wildlife case update - II

Never heard from anyone, but I imagine no one reads these. People on my LJ liked them though, so I'll keep copying them over. Read them or don't... whatever!

Old cases (here for those of you who missed the first briefing):

1. Opossums (babies) - Nothing new with these guys. Still cute as ever! Two of them were holding hands when I went to feed them.... squee!

2. Barn Owl - Finally washed him off. He is clean and free of whatever oily substance that was on him. Now receiving ocular medication for a scratched cornea (OS) 2x daily (BID). Cere injury healing nicely and is now stable!! Plan to move him outside today.

4. Bald Eagle - Nothing new to report. Now shares the flight pen with a Golden Eagle.

5. Opossum (adult) - Greatly improving since being moved outside. On 2x/day (BID) feedings of catfood/quail/fruit. Starting to use hind left leg appropriately.

6. Northern Flicker (adult) - Euthanized. Showing no improvement for spinal trauma, bilateral paresis remained.

7. Thayer's Gull (subadult) - Euthanized. No improvement, and trauma near break site.

8. Band-tailed Pigeon (infant) - Nothing new here. Doing well, and growing strong!

New Cases:

9. Pileated Woodpecker (adult female) - The biggest commonly seen woodpecker.... very pretty. We went on a rescue mission for this one. Some lady called in saying she heard a thud and the woodpecker was laying on the ground, probably hit her window. She couldn't catch it. So we hopped in the truck and went to her house to grab it. It was quick and easy. She was open mouth breathing but nothing obviously wrong... set her up in a cage and she was perching.

Two hours later she started making a loud noise like she had the hiccups or something. Dr. John looked at her and got her started on oxygen. She also gave an IM injection to dilate the bronchioles to improve her breathing. She thought the bird had a deep coracoid fracture that was bleeding into the lungs. Also, he wants us to give her fluids to flush her system.

She was still alive when we left last night...

You can tell she was female by the absence of a red patch on her cheek.

Male Pileated Woodpecker

Female Pileated Woodpecker

10. American Crow (adult) - Swelling on left side of head. Probably some sort of head trauma. He was stable though and in good condition. Gave fluids and will watch him to see if he improves.

11. Spotted Towhee (adult) - Came in with a wing injury and some sort of spinal trauma as evidenced by improper use of the tail for balance and weak grip in the legs. Probably another window strike. Bleeding internally due to a double coracoid fracture... died during the exam.

Moral of all these stories: Put stickers or streamers up by your large windows, so birds don't smack into them. Try to keep feeders away from large windows too!! A window strike can kill birds :( :( :(

Other news, I learned how to do fecals and gave my first subcutaneous (SQ, under the skin) injection in the scapular region. YAY!