Bald Eagle #16-2377

Admission Date: 
October 31, 2016
Location of Rescue: 
Stafford County, Virginia
Cause of Admission / Condition: 
Physical trauma; lead toxicity
Outcome: 
Euthanized February 13, 2017
Patient Status: 
Patient Archive

On October 31, Bald Eagle #16-2377 was admitted to the Wildlife Center after it was found unable to fly in a residential area of Stafford County. During the initial exam, the eagle was bright, alert, and responsive, but was found to have a variety of physical injuries.

A large number of abrasions and puncture wounds were found on the bird’s toes, feet, ankles, and right eye. Significant swelling was noted throughout the left leg, and contusions were discovered along the right wing. The bruises appeared green in color, leading veterinary staff to believe they are more than five days old.

Crepitus -- a grating sound caused by either the friction between bone and cartilage or the fractured parts of a bone – was identified while moving the eagle’s right hip and left shoulder joints, and nearly all of the other joints were stiff. Radiographs showed small gaseous tracks in the soft tissue surrounding the bird’s left leg, indicating infection of the wound, but no other abnormalities were seen. Since no signs of internal injuries were seen, Dr. Ernesto believes that the eagle’s cuts and bruises may be from a fight with another animal, while its stiff and painful joints are due to old age rather than physical trauma.

Unfortunately, emergency blood work revealed lead levels as “high”; Dr. Ernesto explained that this indicates the actual number is too large to be properly read by the Center's machine. The eagle began chelation therapy right away, and will have more blood testing done after five days.

The eagle will be watched very carefully for further clinical signs of lead toxicity such as kidney damage, blindness, gastrointestinal irritation, and heart murmurs during the coming week. The prognosis for this bald eagle is poor to grave due to wound infection and high levels of lead in the blood.
 

Your special donation will help the Center to provide care to this Bald Eagle ... and to the 2,500 sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals the Center will treat this year. 

Updates

February 27, 2017

For the past few weeks, Bald Eagle #16-2377 has been struggling to recover its stamina during daily exercise. The eagle has been able to fly in one of the large flight pens, but has not been able to achieve an appropriate level of fitness for release.

On February 13, the eagle was given a complete clinical evaluation by Dr. Ernesto. Radiographs were taken, which revealed that the eagle’s heart was abnormally large. An unpublished study that Dr. Ernesto participated in at The Raptor Center of University of Minnesota directly relates lead intoxication with affecting the heart's ability to function properly, and strongly suggests the condition is irreversible. As Dr. Ernesto notes, this was likely the most influential factor in the eagle's inability to regain a normal level of physical stamina.

Despite months of rehabilitation and care, the veterinary team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the bird on February 13.

January 24, 2017

During the past two weeks, Bald Eagle #16-2377 has shown slight improvement during its regular exercise. On January 19, it was able to complete a full 15 passes while maintaining good height and did not show significant signs of exhaustion, such as open-mouth breathing or difficulty perching. The eagle will continue to be observed and exercised during the next few weeks, as regaining a consistent level of physical stamina is often very difficult for eagles that have suffered from lead toxicity.

January 3, 2017

Bald Eagle 16-2377 continues to receive daily exercise and show signs of a steady recovery. During the week of December 28, the bird was recorded flying an average of 8-16 passes in outdoor raptor enclosure A3; however, labored breathing is still seen after 10-12 passes. To build its consistency and stamina during flight, the eagle will remain in A3 until it is able to fly 15 passes or more without showing signs of exhaustion.

December 19, 2016

Bald Eagle #16-2377 has remained in outdoor raptor enclosure A3 during the past three weeks. Daily exercise and careful monitoring have revealed that, while the eagle’s condition has improved since being admitted, its progress is slow. During exercise the eagle has been unable to complete more than ten laps before showing signs of significant physical exhaustion, such as open-mouthed breathing and difficulty perching. Dr. Ernesto – one of the Wildlife Center’s veterinary interns -- reports that eagles admitted with lead toxicity often face difficulty in regaining the physical stamina required for proper flight. At this time, continued exercise and close observation will continue before considering the possibility of release.

December 1, 2016

After approximately one month of treatment at the Wildlife Center, Bald Eagle #16-2377 has continued to show signs of a steady recovery. On November 16, the eagle was moved to outdoor enclosure C6. Nine days later, it was transferred to outdoor raptor enclosure A3 along with Bald Eagle #16-2402. Here, in one of the Center’s largest flight pens, the eagle will be exercised and monitored on a regular basis. On November 29 the bird was recorded as flying a complete six passes while maintaining proper form, altitude, and posture.

November 17, 2016

Bald Eagle #16-2377 has been slowly improving during the past few weeks. As with all raptors admitted with lead toxicity, bloodwork has been performed every five days while the eagle has remained indoors. As with all raptors admitted with lead toxicity, blood tests are carefully monitored. After the first round -- five consecutive days --of chelation therapy, the amount of lead present in the eagle's bloodstream was reduced from .74 ppm to .225 ppm. Following a "wash out" day with no chelation therapy, a second round of treatment lowered lead levels to .103 ppm. On November 15, after a three-day period with no chelation therapy whatsoever, lead levels had continued to decrease to .074 ppm.

These promising test results -- in combination with the eagle’s healthy appetite – will allow the bird to be transferred to the Wildlife Center’s outdoor C6 enclosure in the very near future. Traditionally, eagles that suffer from lead-related illnesses face difficulties in regaining the physical stamina required for successful flight. The eagle will be monitored very closely in this regard during the coming weeks.

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