UPDATE December 3, 2011 Saturday pre-dawn
WCV has edited the webpages for a more complete readout.
I posted as info came in. It really seemed a very l o n g time waiting for her to get to WCV, about 2.5 hours, then waiting for results of exam.
Now that it appears our beloved Nixy is basicly OK, had just had her bloody supper when hit by a car, I can just relax and be happy we get to take pics of her again!
O there's no place like HOME for the Hollydaze!
December 2 = WCV official tracking blog post
NX was found injured in Ophelia on December 1. She was rescued by an animal control officer and taken to a permitted rehabiltator.
On December 2, NX was transported to the Center. Read the full story here.
http://www.wildlifecenter.org/wp/2011/12/injured-nx/
9 am The always charming Ed Clark, WCV reported
Good morning all.
NX was ALIVE this morning, always a good way to start any day.
She had deficated profusely (pooped alot) due to the fluids she was given last evening.
This is also a good thing because it shows that her "systems" are working properly, and she is digesting her food.
Later today, Dr. Dave and team will anesthetize her and take the x-rays we were unable to take yesterday, when she arrived (due to her having had a full crop).
That will give us a very good idea of the extend of the injuries to her right wrist, and will let us know if there are other skeletal issues.
1.30 pm update by congo -
I have heard from Mr. Huwa Dr. Dave examined NX this morning.
He found some additional injuries -- all consistent with the struck-by-vehicle theory.
Two issues of concern - possible injury to the left shoulder.
To be safe, Dr. Dave has put NX's left wing in a body wrap. More x-rays later.
There is also a question about NX's GI tract. She regurgitated during the night; she'll be offered food later today ... we'll see if she eats.
Dr. Dave may want to "scope" her next week ... with the new endoscope. -
2.45 Dr. Dave's December 3 examination
On the morning of Saturday, December 3, NX was anesthetized for radiographs and a physical examination.
Dr. Dave found an open wound on the left wing [flushed and sutured]; a ruptured airsac; a left-eye injury;
and soft-tissue swelling over the right wrist [although the bones and tendons seem fine].
Two additional areas of concern:
GI tract. NX regurgitated overnight; her crop was empty this morning. NX will be given some mice/small chunks of rat this evening to see if she will eat.
Dr. Dave would like to take a look at NX’s GI tract within the next week, using the Center’s new endoscope.
Left shoulder.
NX’s left shoulder looks slightly drooped, and there may be a slight decreased range of motion.
Dr. Dave spotted what might be a small fracture on the head of the coracoid (sort of like a collarbone)
additional radiographs [after shoulder swelling has subsided] may provide more insights.
To be on the safe side, the Center vet team wrapped NX’s left wing in a body wrap.
Dr. Dave thinks these injuries are consistent with NX having been struck by a vehicle.
Nothing too shocking, actually. All of these injuries are relatively "normal" for a bird that has been hit by a car.
She had been in the area where she was injured for about 24 hours, but we cannot know when during that period she actually sustained the injury
or even if there was more than one incident.
We can only deal with what we do know, and that is as we have stated.
It is far too soon to make a prognosis, but we remain optimistic.
The transmitter from NX is working well, and data indicated that NX arrived in the area where she was injured about 4 p.m. on the 30th.
She was found at 10 p.m. She was likely hit about dusk, dark bird, probably landed and started to eat late in the day
and was so pre-occupied that it got dark on her before she got up into a roost tree.
Update 5:00 p.m. Dec. 3 at
When the veterinary team checked on NX at the end of the day, they found that she ate all her meal, a small meal of chopped rat/mice.
The team hopes that she will keep the meal down overnight.
December 4 update
Dr. Adam and diagnostic intern Katie caught up NX today for her medications and for evaluation. Dr. Adam reported,
“I’m pleased to say there was no regurgitation in her crate and all her food from last night had been eaten.
Her wounds are healing although the one over the right carpus is still a little open and the subcutaneous emphysema is still palpable.”
Katie held NX while Dr. Adam medicated the eagle — the treatment went fine, but apparently NX put up quite a fight! Katie commented that
“NX is the strongest and most feisty eagle I’ve ever held!”
December 5 update
Change of plans: initially, NX was scheduled for radiographs today to see if a different set of x-rays would reveal the same subtle shoulder fracture that Dr. Dave noted on December 3.
After removing NX from her small indoor enclosure for morning treatments, the veterinary team decided to wait until later in the week to perform the radiographs.
Since her shoulder is still slightly swollen, Dr. Dave anticipates that a few more days of healing will really enable the team to make a better assessment of the injury.
NX was bright, alert, and feisty when the team cleaned her wounds and administered her medications during morning treatments.
December 6 update
Dr. Miranda reports that NX is doing well — the subcutaneous emphysema over her chest seems to be getting much better.
NX did eat last night and kept her meal down.
Since NX is eating well, the veterinary team will be putting her p.m. medications in her food to avoid having to grab her up twice a day.
December 7 update
Dr. Dave reports that NX continues to remain bright and alert.
She did eat last night, though not all of her food — the untouched food contained her evening medications.
Dr. Dave and team will be catching NX up tonight to ensure she receives her medications.
The vet staff will also get a current weight on her, using an XXL “raptor wrapper” that someone recently made for the Center!
