Hand-Rearing Wild and Domestic Mammals

This book provides guidance to raising and caring for a wide variety of domestic, farm, wildlife and zoo mammals from birth to weaning. The need to hand rear infant mammals is common in zoos and wildlife centers where young wild animals are rejected, orphaned, or have medical problems which prohibit rearing by a natural parent. More than thirty domestic animal, zoo, and wildlife rehabilitation technicians and veterinarians from around the world contribute their expertise to this book, describing methods of rearing healthy young from birth to weaning. This book covers more than 50 mammalian species, providing species-specific instructions and pertinent information on: Assessment of the neonate; Specilized equipment; Expected weight gains; Formula selection and preparation; Weaning techniques; Housing; and Common medical problems. This book also includes information on: The decision to hand rear; Record-keeping; Tips and information about hand-rearing domestic mammals, including companion animals such as puppies, kittens, ferrets, sugargliders and rabbits, and farm animals such as foals, kids, llamas and piglets; Methods for hand-rearing the most common wildlife species raised at wildlife centers, including squirrels, opossums, raccoons, rabbits, deer, foxes, bears, bats and hedgehogs; Techniques for hand-rearing mammals found in zoos and wildlife parks, including ungulates, non-domestic equids, exotic felids, carnivores (polar bears), elephants, rhinoceroses, macropods, pinnipeds, large and small primates, lemurs and sloths; Detailed advice from the experts on how to hand-rear very specialized species such as sloths and walruses. 

279 pages. Suitable for veterinarians, zoo nurses, technicians, wildlife caretakers and animal breeders. Dr. Laurie Gage is well known for her work and expertise in the rearing of seals, sea lions and walruses and has experience in rearing many other mammalian species. A Wiley-Blackwell Publication.

Available from Amazon. 

See also Hand-Rearing Birds and the BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties. 

ISBN: Hardcover: 978-0-8138-2683-7; eBook: 978-0-470-38478-7