Fallow Fawn Deer injured tips on care and feed

mylittlepony

Fallow Deer Fawn
We have been looking after a fallow fawn for 10 days now, he is injured, lost a hindfoot and the other hindleg have the skin damaged by the silage/grass cutting machine. He was hidden in the grass. Bought to the vet for stiches.
I have been feeding him on lukewarm goat milk.
He have not eaten yet. he seem very well despite his injuries and he is standing and attempting to walk every now and then.
Can you suggest anything else I should feed him on to put on weight as he is very thin and is there a suitable santuary for injured wildlife?
Or is it possible to keep as a pet as it would be impossible to return to wild with his severe injury?
Look forward to your reply.

Tackleberrywho

mylittlepony wrote: »

Fallow Deer Fawn
We have been looking after a fallow fawn for 10 days now, he is injured, lost a hindfoot and the other hindleg have the skin damaged by the silage/grass cutting machine. He was hidden in the grass. Bought to the vet for stiches.
I have been feeding him on lukewarm goat milk.
He have not eaten yet. he seem very well despite his injuries and he is standing and attempting to walk every now and then.
Can you suggest anything else I should feed him on to put on weight as he is very thin and is there a suitable santuary for injured wildlife?
Or is it possible to keep as a pet as it would be impossible to return to wild with his severe injury?
Look forward to your reply.

TBH it would not be fare to keep it.
Glendeer petfarm Athlone might take it

I'd be cruel to be kind though........

ANXIOUS

mylittlepony wrote: »

Fallow Deer Fawn
We have been looking after a fallow fawn for 10 days now, he is injured, lost a hindfoot and the other hindleg have the skin damaged by the silage/grass cutting machine. He was hidden in the grass. Bought to the vet for stiches.
I have been feeding him on lukewarm goat milk.
He have not eaten yet. he seem very well despite his injuries and he is standing and attempting to walk every now and then.
Can you suggest anything else I should feed him on to put on weight as he is very thin and is there a suitable santuary for injured wildlife?
Or is it possible to keep as a pet as it would be impossible to return to wild with his severe injury?
Look forward to your reply.

I'd also post this over here

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=240

sorri can't be more helpful.

It wasn't me!

Jwshooter nursed a sika calf after a traffic collision, but I think it would be best to find a vet who deals extensively with wildlife, given the injuries yours has sustained, and seek their advice. If it's to have any chance of successful reintegration, however, you'll need to minimise your own contact with the animal.

meathstevie

Infection would be the major one now...also consider you'll have to keep this lad for his natural lifespan if it survives the injuries and nutrition trouble as he would be severely handicapped for a return to the wild and wouldn't be half afraid enough of humans anymore.

bunny shooter

A trip to a vet and put to sleep may be the kindest option?

jwshooter

its a hard one to call , with out seeing the animal .

i would seek specialist help ,you not going to keep when or if it matures so keeping it now is wrong especially when you have to come on hear looking for help .
the fawn would have been eating , if it does not start it will go down hill fast .

kildare.17hmr

Id really get a vets opinion, if he does not think he could be reintegrated and might suffer because of the injuries i think puttin him down is the best option

poulo6.5

have you ever seen johny kingdom, he had a red calf that he kept in his back yard. it had lost its back leg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24fao-yo0hk

its a big commitment if you are thinking of keeping it. i hope it works out for you;)

kildare.17hmr

poulo6.5 wrote: »

have you ever seen johny kingdom, he had a red calf that he kept in his back yard. it had lost its back leg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24fao-yo0hk

its a big commitment if you are thinking of keeping it. i hope it works out for you;)

haha thats mad! big commitment alright, fair play te him!

Kill Joy

mylittlepony wrote: »

Fallow Deer Fawn
We have been looking after a fallow fawn for 10 days now, he is injured, lost a hindfoot and the other hindleg have the skin damaged by the silage/grass cutting machine. He was hidden in the grass. Bought to the vet for stiches.
I have been feeding him on lukewarm goat milk.
He have not eaten yet. he seem very well despite his injuries and he is standing and attempting to walk every now and then.
Can you suggest anything else I should feed him on to put on weight as he is very thin and is there a suitable santuary for injured wildlife?
Or is it possible to keep as a pet as it would be impossible to return to wild with his severe injury?
Look forward to your reply.

