Environment and Resource Management

Injuries in Wildlife

The following sections talk about some of the most common injuries and their treatments:

Stress

Stress is probably the most common factor leading to disease and death.

Stress can be categorised into two general forms: immediate stress (after an animal is hit by a car) and long-term stress (possums suffer stress from constantly fighting other possums for shelter and food).

Some signs of stress are:
  • sitting quietly in one place (not trying to attack or escape);
  • not eating;
  • reduced activity or listlessness;
  • decreasing body size, or for a joey, not putting on as much weight as it should;
  • not settling down, trying to escape all the time;
  • stereotypical behaviour (e.g. pacing up and down the edge of a cage);
  • getting infections or getting sick frequently (e.g. mange possums);
  • symmetrical fur loss; and
  • grinding teeth or licking forearms, shoulders, chest, hind limbs or flanks. This behaviour is particular to kangaroos and wallabies.
Kangaroo with fur loss and matting
Kangaroo with fur loss and matting


Possum with eye infection
Possum with eye infection		 There are a number of ways to avoid causing an animal stress:
  • Give an animal somewhere to hide. Most animals respond to danger by trying to hide.
  • Do not disturb or look at the animals. Do not look at or handle an animal unless you have too. Keep your children and the neighbours away too.
  • Keep the pets away from the young. Our most common domestic pets - dogs and cats - are predators. The sight and smell of these animals will stress wildlife. Keep your pet behind a closed door or gate.
  • Feed the animals the correct food. Most wild animals are used to eating a particular type of food, whether it is a special type of native leaf or fruit, live insects, reptiles or mammals. Some wild animals will not eat different food as they do not understand that it is edible.
  • House all animals separately. Some animals are solitary by nature and become stressed when housed with other animals. For instance, a native mouse living in a cage next to a quoll will be convinced it will be eaten by the quoll.


Car Strike

Kangaroos, wallabies, possums and bandicoots are often found injured beside the road. Their suffering can vary from mild shock and a few abrasions to compound fractures of legs, ribs and spine and internal damage. Young can often be found in pouch, unharmed or suffering from fractures and internal injuries. These animals should be transported as quickly as possible to a vet to be assessed. It is very difficult to treat fractured limbs in adult wallabies. Wallaby with broken leg
Wallaby with broken leg


Dog or cat attacks

Possum with unattended injuries
Possum with unattended injuries		 Cats usually prey on smaller animals such as insectivorous bats, native rodents and baby possums. Dogs attack larger animals such as adult possums, bandicoots and wallabies. Dogs and cats have a lot of bacteria in their mouths and it is typical for attack victims to develop infections. Cat bites can be difficult to find, especially on animals with dense fur. If there has been a history of a dog or cat attack, check the animal thoroughly, combing the fur backwards to find the puncture marks. There may also be broken legs, ribs or internal damage. These animals should be taken to a vet as they will require a course of antibiotics.


Bush fire victims

Many animals suffer burns and smoke inhalation during bush fires. Treat them by placing them in a well-ventilated cardboard box in a dark place and, if necessary, give them electrolyte replacement fluids (e.g. Vy-trate) until you can get to a vet. Do not put creams on burns. Instead, place clean wet towels on the burn site and wait for a vet to prescribe an antibiotic ointment. These animals will be in a lot of pain and will require intensive nursing to keep the wounds clean. Some animals may be better off euthanased immediately, especially possums with badly burnt paws as their claws do not grow back.

Possum with burnt foot
Possum with burned feet

Septacaemia

This infection affects the animal's entire body. It can be acute or chronic and is usually the result of a separate problem, such as a dog or cat bite, pneumonia or diarrhoea. Animals with the acute form will suddenly show signs of shock (depression, pale membranes in their mouth and a short fast breathing pattern). Animals with the chronic form are extremely thin, dehydrated, lose fur and have bacterial dermatitis. Their breathing is usually fast and shallow and they will have pale mucous membranes

Animals with septicaemia need immediate veterinary attention. They will probably need fluids and steroids to bring them out of shock and then antibiotics. Generally, these animals do not survive.

Fungal Dermatitis (ringworm)

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin. It does not always cause the classic round red areas of fur loss. The usual symptoms are fur loss with reddened scaly skin. The affected areas are not usually itchy. It is more common in young animals. It is possible for ringworm to be transmitted to people, so wash your hands well and keep your children away. Animals usually recover without intervention. A vet can provide you with medication if you choose to seek help.

Ectoparasites

Fleas, ticks, mites, lice and flies are often found on our native animals. If there are a lot on the animal, it usually means it has been sick for some time (healthy animals can usually control these pests). You can remove the fleas, ticks, lice and flies by spraying the animal with a pyrethrinbased spray for dogs and cats (make sure it is pyrethrin-based as organophosphate products may be too toxic).

Although these parasites jump on to people, they do not particularly like the taste and will move on.

Mites are more difficult to remove. Animals with mites usually have areas of itchy inflamed skin and are best taken to a vet. Mites live in hair follicles under the skin and can be treated over three to four weeks with a weekly injection of Ivermectin. It is a good idea to wash any bedding and scrub any cages before using them for other animals, as mites will their eggs behind.

Bacterial Dermatitis (Mangy Possums)

Possum with bacterial dermatitis to the legs
Possum with bacterial dermatitis to the legs		 Bacterial dermatitis is a skin condition that is mainly seen in stressed possums.
Initially, the possum will have bright orange to red skin, usually on its face or legs. This progresses to open sores and then scabbiness.

