2025-258 Problems Notes Costs
Admission date2025-12-10
Final date -
Days in captivity14
SpeciesBAEA - Bald eagle
AgeA4Y
SexF
StatusReh
Band
Dehydration - 5%
muscle atrophy right leg
Non-flighted
Right wing Asymmetry
Soft tissue wounds - Left side of the head

Cause of injury: Unknown

Found in Piedmont,AL
Cherokee county
Here is a summary of this patient's treatments and expenses:

Desc Qty Cost Subtotal
Examination175.0075.00
Daily rate1430.00420.00
Radiographs587.75438.75
Surgery, minor2200.00400.00
Complete blood count158.0058.00
Packed cell volume18.078.07
Blood chemistry145.3545.35
Lab tests1Variable40.00
Total  1485.17

Costs are estimates based on fees charged at a local avian specialist.
Radiographs and images

2025-12-12

2025-12-12

2025-12-12

2025-12-12

2025-12-12
2025-12-23 17:41 SAK

======= TREATMENT PLAN =======
Food: 150g R, M, Ch, Q BID
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO
==============================

2025-12-23 17:00 MP

Food: 125g R, M
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-23 09:30 CMC
Weight: 4631 grams
Bandage on left leg removed, wound was cleaned with betadine solution. Laser therapy was performed for 4 minutes using 1.0W power and 20Hz pulsed rate. A manuka honey patch was placed over the wound and tegaderm place over the honey patch. The bandage was removed on the wound on the right shoulder and scrubbed with betadine solution. Laser therapy was performed for 1.20 minutes using 1.0W power and 20Hz pulsed rate. A manuka honey patch was placed, with tegaderm over to keep in place. The wound on the right side of the face was assessed and cleaned. Some scabbing was removed from the wound and manuka honey was placed in the wound using a CTA. Two tegaderm bandages were placed on the wound.

Food: 175g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-23 08:37 CMC

No leftovers, 1 pellet, normal mutes

2025-12-22 16:11 CMC

Food: 148g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-22 08:50 CMC

No leftovers, normal mutes

Food: 150g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-21 16:24 CMC

Food: 141g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-21 09:30 CMC

No leftovers, 3 pellets, normal mutes

Food: 150g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-20 16:18 CMC

Normal mutes, no leftovers

Food: 152g R, M
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-20 09:00 CMC

Normal mutes, no leftovers

Food: 150g R, M, Ch, Q BID
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-19 16:48 RE

Food: 310g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-19 14:00 CMC

Surgery report
Procedure - Wound debridement
Performed by - Dr. Sokoloff
Surgery time - 54 minutes

Removed bandage on left leg, cleaned and debrided. Removed remaining
sutures. Performed laser therapy treatment for 4 minutes total
and replaced Manuka honey patch and bandage cover. Wound on left
side of face was flushed with LRS and wound ointment was applied.
A telfa pad was placed to cover wound and two bandages were placed
over the pad. A new wound on the right shoulder had been observed.
This wound was plucked and cleaned. The wound had a decent amount
of tissue with a gray tint, indicating necrosis, which was debrided.
This wound was partially closed (still left partially open to
allow drainage if needed) with 4-0 PDS in a simple interrupted
pattern. The patient recovered well with no complications. 
2025-12-19 11:43 CMC

No leftovers in cage, normal mutes, 2 pellets, removed gauze on face (was observed in cage)

Food:NPO
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-18 13:28 SAK

Changed bandage on face, lower left wound shows much improvement - wound closed
Plan to schedule CT next week to investigate a cause for non-flight status

Food: 300g R (3 whole rats)
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO

2025-12-18 09:35 CMC

No leftovers in cage this AM, normal mutes, no pellets

2025-12-17 17:07 SAK

P hooded overnight

2025-12-17 16:40 SAK

======= TREATMENT PLAN =======
Food: 150g R, M, Ch, Q BID
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO
==============================
Decreased food amount

2025-12-17 08:30 CMC

No leftovers in cage this AM, normal mutes, gauze from left leg tie down removed

Removed hood to feed
Food: 200g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-16 17:06 SAK

Food: ate 1& 1/2 R (before hooding for the night)
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

Hooded P overnight due to surgical sites and previous history of ripping off bandaging. P let put me put hood on without grabbing.

