Bite Wounds
One of the most common avian presentations at our veterinary hospital is the predator attack. These cases often present with
severe lacerations, limb amputations and crushing injuries. Apart from stabilization and concern with blood loss, shock and
pain rapid treatment with antibiotics are indicated. With our cases we give the owners a 72 hour window for treatment response
and at least a week of hospitalization before we consider the patient in good condition. Antibiotic therapy consisting of
treatment for both anaerobic and aerobic bacteria is crucial to increasing the chances of a successful case outcome. Listed
below are products used to treat wounds sustained in predator attacks.
Products Needed for Wound Management
If one is to treat avian species, especially in potentially critical condition, it is important to have the proper equipment
and products to improve the veterinarian's chances for treatment success. Equipment starts out with a digital gram scale
(Veterinary Specialty Products, Boca Raton, FL) that can measure up to 6 kg. For smaller birds, a separate digital gram scale
(Veterinary Specialty Products, Boca Raton, FL) measures up to 2 kg will be appropriate. The primary difference between the
scales is that the 6kg scale will likely weigh in 5 gram increments while the 2kg scale will have measurements in one gram
increments. For larger birds, dog and cat scales are used, while ratites need scales manufactured for large animals. It
is not only important to weigh the patient upon presentation to determine the proper therapeutic dosages, but to weigh the
bird on a daily basis for patient response to treatment. A temperature controlled critical care unit (Lyon Electric, Co,
Inc., Chula Vista, CA) is also important . This unit should be fitted for access to supplemental oxygen when needed for patients
with respiratory distress. It is desirable to have a unit with humidity control, as dry heat alone may result in dehydration
of smaller patients, especially those with extensive wounds that contribute to fluid loss. Many of the newer intensive care
units have digital controls that are easy to adjustment for precise environmental parameters.. Isoflurane anesthesia is
a must for any avian practice. Sevoflurane (SevoFlo™, Abbott Labs, North Chicago, IL) is an anesthetic agent that has gained
popularity in the last few years but the clinical benefit is negligible and the cost significantly more compared to isoflurane.1
A pair of binocular loops (Surgitel®, General Scientific Corp., Ann Arbor, MI) and microsurgical instruments should be part
of the avian practice. Binocular loops and microsurgical instruments will be beneficial for any number of animal species
undergoing surgical procedures at a veterinary hospital, including all avian patients. The benefits of using binocular loops
are numerous and only through their use will one truly appreciate the elevation of their surgical skills, especially with
smaller patients. Radiosurgical capabilities will allow the avian practitioner to use this state of the art technology from
incision to closure. Pathology is similar to the cold steel of a scalpel, and the dual frequency technology and digital programming
of the radiosurgery (Ellman International Inc., Hewlett, NY) unit allows for cutting and coagulation, hemostasis and bi-polar
forcep application. There are many applications for the radiosurgery unit in wound management, at a fraction of the cost
of LASERs, without compromising surgical quality. Adequate cage space is important for larger birds (e.g., cranes, egrets,
ratites and raptors), while hydrotherapy tubs are required for waterfowl.
Therapeutic Agents for Bandaging
Therapeutic agents for the critical patient are often available in most hospitals and include catheters (1½" 22 gauge spinal
needle for intraosseous catheters), crystalloid and colloidal fluids , iron dextran (Watson Labs. Inc., Corona, CA), oxygen-carrying
hemoglobin solution (Oxyglobin®, Biopure®, Cambridge, MA) and a nutritional critical care formula (Lafeber Co., Cornell,
IL). Analgesic compounds have been a beneficial addition to most veterinary hospitals and for the avian patient this has
been no exception. Carprofen (Rimadyl®, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY) and butorphenol tartrate (Torbugesic®, Fort Dodge Animal
Health, Fort Dodge, IA) are two of the most commonly used analgesic compounds for avian patients. (Do you want to mention
Meloxicam here since it is now available in the U.S. and has been used successfully for years in Europe?) The antibiotic,
antifungal and antiparasitic agents used to treat both systemic and topical wounds are similar to those found in most veterinary
hospitals. Avian patients often tolerate oral fluid medications better than pill or tablet forms. If a veterinary hospital
does not have common antibiotic agents formulated in an oral suspension form, then a compounding pharmacy should be contacted.
Metronidazole hydrochloride (Watson Laboratories, Inc., Corona, CA) can be difficult to administer orally because of its poor
taste. Metronidazole benzoate is considered more palatable than the more common form manufactured in the United States.
Topical therapeutic products, including antibiotic ointment may be applied depending on the nature of the injury and advantages
of using the product for that particular case. When prescribing a topical ointment for avian use caution must always be taken
into account. Owners need to be educated on the application process, using only a small amount to treat the lesion to reduce
the possibility of feather matting. Topical ointments containing corticosteroids are not recommended for avian species due
the high potential for severe side effects. Preparation-H® (Wyeth Laboratories, Marietta PA) has been advocated for dermal
wounds to decrease the healing time. An active ingredient in the Preparation-H® ointment is live yeast cell derivative that
increases the respiratory component of the epithelium surrounding the wound thereby increasing the healing capacity of the
tissue. There has been a recent advance in wound management with the advent of Tricide® (Molecular Therapeutics, LLC, Athens,
GA). This product is an antimicrobial potentiator used to flush the wound bed and control infection. Some topical antibiotic
preparations that have been used with success by the authors are triple antibiotic ointments (e.g., Neosporin®, Pfizer Inc,
New York, NY) and silver sulfadiazine cream (SSD) (Smith & Nephew Heath Care, London).
