This journal was prepared from Patient 26-519's medical record to give the public a better understanding of the process and a glimpse behind the scenes of the care involved in a complex wildlife rehabilitation case.

For this public version, the names of individual medical personnel, specific medications, dosages and some technical procedural details have been omitted. Medical terminology has also been translated into more accessible language where appropriate.

Wildlife medicine is rarely a straight line from symptoms to diagnosis. A patient's history, physical examination, bloodwork, imaging, and response to treatment all help determine what to investigate next.

As results become available, some possibilities become less likely, new concerns may emerge, and treatment plans may change. In a critically ill wildlife patient, veterinarians must also continually balance the potential benefit of additional diagnostic information against the stress and risk associated with handling, anesthesia and medical procedures.