Exotic Animal Formulary5

Considerations for Developing a Wildlife Policy in Private Practice. 2,4,15,34,56,76,78,79,83,84
Topic
Notes
General Considerations
Whether your practice admits wildlife or not, all veterinary clinics should
have a wildlife policy to ensure injured and orphaned wildlife receive
timely care, regulatory and public health guidelines are followed, and a
consistent message is presented to the public regarding the practice’s
willingness to see wildlife. Wildlife policies do not need to be
complicated and are often built on lessons learned from prior wildlife
patients and experiences.
Treating injured
and
orphaned
wildlife
Legalities
Preparedness
and safety
Euthanasia
Although practitioners should not feel obligated to treat wildlife, referral
information should be on-hand to expedite appropriate treatment
and/or supportive care. The referral list should contain contact
information for veterinarians that treat wildlife, permitted wildlife
rehabilitators, referral wildlife hospitals, game wardens, wildlife
biologists, animal control officers, and state and federal wildlife
agencies. It may be advantageous to build a network of volunteer
transporters able to quickly move the wild animal to an appropriate
location for initial or additional treatment. Depending on the comfort
level and expertise of the veterinarians and staff, the clinic may decide
to see only certain types of wildlife, may treat to stabilize and transfer,
or admit only severely injured animals for humane euthanasia.
Practitioners need to be aware of local, state, and federal laws pertaining to
wildlife. Endangered, threatened, and listed species need to be reported
immediately to the appropriate authorities. Practitioners should also
check with local wildlife agencies and veterinary licensing boards for
guidance on how long wildlife may be in a practitioner’s possession
without rehabilitation permits. The state veterinarian and local APHIS
Veterinary Services need to be contacted if you suspect or confirm a
notifiable animal disease. The state public health agency needs to be
contacted if you suspect or confirm a notifiable disease of public health
concern.
Does the practice have the necessary restraint devices, enclosures, food,
and experienced veterinarians and staff to provide treatment and
supportive care to wildlife? Is there a space to house wildlife away
from domestic animals? Are biosecurity measurements in place to
prevent the spread of potential infectious diseases or parasites?
Appropriate personal protective equipment should be onsite and
appropriate for the species. Additional considerations include
reservoir or vector status of the animal, rabies immunization and
titers of staff, and general safety for staff, clients, domestic patients,
and the public.
Injured wildlife may require humane euthanasia to alleviate pain and
suffering due to injuries that are either severe or nonconducive to
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