Evidence-based guidelines for triage and prognostication for domestic ruminants burned in wildfires

Abstract

Worldwide, wildfires affect livestock farmers emotionally and financially, and due to global warming, the risk of wildfires is expected to increase in the next thirty years. The losses experienced by farmers include feed, facilities, livestock, and the future reproductive performance of any surviving animals exposed to smoke. Many factors, such as animal welfare, the clinical prognosis of cases, and treatment costs, are all important considerations in decision-making. There is a paucity of data regarding decision-making processes with burn injuries in livestock, and this study aims to derive evidence-based guidelines for decision-making regarding domestic ruminants affected by wildfires in the context of field animal production practice. Most evidence found corresponds to case reports (expert opinion) and observational trials derived from real events. However, scientific controlled trials were widely performed during the eighties and nineties using sheep as a test model for skin burns and smoke inhalation and have significantly contributed to the current understanding of burn injuries in humans and animals. Databases from Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar were searched with chosen keywords connected with burn injuries in livestock in publications in both English and Spanish. A research matrix was populated with relevant information according to inclusion criteria and strength of evidence, and as a result, triage guidelines were synthesised and integrated for both sheep and cattle in a visual, instructional format. Key clinical factors such as burn depth and extent, anatomic localisation of burns, and smoke inhalation were considered when categorising animals according to clinical severity. Additionally, core indications for decision-making were summarised, including non-clinical factors, implying that the lack of resources affecting their provision will severely compromise animal welfare, leading to the consideration of euthanasia as a strong recommendation.