Big cats are not immune to salmonella and e-coli infections. When infected, they need proper care and hygiene. Liquid diet should be administered to them.
Big cats are not immune to salmonella and e-coli infections. When infected, they need proper care and hygiene. Liquid diet should be administered to them.
Their caretakers should wear gloves and wash themselves with disinfectants before entering and leaving the isolation ward and cage area. In BBP, the caretakers do not wear gloves and boots.
Affected tigers should not be kept together until their condition improves.
Regarding the treatment, Dr Narayan Bhat, veterinarian and professor of medicine at Veterinary College, Bangalore, says antibiotics should be tested before being administered on the tigers. The affected tigers should also be put on constant fluids and electrolytes so that they do not get dehydrated and tired. This should be administered apart from feeding them meat, as their appetite comes down.
These animals should not be disturbed as they are already distressed. If there are many people around, they will refuse to come inside the cage. It would be better if the animals are kept indoors as one can monitor their condition better.
Dr C Suresh Kumar, veterinarian and assistant director of Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysore), says all caretakers should wash their feet with disinfectants while entering and exiting the cage so that the bacteria do not spread. The food should be washed with hot water and a small quantity of potassium permanganate, especially in case of infection. Ideally, the caretaker who has nurtured the animal all along should be present during the time of illness as the animal will respond to his calls.
Wildlife warden of Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Reserve in Pilukula Nisarga Dhama, Jayaprakash Bhandary, says it is important to ascertain the cause of the infection. Thorough hygiene should be maintained in the whole area. Proper track record of the animals should be maintained as this helps in administering medication. Proper attention should be paid to each affected animal, the doctor adds.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}