SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT FEBRUARY 2021
Introduction
5 Cases in February
2 Poaching Cases
1 Elephant Case
February Report by Dr. Ndambiri Ephantus February has been a month of mixed weather patterns deviating from the usual relatively dry spell. It has been both wet and dry interchangeably with unusual rain spells and visually cloudy some days. This has ensured that the rate of drying vegetation, shedding of tree leaves and streams/rivers volume reduction is slow. Unfortunately, human-wildlife conflict seems to have increased and there has been an increase in snaring activities. This could have arisen as resources are gradually becoming scarce outside the Conservation areas, particularly browse and water, resulting in undue competition within the ecosystem. Hopefully, wild animals will return back inside the protected areas thus reducing the conflict in the Community areas. Acknowledgement We as a Unit and KWS as a whole we hereby express our heartfelt gratitude for the enormous sponsorship by The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the partners. Many animals have been reached by this kindlier gesture and we are optimistic that more animals will be relieved of their sufferings by the continuation of the same.
Case Details Date
Species
16-Feb-21 Elephant
17-Feb-21
Security Dog
Area Found Meru National Park Meru National Park
Reason for Intervention Snared
A bull elephant had a snare on the left hindlimb that it was dragging as it moved
Successfully Treated
Technical Cases
The dog was due for a routine check-up and vaccination
Task Successful
Bongo
Mount Kenya NR
Natural Causes
21-Feb-21
Zebra
Meru National Park
Snared
23-Feb-21
Bongo
Mount Kenya NR
Natural Causes
18-Feb-21
Outcome
A female bongo repeatedly suffers from a vaginal prolapse which has to be surgically corrected each time The patrol team reported seeing a zebra with a wire stuck around the neck in the morning Denya, a male mountain bongo calf was reported with a swelling on the right lateral side of the mandible
Successfully Treated Successfully Treated Successfully Treated
SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations February 2021
Case 1 – 16th February 2021 Elephant
Snared
Meru National Park
The Meru Park Research team reported an elephant bull with a snare on the left hindlimb that it was dragging as it moved. The elephant was in the company of another bull and the main herd had moved off. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The animal was darted with 13mg Etorphine in the right rump from the vehicle. The elephant was then followed closely but after a few complications it was lost in the bush. The team used the tracks and general direction to track down the elephant and after sometime it was found and a top-up dose of 2mg Etorphine was given as the animal was found very alert of its surroundings. The elephant was pulled to lie on left lateral recumbency to allow for access to the limb with the snare. The bull was in good body condition despite the thick wire around the limb which was intended for small game. There were no wounds as the elephant had stepped on the loose end so it wasn’t firmly attached. A few abrasions occurred while the elephant was running. The snare was cut off using wire cutter then the elephant was given an intramuscular injection of 20mg Dexamethasone (Colvasone) and 2,000mg Catosal. Prognosis The prognosis was good since the animal was in good body condition and the snare was removed promptly.
Case 2 – 17th February 2021 Security Dog
Technical Case
Meru National Park
The dog was vaccinated on the 9th of December 2020 and was due for the next routine check-up and vaccination in February 2021. The vaccination is important because Trypanosomiasis is a prevalent condition within the park due to the presence of the disease carrying vectors (Tsetse flies). Therefore, this is a way of maintaining the health of the animal and create an immunity against the condition.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The dog was led out of the kennel by the handler and the team allowed the dog to familiarise himself with everyone’s scent. Physical examination showed that the dog had a good body condition score of 3 out of 5. He had a healthy smooth coat and was well hydrated. The vaccine contains Quinapyramine sulphate (1.5g) and Quinapyramine chloride (1g). The dosage rate was 0.03ml/kg body weight and the dog was estimated to be 30kg. Therefore, 0.9ml of the drug was administered intramuscularly. Following the treatment, the dog was walked to see if there was any change in the behaviour of the animal. On determining that he was well, the dog was put back into the kennel and allowed to rest. Prognosis Prognosis was good as the dog didn’t have any adverse reactions. The next vaccination is due in three months.
Case 3 – 18th February 2021 Bongo
Natural Causes
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
Kipenzi a five-year-old mountain bongo was observed with a vaginal prolapse on 8th February. This has been a recurrent problem in this bongo since she experienced a difficult delivery on 31st December 2019. Since then, the same problem has reoccurred at six different times and this is the seventh. On all these occasions, the prolapsed vaginal tissue was manipulated back and sutures placed on the vulva. A combination of surgery, therapeutic and hormonal therapy using 600mg of Progesterone was attempted on 18th January 2021, but still the prolapse reoccurred three weeks later and it was worse and more pronounced. Immobilisation, examination and treatment Observation revealed that a large part of the vagina protruded outwards and the tissue was very congested and extremely dirty. She was clearly in a lot of pain and discomfort with gas expulsion when walking. It was noted that when she was lying down the whole area was in contact with the ground as it was covered with mud and grass. The animal was darted and was in so much pain, didn’t move from the darting site. While the drugs were taking effect, she was gently walked to a shaded area where the ground was dry and a mattress was placed for her comfort. When walking she was spraying urine, indicating incontinence. Since she was lying down the vaginal tissue was being pushed out by the pressure exerted by the abdominal contents. The tissue was highly congested, dirty and round in the shape of a large ball. On palpation, urine leaked out and moving the tissue aside showed that due to the prolapsed tissue, urine retention had occurred as the tissue pressed against the urethral opening created a seal. The area was compressed and a large volume of urine released so as to reduce the pressure on the vaginal tissue and also help relieve the animal from the obvious discomfort from the retention. The vaginal tissue was then thoroughly washed with normal saline solution and a few tears were noted on the tissue possibly caused when she was moving about in her enclosure. The vaginal tissue was noted to be flaccid and on further inspection the opening to the cervix was also visible. The tissue was thoroughly washed and moistened using the saline solution before attempting treatment. Normal saline solution was continuously applied to wash away any unwanted tissues and at the same time keep the tissue moist and clean. The organ was then carefully and gently pushed and placed back into the body with the help of raising the hindquarters to reduce the amount of pressure backwards.
