How often are vets injured by their wild animal patients?
Though most injuries to humans result from an unexpected action by the animal, we are ultimately responsible–not the patient. It is the vet, after all, who has made the decision to intervene. Unless the animal is believed to carry an infectious disease that could be transmitted by a bite or scratch, no special action is called for. If the animal could be a carrier of a potentially lethal disease that can infect people, it will be observed for signs of illness, anesthetized for testing, or in extreme cases, euthanized for a definitive diagnosis. The latter happens very rarely. Examples include bats, skunks, and raccoons infected with rabies and macaques carrying herpes B. In the course of a career, vets who work with wild animals will suffer a number of minor injuries. A few will be injured badly. Most injuries occur at some point during physical or chemical restraint, the first step in performing a hands-on exam. Our patients are well-armed with defense mechanisms designed to fend off