Google and look for Irish Wildlife Matters. It has a very good section on caring for injured deer.

Tackleberrywho

http://www.irishwildlifematters.ie/animals/deer.html

DOES IT NEED RESCUING?

HELP NEEDED

Road traffic accident casualty
A wild deer that will allow you to approach it is sick
Damaged limb/s
Obvious wounds
Injured fawn
Fawn in danger e.g. from dogs/machinery
Fawn ONLY IF you’re POSITIVE it’s been on its own for over 48hrs
Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately

HELP NOT REQUIRED

ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
Healthy adult deer in garden
If you are not equipped
If you or others would be put in too much danger

IT DOES NEED RESCUING, WHAT NEXT?
FIRST try to call relevant contact number from CONTACT page for further advice, if unavailable call vet / garda

WANT TO ATTEMPT CAPTURE
General public should only ever attempt capture of baby deer. Adult deer need specialised equipment and personnel

Follow capture instructions below
Capture ONLY if you have adequate equipment and container
Consider personal safety on roads e.g. reflective jackets, warning signs
Bring to a vet if possible, if not bring home temporarily
Follow husbandry advice for feeding and housing
Call relevant contact number from CONTACT S page for further advice
DON’T WANT TO ATTEMPT CAPTURE

If you can approach the animal lay a blanket/coat over the casualty for warmth, cover head
If animal is lying on the road, protect it from traffic if possible
Consider personal safety on roads e.g. reflective jackets, warning signs
Do not drag the animal off the road, IF safe to do so, lift it to a safe place on a coat/towel
Note exact location and call relevant person from CONTACT S page
Ideally stay with the animal until help arrives

CAPTURE

Equipment
Blanket, large dog carrier

CAPTURE - ADULT DEER
Capture of adult deer requires specialised equipment and personnel
General public are advised to call relevant person on CONTACTS page to deal with the situation
(for adult capture notes see rehabbers section)

CAPTURE - BABY DEER (fawn or calf depending on species)

Alone, lying down, head up, bright and alert ?

First observe from a distance, using binoculars, to see if the mother returns
(Mothers leave their fawns alone for up to 10 hours at a time when they go off to feed)
Do not disturb unless in imminent danger from dogs or machinery
If still worried, check for injury. Do NOT touch at this stage
If still unsure, call relevant number from the contacts page for further advice
Ideally vet/ rehabilitator can come and assess the fawn’s condition in person
If not, assess fawn’s condition with vet/rehabilitator over the phone
If decision is made to capture the fawn, follow instructions below:

Wrap up in towel/jumper. Tuck legs underneath. Slide into large dog carrier
Alone, injured or remains lying with head on ground when disturbed, weak, cold, sick looking ?

May have lost its mother to dogs or been abandoned because sick
Needs rescuing if definitely hasn’t been fed by the mother for over 10 hours
Ideally vet/ rehabilitator can come and assess the fawn’s condition in person
If not, assess fawn’s condition with vet/rehabilitator over the phone
If decision is made to capture the fawn, follow instructions below:

Wrap up in towel/jumper. Tuck legs underneath. Slide into large dog carrier
Capture notes
Crouch down when approaching – you appear less of a threat
Approach slowly; stopping if animal appears ready to flee
The fawn will probably be under 5 days of age if able to be caught

TRANSPORTATION
Sturdy carrier –solid secure ventilated container
Dog carrier/puppy crate
Avoid direct sunlight – danger of overheating
Cover container with towel, darkness will reduce stress

HANDLING
Do not handle unnecessarily
Once captured do not try to calm animal by talking to it
Cover the eyes when handling to reduce stress
If carrying fawn be aware legs can flail and kick



© East Sussex Wildlife Rescue
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SHORT TERM CARE FAWN
See SUPPLIES page for food and equipment mentioned below

Step by Step:

Weigh
Warm up
Stimulate to urinate/defecate
Provide fluids
Weighing
Easiest method is to hold the fawn in your arms and stand on bathroom scales, deduct your own weight. Weight will give an idea of age, species, feeding quantities, health status

