Bald Eagle #17-2257 [HK] update

The veterinary team ran additional blood work on Bald Eagle HK; results indicated a high white blood cell count, which is concerning to Dr. Ernesto. On Friday, September 8, Dr. Ernesto grew even more concerned when he examined HK and found that the eagle’s right leg – the fractured leg – did not have appropriate blood flow. Dr. Ernesto removed one of the pins from the external fixation to help blood flow; he also scheduled a regimen of warm compresses to HK’s daily therapy, which also includes physical therapy and laser therapy. It’s likely that HK is spending too much time on his fractured leg due to the nerve damage in his left leg.

If HK stabilizes, Dr. Ernesto would like to explore additional diagnostic testing options to learn more about the nerve deficiency in HK’s left leg. Dr. Ernesto reached out to Virginia Tech to inquire about scheduling an EMG for HK. An EMG, or an electromyogram, measures muscle response as the nerves cells (motor neurons) are stimulated.  An EMG should offer better information about HK's injury, including whether or not the team can expect HK's nerve damage to slowly heal, or if the nerve damage is permanent. Before scheduling an appointment for an EMG, the veterinary team needs to see improvement to the blood flow in the eagle’s fractured leg.

 

The veterinary team carefully set up a sling for HK in his indoor enclosure; hopefully if the bird spends more time off of his feet, improvements will be seen. Throughout all of the traumatic injuries and treatments, HK is still eating on his own, which is encouraging. The staff will monitor the eagle closely during the next two days.