A Review of Firearms, Projectile and Gunshot
Wounds in Animals
MZ Felsmann, M Felsmann1, J Szarek and
I Babińska*
Department of Pathophysiology, Forensic Veterinary Medicine and
Administration, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Michała Oczapowskiego St. 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; 1Forensic
of Nursing Theory, Chair of Nursing and Obstetrics, Faculty of
Health Sciences, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus
University in Toruń,
Techników St. 3,85-801 Bydgoszcz, Poland *Corresponding author:
Izabella.Babinska@uwm.edu.pl
Abstract
Uses of small firearms inflict gunshot wounds
posing a risk to the health and life of animals. Different aspects associated
with the evaluation and treatment of gunshot wounds, therefore, must be known by
veterinarians. Due to the fact that gunshot wounds are received by soldiers on
battlefields, saving the injured and treatment of such wounds is usually in the
realm of battlefield medicine (field surgery). Despite, extensive experience
gained during military conflicts and numerous criminal events, the investigation
of factors affecting gunshot wounds have recently aroused much controversy. It
has been attempted to elucidate and evaluate the complexity of bullet-organism
(human or animal) interactions based on numerous experiments involving shooting
materials that mimic live tissues and organs, human cadavers or live animals.
Even though a series of these experiments has confirmed the complexity and
unpredictability of each shot, many publications, as indicated in the present
review, contained numerous errors and distortions which could not be confirmed
in reliable experiments and in vivo
observations. These errors are often copied unquestioningly by authors of other
publications. As veterinarians are forced to gain knowledge on gunshot wounds
mainly from human medicine literature, this review attempted to compile the
major subjects on gunshot wounds in animals.
Key words: Ammunition,
Arm,
Bullet wounds,
Treatment of the bullet wounds