2025-12-16 14:39 CMC
Weight: 4450 grams

Surgery report
Procedure - Wound debridement
Performed by - Sokoloff
Surgery time - 85 minutes

The first wound present is located on the left side of face caudal
to beak. A second wound was present on the left side on the caudo-ventral
aspect of the beak. Both wounds around the face were approximately
1-2 cm in length. A third wound, approximately 2-3 cm in length,
was present on the left limb in the area of the femur. The area
around the wounds were removed of feathers and aespetically srubbed.
The wounds on the face were debrided and flushed with LRS fluids.
The wounds were closed using 4-0 PDS in a simple continuous pattern.
The wounds were coated with TMS cream and a gauze pad was placed
over the wound. 3-0 PDS was used to create sutures around the
wound for placement of a tie down. Debridement was performed
on the wound on the leg and it was discovered to be contaminated.
Closure was not performed. The wound was flushed with copious
amounts of LRS fluids and pocketing was evident on further examintation
of the wound (approximately 5 cm of pocketing). The wounds were
coated with TMS cream and a gauze pad was placed over the wound.
3-0 PDS was used to create sutures around the wound for placement
of a tie down.
2025-12-16 09:18 SAK

NPO - Sx

No leftovers, 1 pellet, normal mutes

2025-12-16 08:27 MP


All birds appear healthy at rounds.

2025-12-15 16:55 MP


All birds appear healthy at rounds.

2025-12-15 16:50 MP

Food: 213g R
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-15 15:07 SAK

======= TREATMENT PLAN =======
Food: 200g R, M, Ch, Q BID
TMS: 4.63 ml (48 mg/ml) BID PO
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO
==============================

2025-12-15 08:38 SAK

Food: 258g R
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

no leftovers, normal mutes

2025-12-15 08:20 MP


All birds appear healthy at rounds.

2025-12-14 16:07 SAK

Food: 230g R
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-14 10:01 SAK

Food: 208g R
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO


No leftovers

Right wing is asymmetrical when attempting to fly.

2025-12-13 17:07 RE

Food: 226g R, M, Ch, Q
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-13 09:18 RE

Food: 191g R,
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-13 08:13 RE

BAR, one pellet, no leftovers, normal mutes.

Slight wing droop on the left side, does not attempt to fly.

2025-12-12 17:06 RE

Food: 472g R,
Meloxicam 0.89ml (5mg/ml injectable) SQ

2025-12-12 16:55 add

Took patient to perform radiographs--
Taken from carrier, masked on 2% O2 then induced on 5% isoflurane and once under anesthesia, reduced to 2% and maintained on 1.5-2.5%.
VD, right lateral, H view and right VD/lateral radiographs obtained.
There is noticeable atrophy of muscle on the right tibiotarsus. There is mixed gas opacity within the soft tissues of the proximal tibiotarsus. There are several small areas of opacity (3) that are overlying bone and may represent foreign material vs bony proliferation per radiology.
There appears to be asymmetry of the clavicles, with possible summation versus greenstick/nondisplaced partial fracture of the left clavicle.
Wounds were explored/cleaned while under anesthesia after collecting radiographs. The full thickness wound overlying the left lateral tibiotarsus is granulating in well. There is a small laceration still present, similarly granulating on the left mandible ventrally. The wounds were cleaned and dressed with SSD and a tegaderm bandage over the leg wound.
A puncture wound on the left side of the face just caudal to the cere was explored with a 22 g catheter and found to extend into the sinus such that the entire length of the catheter was easily passed into this wound/the sinus. Flushing was not performed on this wound for this reason.

