoglycemia in small birds and mammals is treated with dextrose solution; 50% dextrose is diluted before use to avoid tissue necrosis and osmotic injury.

Capture myopathy is a syndrome of exertional rhabdomyolysis; prevention means minimal handling time, blindfolds, thermal support, and sedation when indicated.

Fracture triage in birds: wing fractures distal to the elbow carry a better release prognosis than proximal humeral or shoulder fractures.

Wound management principles: copious lavage, debridement of devitalized tissue, moist wound healing, and delayed primary closure in contaminated wildlife wounds.

Orphaned mammal care hinges on species-specific milk composition; cow's milk causes diarrhea in most wild neonates because of lactose and protein mismatch.

Release criteria: healed injuries, restored flight or locomotion, appropriate fear of humans, seasonal timing, and a suitable release site within the native range.

Quarantine new arrivals for a minimum of 30 days, with species-appropriate testing, before commingling with resident animals.

Zoonotic and reportable diseases of wildlife include rabies, highly pathogenic avian influenza, West Nile virus, leptospirosis, and chronic wasting disease; notify authorities per local regulation.

Biosecurity hierarchy: isolate infected animals, use dedicated equipment per enclosure, hand hygiene between animals, and directional flow from clean to dirty areas.

Disinfection requires cleaning first; organic debris inactivates most disinfectants. Match the disinfectant to the pathogen (enveloped viruses are susceptible to most; parvoviruses and coccidia need stronger agents).

Avian influenza response in a rehabilitation setting includes cohorting by species and site, limiting visitors, and using personal protective equipment for carcass handling.

White-nose syndrome in bats is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans; suspect cases require isolation and reporting to wildlife authorities.

Rabies risk management: any wild mammal with neurologic signs is a rabies suspect; unvaccinated staff exposure requires immediate medical evaluation.

Surveillance data from rehabilitation admissions can detect emerging pathogens early; record and report unusual mortality events.

High-risk zoonoses in wildlife practice: rabies, baylisascariasis, leptospirosis, tularemia, plague, salmonellosis, and dermatophytosis.

Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is indicated for bites or mucous membrane exposure from a suspect mammal; pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for staff at risk.

Personal protective equipment minimum for handling wildlife: gloves, eye protection, and a mask or respirator when aerosol or splash risk exists.

Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) eggs survive in soil for years; hand washing and avoiding unprotected contact with raccoon latrines are the main controls.

Leptospirosis is spread by urine of infected mammals; it enters through mucous membranes and skin breaks, and rodent control plus waterproof barriers reduce risk.

Pregnant and immunocompromised staff should be counseled about specific risks such as Toxoplasma, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus from rodents, and Chlamydia psittaci from birds.

Wildlife rehabilitation facilities should maintain written zoonosis protocols, exposure logs, and a designated medical contact for staff exposures.

Salmonellosis from reptiles and amphibians is a recognized risk; hand hygiene after contact and exclusion of high-risk animals from children's programs reduce transmission.

Raptors are carnivores requiring whole-prey diets; muscle meat alone causes calcium deficiency and metabolic bone disease.

Insectivorous reptiles and amphibians need calcium supplementation and gut-loaded insects; a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio near 2:1 is a common target for growing animals.

Herbivore hindgut fermenters such as rabbits and many rodents require high-fiber diets; abrupt dietary change causes dysbiosis and diarrhea.

Neonatal formula composition should match the species' milk: deer and rabbit milk is concentrated, while many carnivore milks are higher in protein and fat than cow's milk.

Energy needs scale with body mass; basal metabolic rate scales approximately with mass to the 0.75 power, so small species need more energy per unit mass.

Thermoregulation support: ectotherms require a temperature gradient with a preferred optimal temperature zone; endotherm neonates require an incubator with humidity control.

Enclosure design must provide species-appropriate space, substrate, hiding cover, perches, and enrichment to prevent stereotypic behavior and feather or fur damage.

Water quality in aquatic enclosures is monitored for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and temperature; poor water quality is a common cause of morbidity in turtles and fish.

Anesthetic protocols are species-specific; ketamine combined with a benzodiazepine or alpha-2 agonist is common in mammals, while birds often receive isoflurane or sevoflurane via mask or intubation.

Pre-anesthetic fasting is short in birds because of high metabolic rate and risk of hypoglycemia; prolonged fasting is avoided.

Monitoring during anesthesia includes heart rate, respiratory rate, mucous membrane color, reflexes, and temperature; hypothermia is the most common complication in small patients.

Analgesia is required for painful procedures; opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and local anesthetics are used with attention to species-specific toxicity.

Reptiles have variable and temperature-dependent drug responses; calculate doses by body weight and maintain species-appropriate temperature during and after anesthesia.

Surgical asepsis for wildlife follows the same principles as domestic practice: sterile field, instrument sterilization, and appropriate draping.

Orthopedic fixation in birds and small mammals uses light-weight implants; external coaptation alone is adequate for many closed fractures.

Postoperative care includes thermal support, analgesia, nutritional support, and monitoring for self-trauma; some species require Elizabethan collars or body wraps.

Conservation medicine links individual animal health to population and ecosystem health; rehabilitation data can inform population-level surveillance.

Disease surveillance in free-ranging populations uses stratified sampling by species, age, sex, and location to estimate prevalence and detect outbreaks.

Population viability analysis incorporates mortality, reproduction, and environmental stochasticity; health data improve model accuracy.

Wildlife health investigations of mortality events follow a systematic approach: case definition, case finding, hypothesis generation, and laboratory confirmation.

Antimicrobial resistance in wildlife reflects environmental contamination; surveillance in wild species can serve as an indicator of ecosystem antimicrobial use.

Rehabilitation release decisions affect population genetics and disease spread; releasing animals outside native range or with unknown health status is a conservation risk.

One Health frameworks integrate human, animal, and environmental health; wildlife clinicians contribute to zoonotic and emerging disease detection.

Habitat loss and climate change alter disease dynamics; range shifts can bring naive species into contact with new pathogens.

In the United States, migratory birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; possession and rehabilitation require federal permits.

State wildlife agencies regulate rehabilitation permits, species eligibility, and release criteria; federal permits are required for threatened and endangered species.

The Endangered Species Act prohibits take of listed species; rehabilitation of listed species requires specific authorization.

The Lacey Act prohibits interstate transport of illegally taken wildlife; documentation must accompany any animal movement across state lines.

Ethical principles in wildlife care: minimize suffering, prioritize release of viable animals, and avoid habituating animals to humans.

Euthanasia is appropriate for animals with untreatable conditions or poor release prognosis; it must follow accepted humane methods.

Record-keeping requirements often include acquisition and disposition records, medical records, and annual reports to permitting agencies.

Confidentiality and data sharing: location data for sensitive species may be restricted to prevent poaching or disturbance.

Medical records should document signalment, history, physical exam, diagnostics, treatments, and outcomes in a consistent, legible format.

Daily logs record food intake, weight, behavior, and enclosure conditions; trends are more informative than single observations.

Isolation and quarantine areas must be physically separate with dedicated equipment and separate airflow where possible.

Facility design includes secure enclosures, escape prevention, pest control, and a necropsy area for carcass examination.

Inventory control for drugs and supplies includes expiration tracking and controlled-substance logs where applicable.

Emergency preparedness plans cover power failure, fire, flood, and mass casualty intake, with contact lists and evacuation routes.

Staff training records document handling, zoonosis, and biosecurity training, supporting both compliance and safety.

Data management includes backup of electronic records and retention schedules consistent with permit requirements.