Hand-Rearing Wild and Domestic Mammals: Gage/Hand-Rearing

Veterinarians, technicians and wildlife caregivers are often called upon to have expertise in raising infant mammals. This book provides clear guidance to raising and caring for a wide variety of domestic, farm, wildlife, and zoo mammals from birth to weaning. Over thirty veterinary technicians, wildlife specialists, and veterinarians from around the world have contributed their expertise to this useful book that covers over 50 mammalian species. Some of the topics covered in each chapter of this book include: * Assessment of the neonate * Specialised equipment * Expected weight gains * Formula selection and preparation * Weaning techniques * Housing * Common medical problems Detailed chapters are devoted to the following animals: * Domestic animals: puppies, kittens, ferrets, sugar gliders and rabbits * Farm animals: foals, kids, llamas and piglets * Wildlife: squirrels, opossums, raccoons, rabbits, deer, foxes, bears, bats, and hedgehogs * Zoo animals: ungulates, non-domestic equids, exotic felids, polar bears, elephants, rhinoceroses, macropods, pinnipeds, large and small primates, lemurs and sloths 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.Content: Chapter 1 Orphan Rabbits (pages 5–12): Karen Heller Taylor Chapter 2 Puppies (pages 13–18): Vulerie T. Barrette Chapter 3 Domestic Kittens (pages 19–23): Laura Summers Chapter 4 Critically Ill and Orphaned Foals (pages 24–29): K. Gary Magdesian Chapter 5 Pigs (pages 30–33): Janet Fine and Rebecca Duerr Chapter 6 Goat Kids (pages 34–38): Joan D. Rowe Chapter 7 South American Camelids (pages 39–42): Robert J. Pollard and Susan D. Pollard Chapter 8 Opossums (pages 45–54): Paula Taylor Chapter 9 Sugar Gliders (pages 55–62): Michele Barnes Chapter 10 Macropods (pages 63–74): Rosemary Booth Chapter 11 Hedgehogs (pages 75–80): Ian Robinson Chapter 12 Sloths (pages 81–89): Judy Avey?Arroyo Chapter 13 Ground and Tree Squirrels (pages 90–95): Dawn Smith Chapter 14 Insectivorous Bats (pages 96–103): Susan M. Barnard Chapter 15 Lemurs (pages 104–113): Cathy V. Williams Chapter 16 Tamarins (pages 114–117): Laurie Hrdlicka and Cynthia Stringfield Chapter 17 Macaque Species (pages 118–124): Laura Summers, Laurie Brignolo and Kari Christe Chapter 18 Great Apes (pages 125–131): Dawn Strasser Chapter 19 Harbor Seals and Northern Elephant Seals (pages 132–142): Rebecca Duerr Chapter 20 Sea Lions and Fur Seals (pages 143–149): Laurie J. Gage Chapter 21 Walrus Calves (pages 150–157): Laurie J. Gage and Terry S. Samansky Chapter 22 Fox Kits (pages 158–169): Jennifer Convy, Darlene DeGhetto and Sophia Papageorgiou Chapter 23 Black Bear Cubs (pages 170–180): Sophia Papageorgiou, Darlene DeGhetto and Jennifer Convy Chapter 24 Polar Bears (pages 181–190): Gail Hedberg Chapter 25 Raccoons (pages 191–202): Darlene DeGhetto, Sophia Papageorgiou and Jennifer Convy Chapter 26 Ferret Kits (pages 203–206): Vickie McKirnrney Chapter 27 Exotic Felids (pages 207–220): Gail Hedberg Chapter 28 Elephants (pages 221–228): Karen A. Emanuelson and Colleen E. Kinzley Chapter 29 Nondomestic Equids (pages 229–235): Terry Blakeslee and Jeffery R. Zuba Chapter 30 Rhinoceros (pages 236–243): Terry Blakeslee and Jefsery R. Zuba Chapter 31 Black?Tailed and White?Tailed Deer (pages 244–255): Sophia Papageorgiou, Darlene DeGhetto and Jennifer Convy Chapter 32 Exotic Ungulates (pages 256–261): Kelley Greene and Cynthia Stringfield

Veterinarians, technicians and wildlife caregivers are often called upon to have expertise in raising infant mammals. This book provides clear guidance to raising and caring for a wide variety of domestic, farm, wildlife, and zoo mammals from birth to weaning. Over thirty veterinary technicians, wildlife specialists, and veterinarians from around the world have contributed their expertise to this useful book that covers over 50 mammalian species.

Some of the topics covered in each chapter of this book include:
* Assessment of the neonate
* Specialised equipment
* Expected weight gains
* Formula selection and preparation
* Weaning techniques
* Housing
* Common medical problems

Detailed chapters are devoted to the following animals:
* Domestic animals: puppies, kittens, ferrets, sugar gliders and rabbits
* Farm animals: foals, kids, llamas and piglets
* Wildlife: squirrels, opossums, raccoons, rabbits, deer, foxes, bears, bats, and hedgehogs
* Zoo animals: ungulates, non-domestic equids, exotic felids, polar bears, elephants, rhinoceroses, macropods, pinnipeds, large and small primates, lemurs and sloths

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.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Julia K Whittington, DVM(University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description:This book's 32 chapters are divided into two parts -- domestic mammals and wildlife, zoo, and marine mammals. One editor and 34 authors have contributed to this book, which is rich with tables, pictures, and figures to augment the text.
Purpose:This is designed as a guide for animal care professionals working with neonates of a variety of mammalian species. Although the information can be found elsewhere, the book serves as a comprehensive source. This has been accomplished well by the author as she has targeted readers who are gaining further experience in this field. Experienced animal care providers will also benefit from the information presented on species they are less familiar with.
Audience:The author states, and I concur, that the intended audience of this book is composed of veterinary practitioners, technicians, wildlife rehabilitators, and zoo personnel. This book represents a practical guide for these professionals, not a definitive reference. As such it is not targeted towards experienced specialists already versed with a given species' care. Although all the contributors have extensive experience in their field, some lack scientific training to give depth and credibility to their information.
Features:The book addresses the nutritional, husbandry related, and developmental issues an animal care provide must consider when handling the neonatal care of various mammals. An inherent strength of this book is the number of contributors to the text and the variety of experiences they bring. Author preferences and success pertaining to past trial and error experiences are the backbone of the contents. This provides a wealth of knowledge, but it also represents a potential weakness of the book -- the anecdotal nature of some recommendations.
Assessment:This will serve as a useful tool for animal care providers responsible for raising orphaned animals. The convenience offered by bringing this information together in one source is invaluable and the author has done a good job in coordinating the efforts and topics of a variety of contributors.

The need to hand-raise infant mammals is common in zoos and wildlife centres where young wild animals are rejected, orphaned or have medical problems. This book addresses the neonatal care and feeding of common zoo and domestic species