The opening had to be held together as the sutures were placed. The layers sutured included; two horizontal mattress sutures, one simple suture and overlying the whole area a single purse string suture. The suture material used was non-absorbable and much stronger to withstand the abdominal pressure. The vagina was infused with 150mg Amoxicillin to prevent infection around the sutured area and within the tract following the contamination. Other treatment included the intramuscular administration of 12ml Multivitamin, 300mg Gentamycin (intramuscular), 300mg of Gentamycin (intravenously) and 150mg Flunixin Meglumine.
Prognosis and Recommendation The prognosis was fair following the surgical treatment. However, the prognosis of her general welfare and health was poor as the prolapse continues to recur and she has poor reproductive status. Since the condition is not showing any signs of improvement, the remaining options were to look into the welfare and ethics of the case. The numerous treatments she has undergone and the pain she experiences is a matter of concern. This is not a healthy lifestyle for her. Furthermore, the more the area is surgically sutured, the more the tissue in the area undergoes changes in the conformity and integrity of the layers. Although surgery gives temporary relief, a case of chronic vaginal prolapse like this may require more invasive techniques to stabilize the vagina. Suture techniques commonly used in cattle may be more appropriate. However, these techniques are associated with other complications, and may result in tearing of the vagina or damage to the Sciatic nerve or internal pudendal artery. All these interventions need to be evaluated however, the recommendation in this case is to euthanise the bongo if the condition reoccurs again.
Case 4 – 21st February 2021 Zebra
Snared
Meru National Park
The patrol team reported seeing a zebra with a wire around the neck in the morning hours. On arrival there were two herds of zebras in the area and the snared zebra was found in the second herd. Immobilisation, examination and treatment A dart was loaded with 5mg Etorphine mixed with 70mg Azaperone from the vehicle. The dart landed in the left hindlimb and after 5 mins the zebra went down on left lateral recumbency. The other zebras dispersed as the team rushed in with a blindfold to quickly start the treatment. The wire was observed to have been acquired not long ago as there were no wounds around the neck and the zebra was in good body condition. The wire had however, rubbed against the neck as it got tighter and hardened the area under the neck as well as leading to loss of hair in the same place. The wire was easily removable without using a wire cutter and the neck did not require treatment. The scratches attained during the treatment process were sprayed with Oxytetracycline (Alamycin) to act as an antibiotic and fly repellent. The zebra was also administered with 5ml Multivitamin and 2,000mg of Oxytetracycline. Prognosis The prognosis was good since there was no wound detected and the wire was removed early.
Case 5 – 23rd February 2021 Bongo
Natural Causes
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
Denya, a male bongo calf approximately was reported with a swelling on the right side of the mandible in January 2021. He was found with an enlarged parotid gland which was treated. However, in February 2021, the keepers noted that the lymph node was swelling again but the calf looked bright and was feeding well. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The animal was immobilized with 1.5mg Etorphine and 20mg Azaperone from foot. He ran down a hilly area before the drugs took effect and had to be carried to a flat area for treatment. Since the procedure wasn’t intense and the animal was young, he was immediately reversed with 6mg of Diprenorphine and manually restrained by the team. The older bongos were kept away to ensure the safety of the team. The swelling was palpated and seen to be very close to the lymph node in the area. The node was aspirated which yielded pus. This confirmed that the swelling was an abscess that was ready for lancing. An incision was made at the lower end of the swelling. The pus was then squeezed out and drained until it was completely empty. The area was lavaged and flushed with 6% Hydrogen peroxide to remove the debris, pus and dead tissue, disinfected with Iodine then packed with antibiotics. Another area was palpated and a second abscess was found which was treated the same way as the first. After both were adequately drained the incision openings were extended by adding another incision across so that they formed a cross to allow for proper self-drainage which aids with healing and prevents recurrence. The bongo was also given intramuscular injections of; 1,500mg Amoxicillin, 12mg Dexamethasone (Colvasone) and 10ml Multivitamin. Prognosis The young male had already been reversed and so was released carefully. He was very energetic on release and ran off into the bushes to search for the rest of the herd that contained his mother. The prognosis of the case was good and after treatment the animal showed signs of relief from pain and discomfort. This also helps the animal to eat as it was located in an area with vegetation requiring chewing, so the relief will promote eating and subsequently the health and growth of the young bongo. Observation was recommended so as to assess the progress of the lanced abscess and the healing process.