How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

SmegSlayer — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:24:03 GMT

I have never worked in a practice, urban or more rural, that has refused to see wildlife. Every vet I have worked with, regardless of my personal opinions about them, has been more than happy to see and treat wildlife to the best of their ability. Same with all the nurses I have worked with. I have looked after muntjac deer, fox cub, foxes, hedgehogs, various birds including birds of prey and swans, and more pigeons and seagulls than I can count. I was happy to do so, even if just triageing until they can go somewhere with suitable facilities, and was happy to do so (although the seagulls did push me to my limit at times...)

To be honest, I didn't think we were allowed to refuse...

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

Wildlife Nurse — Tue, 17 May 2016 16:48:23 GMT

You can probably tell my my name this is my favourite subject!!! My old job was exclusively wildlife which I adored, currently I'm in practice, am always the first in line for a wildy - luckily everyone else steps back and lets me get on with it :)

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

Anne Watkins — Tue, 10 May 2016 11:43:22 GMT

I work in a small animal practice, and although we see some wildlife unfortunately often they're too ill to save. I'm very 'pro' wildlife though and rehabilitate at home if I think there is a chance of releasing them again. Currently looking after an adult hog with lungworm who's recovering well

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

Sal the 1st — Tue, 10 May 2016 01:17:35 GMT

rural area so we see a fair amount. The local hedgehog rescue uses us as their vet so we see quite a few hedgehogs and have had some good results - it isnt always leg amputates although legs are the most common injury. Never seen a paraphimosis in a hedgepig before but he did very well after a quick anaesthetic, strimmer/mower injuries, eye enucleates, fly strike, pneumonia, diarrhoea, suspected lungworm - we have had quite a variety and the more we see the more we learn what does and doesn't work in certain instances.

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

Charlotte K — Mon, 09 May 2016 17:45:37 GMT

Living and working in a rural area we see and treat a lot of wildlife. We are over an hour away from the SSPCA depot so they are usually unwilling to come this way to collect injured wildlife unless they are already in the area. If clients phone the SSPCA they are usually told to bring it to us for examination then they decide if they want to come collect the animal.

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

enigmaticat-uk — Mon, 09 May 2016 17:10:33 GMT

We would generally see them for first aid or if someone turned up with something. However if someone phoned we would direct them to contact the SSPCA as they have transport/rehab centres more appropriate to wildlife.

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

kittyboots — Mon, 09 May 2016 12:51:03 GMT

I'm based in Australia and my clinic can see wildlife on a daily basis depending on the season. We get a lot of native birds as they come to us to be assessed before they can go into foster care.

We also get the privilege of seeing possums, kangaroos, turtles, lizards and the odd koala.

Most clinics here I think are obligated to see wildlife for assessment

RE: How many of us see Wildlife in Practice?

jojofruits — Mon, 09 May 2016 12:25:48 GMT

Yup! this month we have treated a long eared owl, a hedgehog and a gosling! No charge to the client .. often we als the client to give a donation to the wildlife charity we end up sending them too. happy to help our British wildlife - it needs all the help it can get! I do get cross with practices who don't bother, it usually doesn't take much a simple warm up, and fluids, or rest in the case of concussions can often be enough to get them over the worse and then they can go off for rehab. I would NEVER work in a practice that puts wildlife to sleep without even trying!

I also wrote an article on our parish magazine encouraging people to leave fledgelings alone. Proud to say we are very pro wildlife here :)