Any Common Swift whose condition does not yet allow a complete clinical examination, but only a fractionated one for the time being, and which is classified as unstable to immediately life-threatening, is considered an emergency patient. Before the examination is completed, immediate life-saving measures are required.
These include:
- birds with shock symptoms and/or severe trauma,
- swifts with profuse bleeding,
- extremely emaciated and/or exsiccated adult swifts,
- extremely emaciated and/or exsiccated nestlings,
- swifts with severe dyspnoea,
- long-term and extremely malnourished swifts with intense disorders of their general condition,
- swifts with intense disorders of their general condition of unknown origin,
- swifts with damages of the plumage which have a direct and possibly life-threatening influence on the general condition.
First Aid Measures for Emergency Patients
Dyspnoea:
- The pharynx is checked and any mechanical obstructions to breathing are removed (e.g. blood, saliva, slime, regurgitated food).
- In case of noisy breathing (crepitating, slurping): Furosemide at a dosage of 1 to max. 2 mg/kg body weight p.o. or i.m.; if the symptoms recur, the application can be repeated over the following two to three days. The risk of subsequent dehydration must be kept in mind.
- In case of breathing interruption, Dimethylbutyramide is given drop by drop orally as a peripheral respiratory stimulant. Never apply the drops directly into the pharynx (danger of aspiration pneumonia); instead, spread them onto the ventral mucosa of the pharynx.
- In case of respiratory arrest, attempt resuscitation with Doxapram, either drop by drop orally or as an intramuscular injection at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight.
- In case of high-grade dyspnoea (choking, wheezing, suffocation attacks) with no response to the respiratory stimulants named above, the bird should be euthanised without further delay.
Shock:
For volume replacement in shock, subcutaneous injection (in the bend of the knee) of 0.8 – 1 ml body-warm Ringer's lactate solution per bird has proven effective. In addition, shock patients receive a single intramuscular injection of corticosteroids (Prednisolone 5 mg/kg body weight).
Cachexia / Exsiccosis:
For volume replacement and circulatory stabilisation, 0.8 – 1 ml Amynin / Ringer's lactate solution at a ratio of 1:1 is injected body-warm and subcutaneously, if necessary two to three times at intervals of eight to twelve hours each. Standard, warm coffee, given drop by drop approximately 15–20 minutes after the infusion, has often proven to be a gentle and effective circulatory stimulant. In case of circulatory collapse, etilefrine hydrochloride (0.2 – 1 mg/kg body weight i.m. or p.o.) and g-strophanthin (drop by drop p.o.) are indicated. In cases of metabolic acidosis following long periods of starvation, a single subcutaneous dose of sodium bicarbonate 4.2% at 15 ml/kg body weight is recommended.
Hypothermia:
External heat supply (30 – 35° C) via heating pad, red light lamp or infrared dark heat lamp is essential for the intensive care patient. Feeding or watering attempts with emergency patients are not indicated until breathing and circulation have stabilised. Fluids and nutrients can be supplied parenterally via subcutaneously administered roborants over a period of 12–24 hours.
Cramps and Convulsions:
Intramuscular administration of Diazepam at a dosage of 5 mg/kg body weight can be helpful. In cases of cranial trauma (Commotio cerebri) and central nervous system disturbances, a single dose of vitamin B complex (10 – 30 mg/kg body weight i.m. or s.c.; the vitamin B1 content must not exceed 5 mg/kg body weight) is recommended.
Bleeding, Haemorrhage:
Staunching a bleeding wound depends on its location and differs in its method: finger pressure or a compression bandage, local (iron(III) chloride or silver-nitrate stick applied topically) and/or systemic haemostatic agents (naphthionic acid 100 mg/kg body weight i.m.).
Open Wounds / Fractures:
Unless the prognosis is hopeless: wound debridement / osteosynthesis under general anaesthesia. The same requirements apply as for surgical wound and fracture treatment in small animal medicine!!
If the patient cannot be anaesthetised, wound care cannot be carried out immediately: sterile wound covering / temporary fixation. Drying out of tissue and bone must absolutely be avoided. Administer analgesics!
Eye Injuries:
Analgesics systemically and locally. An ophthalmological examination by a specialist should clarify as quickly as possible whether the eye's vision can be restored. Otherwise: immediate euthanasia.
Dirty Plumage:
In cases of highly contaminated plumage, an attempt can be made under general anaesthesia to achieve a preliminary cleaning with body-warm water and standard washing-up liquid, and to prevent the bird from orally ingesting foreign substances, for example during attempts to clean itself. The contaminating substance should be identified as early as possible in order to find a suitable detergent for cleaning. Caution: many cleaning agents and solvents are highly toxic to the patient!