Bats

David Couper

doi:10.22233/9781910443316.15

Bats

British Small Animal Veterinary Association , 175 (2016); https://doi.org/10.22233/9781910443316.15

/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15

Bats

GBP

BSAVA Library Pass Buy a pass

Author: David Couper
From: BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties
Item: Chapter 15, pp 175 - 191
DOI: 10.22233/9781910443316.15
Copyright: © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Publication Date: December 2016

Abstract

The majority of bats presented as wildlife casualties are common pipistrelle bats, soprano pipistrelle bats and brown long-eared bats. The last 50 years has seen dramatic declines in the British bat population: habitat and agricultural intensification are the likely major causes. Trauma and infectious diseases are two of the main reasons a bat may be presented to a veterinary clinic. This chapter covers: ecology and biology; anatomy and physiology; capture, handling and transportation; clinical assessment; first aid and hospitalization; anaesthesia and analgesia; specific conditions; therapeutics; husbandry; rearing of bat pups; rehabilitation and release; and legal considerations.

Preview this chapter:

Full text loading...

/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15

Figures

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig2

15.2

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_2_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_2.png

15.2 Common pipistrelle bat. Note rounded shape of a healthy bat. (© RSPCA, David Couper)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig3

15.3

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_3_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_3.png

15.3 Ventral view of stylized microchopteran bat illustrating major anatomical features. (Redrawn after Schober and Grimmberger, 1989 )

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig4

15.4

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_4_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_4.png

15.4 Lucent finger joints (arrowed) visible in the wing of a juvenile bat. (© RSPCA, David Couper)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig5

15.5

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_5_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_5.png

15.5 Thin juvenile bat with ectoparasites and blowfly eggs, showing ‘tucked-in’ abdomen.

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig6

15.6

(a) For examination the bat is held dorsoventrally across the thorax using the thumb and fingers in apposition. Whilst supporting the body, each wing is extended and examined in turn. Note: photograph is of dead specimen. (b) Restraint of a noctule bat, one of the larger bat species in the UK. Note the large canines and location of the buccal glands (arrowed). (a, © Steve Bexton; b, © Maggie and Bryan Brown) © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_6_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_6.png

15.6 (a) For examination the bat is held dorsoventrally across the thorax using the thumb and fingers in apposition. Whilst supporting the body, each wing is extended and examined in turn. Note: photograph is of dead specimen. (b) Restraint of a noctule bat, one of the larger bat species in the UK. Note the large canines and location of the buccal glands (arrowed). (a, © Steve Bexton; b, © Maggie and Bryan Brown)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig7

15.7

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_7_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_7.png

15.7 Radiograph of brown long-eared bat, revealing fractures around the left shoulder joint. (© RSPCA, David Couper)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig8

15.8

Brown long-eared bat showing massive trauma as a result of a cat attack: fracture of left forearm; holes in left wing membrane; phalanges exposed by large tear in right wing membrane; tear to uropatagium exposing right calcar. Note: photograph is of a dead specimen. (© RSPCA, David Couper) © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_8_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_8.png

15.8 Brown long-eared bat showing massive trauma as a result of a cat attack: fracture of left forearm; holes in left wing membrane; phalanges exposed by large tear in right wing membrane; tear to uropatagium exposing right calcar. Note: photograph is of a dead specimen. (© RSPCA, David Couper)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig9

15.9

(a) Small hole in the patagium, which will heal rapidly without intervention. (b) Large tear in the patagium with a more guarded prognosis. (a, © RSPCA, David Couper; b, © Maggie and Bryan Brown) © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_9_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_9.png

15.9 (a) Small hole in the patagium, which will heal rapidly without intervention. (b) Large tear in the patagium with a more guarded prognosis. (a, © RSPCA, David Couper; b, © Maggie and Bryan Brown)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig10

15.10

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_10_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_10.png

15.10 Juvenile common pipistrelle bat covered in cobwebs and debris. (© RSPCA, David Couper)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig11

15.11

Hibernating little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) in North America exhibiting white-nose syndrome. (Courtesy of Nancy Heaslip, New York Department of Environmental Conservation) © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_11_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_11.png

15.11 Hibernating little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) in North America exhibiting white-nose syndrome. (Courtesy of Nancy Heaslip, New York Department of Environmental Conservation)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig12

15.12

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_12_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_12.png

15.12 Cimex species bat bug. (Courtesy of C Dietz)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig13

15.13

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_13_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_13.png

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig15

15.15

Clip-top plastic tank suitable for short-term accommodation. Paper towel hung over edges of container provides bat with somewhere to hide and hang from. Mealworms presented in a shallow, smooth-sided container, to allow easy access for bat, but to prevent mealworms from escaping. A heat mat is positioned behind the tank. (© RSPCA, David Couper) © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_15_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_15.png

15.15 Clip-top plastic tank suitable for short-term accommodation. Paper towel hung over edges of container provides bat with somewhere to hide and hang from. Mealworms presented in a shallow, smooth-sided container, to allow easy access for bat, but to prevent mealworms from escaping. A heat mat is positioned behind the tank. (© RSPCA, David Couper)

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig16

15.16

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_16_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_16.png

/content/figure/10.22233/9781910443316.chap15.ch15fig17

15.17

Metabolic bone disease in a juvenile common pipistrelle bat. The finger bones are deformed and there is a folding fracture of the forearm. Note: photograph is of a dead specimen. (© RSPCA, David Couper) © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_17_thumb.gif

10.22233/9781910443316/fig15_17.png

15.17 Metabolic bone disease in a juvenile common pipistrelle bat. The finger bones are deformed and there is a folding fracture of the forearm. Note: photograph is of a dead specimen. (© RSPCA, David Couper)