Housing – fawn
Most importantly- warmth, quiet and dark or dim lighting
Keep indoors, in a quiet, warm, darkened place, away from children and domestic animals
Small space, just large enough for fawn to stand up and turn around
Large dog carrier if small fawn, alternatively a blocked off corner of a room or deep container
Use towels for bedding
Important to have non-s lip surface for fawn to stand safely

Warmth
Fawns are often chilled and wet; the mother normally dries them within an hour of birth
The fawn will die if not dried and warmed so it feels warm to the touch
Rub it briskly with a warm dry towel and keep it in a warm room
A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel should be put in the container with the fawn initially
Beware overheating can also kill so give enough space that the fawn can move away from the heat if necessary
If the fawn is cold it will be unwilling to feed

Toileting
VERY IMPORTANT!
Fawns need help urinating and defecating
Before and after each feed gently stroke their genital and anal area with damp cotton wool for about 60 seconds until urine and/or faeces is produced
Toileting seems to act as a stimulant to start suckling

FEEDING

Rehydration solution/ ‘milk’

Ideally veterinary rehydration solution e.g. Lectade
Homemade Rehydration solution - “1 pinch of sugar and 1 pinch of salt in 1 cup of warm water”
Goats’ milk
ALL feeds should be lukewarm
(24hrs of rehydration solution feeds is fine if goat’s milk difficult to obtain)
Only handle for feeding (for frequency see below)
Remember toileting seems to act as a stimulant to start suckling

DANGER – Aspiration Pneumonia – inhaling fluid into the lungs
If a bubble of liquid appears at the nose or the fawn starts sneezing or shaking its head, stop feeding immediately and tilt the head down allow any fluid to drain out. Dab with tissue, take a break, and then start again very slowly

Preventative measures:

Use rehydration solution for the first few feeds while you and the fawn get used to feeding
Feed with fawn standing on all four feet, and leaning slightly forward, and with you straddling it and bending over to feed it (simulating mother’s position)
Keep bottle at 45 degree angle and guide it into fawn’s mouth initially
Try to get the fawn to suck the fluids slowly rather than guzzling
Always feed patiently, slowly and gently
Take to vet for antibiotics and other respiratory drugs if fawn inhales fluids and starts coughing for an extended period of time, breathing heavily or breathing with mouth open

Introducing ‘milk’
1st feed – rehydration solution
2nd feed – rehydration solution
3rd feed – ¾ rehydration solution, ¼ goats’ milk
4th feed – ½ rehydration solution, ½ goats’ milk
5th feed – ¼ rehydration solution, ¾ goats’ milk
6th feed – goats’ milk

© Emma Higgs
Bottles/equipment

Esbilac bottle
Human baby bottle if fawn large enough
syringe if fawn tiny but be aware of aspiration pneumonia (mentioned above) and feed very slowly watching to check that the fawn swallows as you feed
Identification
Baby deer of different species appear very similar
IF in doubt use fawn's weight rather than species as a guide for feeding
Feed smaller rather than larger quantity


© East Sussex Wildlife Rescue
© Sarefo, Wikimedia Commons
Fallow fawn
Muntjac adult


© Robek
© BS Thurner Hof
Sika calf
Red deer adult and calf
Quantity & Frequency (ROUGH guide)

Weight *

Species

Quantity per feed

Frequency

10 kg

Red

250 ml

4 feeds per day

9 kg

Sika

180 ml

5 feeds per day

7 kg

Fallow

140 ml

5 feeds per day

3 kg

Muntjac

60 ml

5 feeds per day

*Approximated weight based on the assumption that the fawn will be 2-5 days of age

Theoretically fawns may be fed up to 10% of body weight per day, depending on appetite
Table above is ROUGH guide, each individual is different
Fawn will not necessarily stop drinking when it has had the correct amount
Too little is better than too much
If they are unwilling to wake up and feed, extend the gap between feeds by ½ hour
Never feed an animal so much fluid that its tummy becomes hard and distended

Digestion/ Winding
After feeding, rub the fawn’s belly for a few minutes

Hygiene
Keep feeding utensils in a deep bowl of sterilising solution e.g. Milton
Use clean feeding utensils for each feed
After use, dismantle feeding equipment and clean thoroughly in warm soapy water, rinse, then replace in the sterilising bowl
Rinse utensils before each feed