July 18 Admission

Patient 26-519, an adult female Bald Eagle, arrived at Ojai Raptor Center after being found grounded and unable to fly in the Big Bear Lake area.

She was very thin, with a body condition score of approximately 1.5 - 2 out of 5. (Body Condition Score or BCS is a useful tool for assessment of a patient’s general health status it is based on scores between 1 and 5, with 1 being emaciated and 5 being obese) She was pale and quiet but remained alert. She was also significantly dehydrated.

Importantly, the examination did not identify fractures, wounds or other significant traumatic injuries that could immediately explain why she was grounded.

Initial radiographs were taken while she was fully awake to minimize unnecessary anesthesia. The images showed changes involving a kidney as well as mild abnormalities in the lungs. Her gastrointestinal tract was also largely empty, consistent with her poor nutritional condition.

At this early stage, these findings could have had several possible explanations. Further investigation would be needed.

Treatment began immediately.

Because she was thin, dehydrated and potentially immunocompromised, she received fluid therapy and supportive treatment. Treatment was also initiated against a potentially serious fungal infection while that possibility was investigated.

Nutrition was carefully managed. Because she was significantly underweight and medically compromised, easily digestible food was initially provided without harder-to-digest material such as bones and skin.

The immediate priority was stabilization: correcting dehydration, providing nutrition, minimizing stress and beginning appropriate treatment while gathering more information about the underlying illness.