This can become so debilitating that the animal cannot move and consequently starves to death. The condition usually develops from an infected fight wound and slowly covers most of the animal's body. Feeding possums bread and other unnatural food exacerbates the condition. If animals are trapped early, they can be treated. In cases where the mange lesions are covering most of their body, it is better to euthanase.

Cataracts

Cataracts are opacity of the lens inside the eye. There are two basic causes of cataracts: congenital (the animal is born with them) or acquired. Animals commonly develop cataracts after an infection or trauma dislodges the lens, which turns opaque. In most circumstances, the prognosis is hopeless as cataracts cause permanent incapacity.

Corneal Opacities

A corneal opacity results from damage to the surface of the eye. It can be caused by scratches to the eye surface or fight wounds. Corneal opacities also result from congenital deformities of the eyelids (e.g. entropion, a condition where the eyelids curl under and eyelashes scratch the surface of the eye) and eye infections (some baby possums from mangy mothers have corneal opacities). Take these animals to a vet. If there is a large scratch or ulcer on the cornea, the vet may suggest surgery to close the eyelids for a couple of weeks.

If there is an infection, the animal will require an antibiotic eye ointment.

Pneumonia

This is commonly seen in orphaned young animals. Pneumonia can be caused by an animal being cold for a number of hours, inhaling milk or water, or toxoplasmosis. You should be extremely careful when feeding young bats, as they often inhale milk. The signs can be subtle, for instance, the joey may simply not be doing as well as expected. Other signs include depression, a sickly disposition, coughing, laboured breathing or a slight nasal discharge. These animals need to be taken to a vet as soon as possible and may require an x-ray. The vet will put them on a course of antibiotics to stop any infections.
 Kangaroo being hand fed in pouch
Kangaroo being hand fed in pouch

Milk inhalation is the most common cause of pneumonia in young animals.The best way to feed an orphaned animal is to dribble tiny amounts of milk on its mouth. Hold the joey's head to the side so excess milk runs out of its mouth and not into its lungs. Do not force an animal to drink.

Another cause of pneumonia is toxoplasmosis. This is an organism that can be found in cat faeces, soil or fresh meat. It can cause pneumonia, nervousness, depression and anorexia. It can also be deadly.

Lumpy Jaw

Lumpy jaw is an infection of the jawbone that mainly affects macropods.
The clinical signs include lethargy, weight loss, facial swelling, nasal discharge, salivation and an inability to eat.

This condition is often associated with overcrowding, poor nutrition and poor hygiene. It can often be seen in animals that are fed a lot of bread or very stalky hay (sharp pieces of hay pierce the gums around the teeth, leaving them open to infection). This condition is usually untreatable.

Treatment is always unsuccessful if the molars or jawbones are involved and affected animals are carriers for the disease. The affected animal should be euthanased unless it is an endangered species able to be used for breeding.

Hairballs and Feather Balls

This problem is usually seen in small dasyurids (e.g. dunnarts, phascogales and antechinuses) that are fed mice or baby chickens instead of their normal diet of insects. Because their digestive system is not designed to handle large amounts of fur or feathers, these build up in their gut and cause constipation. A small amount of paraffin oil spread over their food may help them pass the blockage, but if nothing happens over the next day take the animal to the vet. Do not give the animal laxatives, as an overdose may kill it. The key is not to feed these animals baby chickens with feathers or larger mice and rats. However, they can eat furless baby mice and rats.

Capture Myopathy

This condition is commonly seen in adult macropods, although it can occur in any animal. It is associated with the stress of capture, restraint and transportation. An animal suffers capture myopathy when its muscles break down because of reduced blood supply. The early signs are a stiff walk and swollen, hard, hot muscles that progress to paresis. It will eventually result in death. Affected animals may have red urine, trouble breathing and a very fast heart rate.

Treatment at this stage is generally unsuccessful, although consult a vet if the condition is mild. Older untamed animals should be darted rather than chased unless there are experienced people with the correct equipment.

Flying foxes: wing problems

Little red flying fox with small tear in wing
Little red flying fox with small tear in wing		 Do not attempt to handle or rescue a micro bat or flying fox unless you have been vaccinated against lyssavirus.
Flying foxes are often found caught in barbed wire fences. Small tears in the wing membrane are not a major problem. Large tears need time to heal and may need to be cleaned with mild disinfectant to prevent infection. Do not stitch the tears as the stitches interfere with the normal healing process and lead to scarring, which makes it difficult for the flying fox to fly. Extensive tears can heal well if treated correctly. Animals that do not heal should be euthanased.

Captive young flying foxes develop bacterial infections in their wing membranes if the wounds are not cleaned regularly. These infections require antibiotic or antifungal cream and the flying fox has to be able to sunbake to promote healing. Some bats lick at wounds constantly or lick off antibiotic creams, making them worse. They will require an Elizabethan collar.

Poisoning

Do not attempt to handle or rescue a micro bat or flying fox unless you have been vaccinated against lyssavirus.

Native animals can be poisoned either by eating poison, such as Ratsack, or by eating prey that has been poisoned. Poisoned animals tend to be anaemic and may have haemorrhages on their gums and blood in their faeces and urine. They will need veterinary treatment.

Bats contract lead poisoning from air pollution. When this happens, their flying becomes un-coordinated and they suffer muscle tremors and intermittent convulsions. They must be treated by a vet and may suffer permanent neurological problems, such as blindness.

Insecticidal poisons may affect insectivorous mammals. These animals suffer tremors and convulsions and need prompt veterinary care.

Last updated: 13 January 2005

Injuries in Wildlife

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