Patient recovered well from gas anesthesia and was administered meloxicam 1 mg/kg IM during recovery.


Overall interpretation is that there is likely cellulitis in soft tissues overlying proximal right tibiotarsus--this could explain abnormal tone/motility in digits 3 and 4 as muscle bellies for these digits originate in this area. There is also some soft tissue swelling at the tibiotarsal-tarsometatarsal joint (but palpates as within soft tissue and not within joint, and radiographs of joint are normal) which could be infectious/inflammatory and could be affecting the tendons of the digits as well.
A precise cause for lack of flight is not seen--there is an area on the left clavicle with soft tissue summation that was asymmetrical with the right clavicle but fracture was not confirmed on H view.

It was discussed whether to continue to house eagle indoors or place in smaller aviary outdoors--there was concern that indoors this individual was likely to be difficult and possibly dangerous to handle and that carpal trauma and feather damage were likely. As all meds except for ceftiofur are given orally, and the ceftiofur does not require frequent catching to administer, and wounds appear to have good active granulation and risk of insect contamination is low, it was elected to place eagle in small flight at least initially. An added bonus is that the gait/use of the right leg can be better assessed, as can any potential wing droop or asymmetry. It was not possible to assess this well while patient was in quarantine.

2025-12-11 17:01 RE

Food: 370g R
SQ fluids: 220ml LRS until 2025-12-11
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) PO

2025-12-11 14:38 add


------------- PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS ----------------
Attending Veterinarian: Dr. Abigail Duvall
Observational examination
Mentation: BAR
Posture: Upright, normal
Vital stats
Auscultation: WNL
Mucous membranes: Still stringy
Hydration: <5%
Oral cavity: Stringy mucous
Choana: Clean
Beak: Multiple superificial lacerations
Cere/nares: Blood in left naris, puncture wound located just caudal to cere on left side of face
Eyes: Bright and clear, though there is swelling around the supraorbital ridge
Ears: Some dried blood around left ear
Crop: Empty crop
Feather quality: Good some dried feathers in blood areound wounds
Integument: Full thickness skin wound with lifting eschar on left lateral tibioarsus--significant granulation tissue present suggesting chronicity. Wound bed approximately 3x2 cm. There is a full thickness laceration on the ventral gular area <1 cm long. There is a healed skin wound on the cranial apect of the hock, with swelling of soft tissues in this area.
Wings: Asymmetry of the clavicle--small step and asymmetry on right side, left wnl
Wings - Range of motion: Normal range of motion
Wings - Patagium: Normal
Legs/Feet: The right leg has atrophy of muscle on tibiotarsus.
Legs/Feet - Range of motion: Right foot digit 3 seems to lack tone/motor, similar in digit 4. Can feel digits when tested with hemostats (superficial pain)
Legs/Feet - Plantar surface: Small lacerations present on right foot plantar surface
Legs/Feet- Talons: WNL
Neurologic: WNL
Ceolom: No masses/organomegaly
BCS: 2
Vent: WNL
Droppings: WNL
Uropygial gland: WNL
Problem list: Step/asymmetry in right clavicle, suspected fracture
Muscle wasting right leg
Abnormal movement/tonicity in digits 3 and 4 right pelvic limb
Multiple full thickness skin lacerations
Diagnosis: Suspected chronic injury to right pelvic limb causing abnormal movement/usage of digits 3 and 4 .
Suspected right clavicle fracture, possibly chronic
Injuries from animal attack, conspecific or otherwise
Assessment: Overall good body condition with a mix of chronic and acute abnormalities--bird may have been injured and somewhat compromised and then attacked by conspecific or wildlife.
Plan: Tx:
Meloxicam 1 mg/kg q12 h
Ceftiofur 20 mg/kg IM q96
Fluids LRS 50 ml/kg +5% dehydration
Consider laser therapy right hock injury when no longer in quarantine

