Prevalence, Treatment, and Survival of Burned Wildlife Presenting to Rehabilitation Facilities From 2015 to 2018

Butkus, Claire; Peyton, Jamie L.; Heeren, Alexander; Clifford, Deana L.

doi:10.1638/2020-0093

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In this study, the main pain relief available for prescription were NSAIDs, and off-label use of topical local anaesthetics designed for routine husbandry procedures. There were no instances of the use of opioid analgesics, which are indicated for analgesia of severe burns in human and veterinary medicine ( 32 ). Further research into the suitability and practicality of analgesics suitable for livestock with burn injuries that are intended for human consumption, including the importance of pain relief for even mild burn injuries, would be beneficial to guide prescribing in emergency conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The successful treatment of bushfire-affected livestock is complex and highly skilled but little researched with most information available for the treatment of general burns in other species such as companion animals and horses (31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Most veterinarians assessing livestock were government veterinarians and had the skills.…”

Section: Costs and Resources (Including Human) To Treatmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Australian 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires: Analysis of the Pathology, Treatment Strategies and Decision Making About Burnt Livestock

Cowled

Bannister-Tyrrell

Doyle³

et al. 2022

Front. Vet. Sci.

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In 2019/2020, Australia experienced a severe bushfire event, with many tens of thousands of livestock killed or euthanized. Little systematic research has occurred to understand livestock bushfire injuries, risk factors for injury, or how to make decisions about management of bushfire-injured livestock. Addressing this research gap is important as there is an increasing bushfire incidence globally. This paper presents qualitative research findings about bushfire-injured and killed livestock in the south-east of Australia after the 2019/2020 Australian bushfires. We describe observed pathology, treatments used, and risk factors for injury, then use thematic analysis to understand decision making about managing fire-injured livestock. Livestock injured by the fires showed pathology predominantly associated with the common integument (feet, hooves and skin) and signs of acute respiratory damage. It could take several days for the full extent of burns to become apparent, leaving prognostic doubt. Treatment strategies included immediate euthanasia, salvage slaughter, retention for later culling, treatment and recovery on farm, hospitalization and intensive treatment, or no intervention. Risk factors reported for livestock injury included lack of warnings about an impending fire, the type and amount of vegetation around livestock and the weather conditions on the day the fire reached livestock. Moving stock to an area with little vegetation before fire arrived was seen as protective. Decision making regarding injured livestock appeared influenced by three main themes: (1) observations on the severity of pathology, clinical signs and level of prognostic doubt, (2) pre-existing beliefs about animal welfare (responsibility to minimize unnecessary suffering) and (3) assumptions about the future. The management of livestock was largely appropriate due to the rapid provision of veterinary expertise. However, it is likely that some injured livestock were euthanized due to conservative veterinary advice driven by a lack of opportunity to re-assess stock, with impacts on farmers. In future, resourcing regular revisits of injured livestock to manage risks of gradual progression of burn pathology may facilitate more accurate prognostic assessment, provided injured animals can receive appropriate pain relief. In addition, a more comprehensive burns classification system linked to prognosis that can be rapidly applied in the field may assist assessments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Costs and Resources (Including Human) To Treatmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Australian 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires: Analysis of the Pathology, Treatment Strategies and Decision Making About Burnt Livestock

Cowled

Bannister-Tyrrell

Doyle³

et al. 2022

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…Barn fires often result from faulty or poor electrical wiring or equipment [ 1 ]. The effects of fires on animal health are attributable to the effect of heat and flames, resulting in more or less severe burns, but also to the effect of gases that may be released during combustion [ 2 , 3 ]. As soon as livestock can be approached, the first decision to be made is to identify which animals are to be ethically culled [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Report on Medical Treatment and Outcome of Burnt Cattle

Bolcato

Roccaro

Gentile

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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The management of livestock affected by fire often comes down to two options: euthanasia or slaughtering. However, the therapeutic approach can be attempted for high-value cattle. The aim of a primary assessment is to identify signs of smoke inhalation injuries, cardiovascular impairment and shock and to determine the severity and extent of burn injuries. Full-thickness burns covering 40% or more of the body are highly unfavorable prognostic factors and are usually fatal. Moreover, it can take several days for the burns to appear in their full extent, leaving the prognosis uncertain. In this case report, the clinical findings, treatment and outcome of two burnt Holstein heifers are described. Daily wound care required cleaning, the removal of eschars and the application of topical antibacterial agents for seven months in order to discharge one heifer. The topical use of honey with a solution of povidone–iodine proved to be affordable and successful, with no residue risks. The other heifer was more severely wounded, and despite the administration of fluid therapy, pain management, anti-oxidants and anti-microbials, after initial stabilization, the animal’s condition worsened, leading to euthanasia. This confirms that the treatment of burnt cattle is possible but challenging due to the late onset of multi-organ failure.

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“…With an increasing occurrence of wildfires in Washington state between 2010 and 2020 (WA DNR 2020), there is a direct increase in the potential for wildlife rehabilitators to admit wildlife suffering from trauma associated with wildfires. In recent literature, it has been established that 80% (49/61) of surveyed wildlife rehabilitation centers internationally between 2015 and 2018 have admitted burned wildlife (Butkus et al 2021). The management of emerging concerns in wildlife rehabilitation often suffers from a lack of published literature to draw from; this was the case when addressing physiological impacts for wildlife being admitted to rehabilitative care post-wildfire exposure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All three medications have great benefit to thermal burns but have restrictions for use with regard to the stage of healing. The use of tilapia skin on burn sites has also been known to be a successful form of topical burn therapy used in wildlife medicine, "the University of California Davis and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife treated three black bears suffering full thickness paw pad burns with specially prepared tilapia skin bandages" (Butkus et al 2021). The use of tilapia skin in this instance was extrapolated from human medicine, published information in veterinary medicine is not currently present on this approach (Butkus et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological impacts of wildfire exposure on four American black bears

Gordon¹

2022

Bulletin

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A substantive wildfire season in Eastern Washington in July and August 2021 led to the admittance of four American black bears (Ursus americanus) to PAWS Wildlife Center for wildfire-related injuries. The animals each suffered burns of first to fourth degree classifications in addition to trauma related to smoke inhalation. In one case, the patient experienced either permanent or transient physiologic changes to the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. The basis for anticipating and managing trauma in wildfire-affected wildlife in these cases was extrapolated from published literature in small animal veterinary medicine. The purpose of this article is to help correct the absence of formal literature regarding the physiological impact of wildfires on wildlife in a rehabilitative setting.

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Prevalence, Treatment, and Survival of Burned Wildlife Presenting to Rehabilitation Facilities From 2015 to 2018

Cited by 5 publications

References 24 publications

The Australian 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires: Analysis of the Pathology, Treatment Strategies and Decision Making About Burnt Livestock

The Australian 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires: Analysis of the Pathology, Treatment Strategies and Decision Making About Burnt Livestock

First Report on Medical Treatment and Outcome of Burnt Cattle

Physiological impacts of wildfire exposure on four American black bears

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