On the evening of January 22, the Wildlife Center admitted a sub-adult Bald Eagle from Surry County, Virginia. The eagle was found down on the ground, unable to fly, and was rescued by animal control officers.
Upon initial examination, Bald Eagle #18-0046 was alert but not very responsive to handling. A physical exam revealed abrasions on the forehead and near the eyes, as well as multiple deep puncture wounds on the legs, chest, and right wing. One of the wounds on the right leg was severe and penetrated deep into the soft tissue, and a wound on the right wing exposed the radius bone.
Bloodwork was unremarkable and lead levels were low. Radiographs showed possible subcutaneous emphysema in the soft tissue surrounding the wounds, which could indicate bacterial infection.
Dr. Peach estimates that the injuries occurred sometime in the last week. Despite being found incapacitated on the ground, Bald Eagle #18-0046 was in good body condition on examination, indicating that the bird had been functioning well recently. It’s likely that the eagle sustained these injuries during a fight with another eagle. It’s possible that the injuries lead to sepsis from infection, which could severely impact the bird’s ability to fly and hunt and would cause death if untreated.
While the bird was anesthetized, the team picked away crusted blood and feathers to better visualize the wounds. They cleaned and treated the wounds and applied hydrogel to the right wing wound to keep the exposed bone moist. They started the eagle on pain medication and a course of antibiotics to treat a possibly severe bacterial infection from the multiple wounds. When waking the bird from anesthesia, the eagle may have regurgitated, which could cause aspiration and breathing complications; the team placed the eagle in the oxygen chamber overnight as a precaution.
If the eagle becomes brighter, following a few days of supportive care, the veterinary staff will again anesthetize the bird to debride and suture closed several of the more severe wounds, including the wound that is exposing bone on the wing.
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