Asking for Advice - a guide

[Buchan]

If you find something you don't recognise, or want a second opinion on, I have a few suggestions to help get as much information as posssible. I'll assume that you've already done a full check at the gralloch! (Admin - could you make this a sticky?)

1. Take photos - lots, you can always delete.
2. Use something to give a scale - like a knife or a glove.
3. Cut into it once you've taken a photo of the outside. NOTE - not lymph-nodes or abscesses!!!
4. Take a photo of the cut surface
5. Take a sample - about a cubic inch is enough. You'll probably bin this, but sometimes it's useful. Keep it cold, not frozen
6. If you have a vet you know, who is interested, they may well be up for having a look, especially if they get a nice piece of venison!

 

[CarlW]

If you find something you don't recognise, or want a second opinion on, I have a few suggestions to help get as much information as posssible. I'll assume that you've already done a full check at the gralloch!

1. Take photos - lots, you can always delete.
2. Use something to give a scale - like a knife or a glove.
3. Cut into it once you've taken a photo of the outside. NOTE - not lymph-nodes or abscesses!!!
4. Take a photo of the cut surface
5. Take a sample - about a cubic inch is enough. You'll probably bin this, but sometimes it's useful. Keep it cold, not frozen
6. If you have a vet you know, who is interested, they may well be up for having a look, especially if they get a nice piece of venison!

This is really helpful. Thank you, @Buchan .

Just one thing: do you offer him the venison before or after he diagnoses anthrax?

 

[sikamalc]

No disrespect but I wouldn't encourage people to take samples home or start to delve into a carcass that may be carrying a notifiable disease.
Most of us are just deer stalkers, not vets or disease specialists and therefore cutting samples out or moving a possibly contaminated carcass is not to be recommended.

If anyone suspects a disease that is notifiable or has any issue with a sick looking deer, they should report it to the divisional ministry vet and isolate the carcass on the spot. I would not entertain incising any part that looked infected, this could be TB or worse case scenario Anthrax, which I know is highly unlikely, but if it is you should go no where near it.
Just for the sake of those who are new to stalking. An animal with suspected Anthrax will be bleeding from the mouth and other areas. I dont think its ever been recorded in wild deer? but I may well be totally wrong. Either way it is a notifiable disease. I do believe there is still an island off the coast of Scotland that is still off limits to people as it was used as a chemical warfare experiment during the first war with Anthrax.

 

[finnbear270]

No disrespect but I wouldn't encourage people to take samples home or start to delve into a carcass that may be carrying a notifiable disease.
Most of us are just deer stalkers, not vets or disease specialists and therefore cutting samples out or moving a possibly contaminated carcass is not to be recommended.

If anyone suspects a disease that is notifiable or has any issue with a sick looking deer, they should report it to the divisional ministry vet and isolate the carcass on the spot. I would not entertain incising any part that looked infected, this could be TB or worse case scenario Anthrax, which I know is highly unlikely, but if it is you should go no where near it.
Just for the sake of those who are new to stalking. An animal with suspected Anthrax will be bleeding from the mouth and other areas. I dont think its ever been recorded in wild deer? but I may well be totally wrong. Either way it is a notifiable disease. I do believe there is still an island off the coast of Scotland that is still off limits to people as it was used as a chemical warfare experiment during the first war with Anthrax.

Gruinard Island, 1km offshore near Ullapool area.

 

[hughsurrey]

I do believe there is still an island off the coast of Scotland that is still off limits to people as it was used as a chemical warfare experiment during the first war with Anthrax.

I was reading about the island a while back, and apparently it has now been declared safe, I won't be rushing over there any time soon tho.

 

[jsimpson]

HI all just catching up with this thread.

I have been offering a free veterinary diagnostic service for wild deer diseases now for about 10 years.

As has been said above if you find something you don't recognise; wear protective gloves, take a picture, collect a sample and keep in fridge (away from human foods) . Then contact me and I will help arrange for a sample to get to the pathology lab, if I don't recognise what is going on.

We have had some really interesting cases over the years and have now built up quite a library of data and pictures from deer all over the UK but especially Scotland

James.simpson@ed.ac.uk

 

[shakey jake]

good advice from all involved

 

[User00040]

Gruinard Island, 1km offshore near Ullapool area.

Been past it, are there deer on it?

 

[finnbear270]

Been past it, are there deer on it?

Indigenous rabbit population, might be the odd deer as we know they can migrate by swimming quite a distance.

 

[Cyres]

I would just pop a bit of tissue it in a formalin biopsy pot, but helps to have been working in pathology for 30+ years.

D

 

[TinTin52]

No disrespect but I wouldn't encourage people to take samples home or start to delve into a carcass that may be carrying a notifiable disease.
Most of us are just deer stalkers, not vets or disease specialists and therefore cutting samples out or moving a possibly contaminated carcass is not to be recommended.

If anyone suspects a disease that is notifiable or has any issue with a sick looking deer, they should report it to the divisional ministry vet and isolate the carcass on the spot. I would not entertain incising any part that looked infected, this could be TB or worse case scenario Anthrax, which I know is highly unlikely, but if it is you should go no where near it.
Just for the sake of those who are new to stalking. An animal with suspected Anthrax will be bleeding from the mouth and other areas. I dont think its ever been recorded in wild deer? but I may well be totally wrong. Either way it is a notifiable disease. I do believe there is still an island off the coast of Scotland that is still off limits to people as it was used as a chemical warfare experiment during the first war with Anthrax.

Island was sterilised with formaldehyde down to a depth of approx 2m. Pretty much safe now. To my knowledge no outbreaks of anthrax in UK for many many years but its often present in soil samples at v low levels even now, even here. It's only when the bacillus concs get high in the soil its a real issue (and it's a truly scary disease) I agree don't take samples from suspect deer if you are worried leave the carcass marked and report it ASAP. TinTin (a stalker and immunologist).

 

[Ackers]

If I come across anything unusual I phone the on-call vet to discuss symptoms/findings. They are usually very helpful and sensible. The last was a suspected Yersiniosis with the carcase incinerated as a precaution.

 

[Ackers]

HI all just catching up with this thread.

I have been offering a free veterinary diagnostic service for wild deer diseases now for about 10 years.

As has been said above if you find something you don't recognise; wear protective gloves, take a picture, collect a sample and keep in fridge (away from human foods) . Then contact me and I will help arrange for a sample to get to the pathology lab, if I don't recognise what is going on.

We have had some really interesting cases over the years and have now built up quite a library of data and pictures from deer all over the UK but especially Scotland

James.simpson@ed.ac.uk

Noted James, very interesting service. I have kept a note of your details for future referrence.