Dx:
Radiographs tomorrow
CBC/Chem
Lead
Prognosis: Good

2025-12-11 14:37 RE

======= TREATMENT PLAN =======
Food: 200g R, M, Ch, Q BID
Meloxicam: 2.98 ml (1.5 mg/ml soln) BID PO
==============================
switched to oral meloxicam

2025-12-10 16:33 RE

Food: 353g R, M, Ch, Q
SQ fluids: 1000ml LRS until 2025-12-11
Ceftiofur: 0.45ml IM

Cleaned facial wounds with dilute betadine and gauze

2025-12-10 13:48 SAK

US FWS notified via email: species of interest admitted.

2025-12-10 13:06 RE

PCV/TP
Collection date2025-12-10 13:06:00
PCV40 %
TS4.4 g\dl
Serum
Blood lead
Collection date2025-12-10
Level0.00
Serum chemistry
Collection date2025-12-10
AST1960 U/LPhos4.0 mg/dl
BA0 umol/LTP4.3 g/dl
CK920 U/LAlb1.8 g/dl
UA19.1 mg/dlGlob2.6 g/dl
Glu352 mg/dlK+4.1 mmol/l
Ca10.4 mg/dlNa+151 mmol/l
  AMY0 U/L
Hem 0, Lip 0, Ict 0
CBC
Collection date2025-12-10
WBC count18733
Corrected count18733
Hets/Neut90% - 16859
  Bands0+
  Toxics1+
Lymphs2% - 374
Eos0% - 0
Mono8% - 1498
Baso0% - 0
Thrombocytesadequate
PI1
HemoproteusNEG
LeukocytozoonNEG
PlasmodiumNEG
Read byMoichor
Largely unremarkable, there is a relative heterophilia with 4/uL toxic cells present consistent with trauma and wounds with concern for infection
2025-12-10 13:06 RE

======= TREATMENT PLAN =======
Food: 200g R, M, Ch, Q BID
SQ fluids: 220ml LRS BID until 2025-12-11
Meloxicam: 0.89 ml (5 mg/ml (Injectable)) BID SQ
==============================

2025-12-10 13:05 RE
Weight: 4449 grams

2025-12-10 13:05 RE

======= TREATMENT PLAN =======
Food: 200g R, M, Ch, Q BID
SQ fluids: 220ml LRS BID until 2025-12-11
==============================

2025-12-10 13:00 RE
Weight: 4449 grams, BCS: 2.0

------------- PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS ----------------
Attending Veterinarian: Dr. Abigail Duvall
Observational examination
Mentation: BAR
Vital stats
Heart rate: 250
Respiratory rate: 40
Auscultation: normal
Mucous membranes: light pink, stringy
Hydration: <5%
Cere/nares: puncture wounds and lacerations on left side of cere
Eyes: slight droop of brow ridge on left side, eyes both look good
Ears: small laceration about ear hole on left side
Crop: full
Feather quality: good
Legs/Feet - Range of motion: right foot has weakness of D3 and D4 digits, multiple surface laceration on both feet
BCS: 2
Problem list: multiple lacerations on left side of head and beak. Will need to be debrided under anesthesia. Weakness in right D3 and D4 digits and multiple lacerations on both feet.
Diagnosis: Full body rads needed with a focus on the right foot as well as the pectoral girdle and wings to assess for any damage that wasn't found on palpation.
Assessment: Intake exam perormed by SK and RE with consulting guidance from Dr Duvall.
Plan: Tx: meloxicam SQ BID until eating well on own, Ceftiofur q96hr IM, SQ fluids BID until 12/11pm
Dx:
Prognosis: Good

2025-12-10 11:03 RE

Sample
Collection date2025-12-10
Typechoanal/cloacal swab
Notes:
Results:
AI PCR : Not detected
Version 4.0.4 - 4.1.13 Wed Dec 24 03:00:10 2025