Rehabilitation of an Amur Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) with Complex Injury by a Road Accident

A 2.2 kg adult female Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) injured in a road accident was rescued. Severe abrasions on the left chin were washed daily with an antiseptic and silver sulfadiazine ointment was applied. Corneal edema of the oculus sinister (OS) was treated with ofloxacin and 5% sodium chloride eye drops. The skin wounds gradually improved, but the eye condition did not improve and the lens was also found to be detached. In addition, on the 6th day of hospitalization, melena was observed. On radiographic examination, foreign bodies in the stomach and a fracture of the sternum were confirmed. Subsequently, endoscopic removal of foreign bodies and enucleation of the OS using an electrothermal vessel sealer were performed sequentially over several days. However, corrective surgery of the fractured sternum was not carried out because a natural union of the fracture had occurred, which was found to be fairly stable. The patient completely recovered on the 83rd day and was successfully released into the wild on the 97th day, after two weeks of adaptation training in a natural environment. This report describes the rehabilitation of a wild Amur leopard cat injured in a road accident through a series of diagnostic and treatment steps until its eventual return to the wild and highlights some improvements needed in the process.