Owls Rule in the Clinic this Week
Fortunately, business continues to be slow. There were just six new admissions this past week. Most were injured too badly to save, but there are some hopeful cases, especially amongst the owls.
Great Horned Owl 21-751 was admitted last week with a damaged left eye and fractures in his right foot. He’s up on a perch and eating well. That’s a pellet that he cast on the perch by his splinted foot.
Northern Saw-whet Owl 21-752 also was admitted last week. He collided with something, but is feeling much better and ready for a test flight.
Western Screech Owl 21-756 was admitted this week and is one of two Screech Owls currently under care. The owl is thought to have been hit by a car. We found no fractures and he has a good appetite. Always a good sign!
Red-tailed Hawk 21-757 is the only diurnal bird (active during the day) in the clinic. She was found near a freeway so likely was hit by a car. She has damage in her right wrist and the left side of her pelvis. If you look at the radiograph below you will see asymmetry between the wrists (white arrows) and in her pelvis. There is swelling in the right wrist and the alular metacarpal is fractured. The yellow lines show where the femurs articulate with the pelvis. The lines should be even, not offset. There is damage on the left side. It is likely the pelvis will heal and be functional. The prognosis for the wrist is more guarded, but the hawk is standing and eating, so we will see how she does.
Below is the grossest picture I took this week, but demonstrates why we treat all our patients for internal parasites! They came from the hawk pictured above.