On a different note, Wildlife Center staff did get a transmitter “check-in” over the weekend after Dr. Dave put the transmitter out in the sun to recharge. The data shows that NX did travel to Ophelia on November 30 and was hanging around the woods and fields surrounding the road where she was found on December 1. We are not able to pinpoint when NX was likely hit by a vehicle within that 24-hour time frame.
We do know that NX was rescued by Northumberland County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control Officer Kevin Keeve. Kevin has worked for the Sheriff’s office for 16 years, and January will mark two years since he transitioned to Animal Control. NX is the third eagle he has rescued in 2011; the other two came from the Wicomico and Heathsville areas. “I enjoy my job,” he said. “It’s a job that involves a lot of emotion, but I enjoy it.” Deputy Keeve responded to the 10:46 p.m. call about an injured eagle on December 1 and was there to capture NX at 11:01 p.m.
December 8 update
Nixy continues down the road to recovery. She ate everything last night and once again kept her food down.
The vets will check out her GI tract again on radiographs, which will be taken on December 9, but at this point,
Dr. Dave anticipates that they will not need to scope NX.
Nixy was weighed today [wrapped up tightly in a canvas "raptor wrapper"] and is 3.55 kg.
While this is down from her initial weight on December 2, the veterinary team isn’t concerned.
Her initial weight included her transmitter [80 grams] and a crop full of rancid deer meat [which she regurgitated on her first night in the hospital].
Also given the fact that she had to be fasted prior to radiographs, the vets aren’t surprised that NX’s weight has decreased a bit.
She’ll likely put that weight back on in a matter of days as she continues to recover.
December 9 update
Nixy was anesthetized this morning for another series of radiographs.
Dr. Miranda and Dr. Dave closely examined NX’s left coracoid and were able to definitively confirm a fracture today.
Not only is her coracoid fractured, but it has “avulsed” – meaning that the fractured portion of bone has actually been pulled away by the tension of a ligament or a tendon.
Dr. Miranda replaced the body wrap on NX, which is securely holding her left wing against her body. The wrap will remain on for the next two weeks. Another set of radiographs will be taken during the week of December 19.
The veterinary team hope to see evidence of healing by that point – the fractured area may form a callous, or her body may actually absorb the chunk of bone that has pulled away from the fracture.
NX’s right eye injury is unchanged at this point, though her lacerations are healing nicely.
The carpal wound on her right “wrist” is still swollen, but continues to slowly heal.
Dr. Miranda noted that NX’s GI tract looked “much happier” on radiographs today, indicating that no scoping would be needed at this time.
December 12, 2012 update
Nixy continues to remain bright, alert, and feisty. She is eating well and finished up her course of medications over the weekend.
Dr. Miranda decided to change the treatment procedure for NX’s right carpal [wrist] wound.
Saturday, Dr. Miranda applied a small, moist bandage to the area in hopes of encouraging the dry, scabby wound to heal more efficiently.
December 14 update
Nixy weighed in at 3.82 kgs today — she continues to eat well. The wound on her right carpus continues to heal slowly.
Dr. Miranda is checking and changing the small dressing over her wound daily.
December 19 update
Nixy weighed in at 3.96 kg on December 18. She continues to eat well and continues to be feisty as well!
Treatment of her right carpal wound continues. Another set of radiographs are scheduled for December 20.
December 20 update
Nixy was anesthetized this morning for another set of radiographs. Dr. Miranda reports that the coracoid avulsion is healing.
It’s too soon to tell if the piece of bone is re-attaching or if it will be reabsorbed, as the healing is still taking place.
An additional development:
radiographs also revealed boney changes taking place on the head of NX’s left humerus.
At this point, it’s too soon to tell what that may mean – it could be possible joint involvement with her shoulder injury, or it could just be another stage of healing.
Only time will tell as the coracoid fracture heals.
Dr. Miranda is happy with NX’s range of motion in this wing, meaning that Dr. Miranda can’t feel any sort of major issues in the shoulder.
NX will remain indoors in a body wrap for one more week. After that, the wrap will be taken off and the veterinary team will monitor her.
Radiographs will be taken again during the first week of January.
.
Last edited by CJ on Fri Dec 30, 2011 2:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
December 23, 2011
The vet staff continue to catch up NX each day to monitor her bandages and change as needed.
NX continues to eat well — she’s now weighing in at 4.09 kgs!
December 28, 2011
The veterinary team caught up NX this morning to remove her body wrap — diagnostic intern Katie reports that NX continues to remain very feisty.
Dr. Miranda removed the body wrap and was pleased with the extension of NX’s injured wing.
She left “bumpers” [protective bandages] on NX’s carpi [wrists] to protect the injured area on the right carpus and to prevent any injuries to the left carpus, now that NX is free to flap that wing.
Dr. Miranda would like to keep NX inside until the next set of radiographs next week, but if NX becomes too jumpy and active indoors, the veterinary team will move her to a small outdoor enclosure.
December 30, 2011
Dr. Miranda reports that the wounds on NX’s right carpus are healing well; all but one wound has scabbed and healed.
The veterinary team continues to check the protective bumpers on NX’s wings each day to ensure that they are intact, this prevents NX from aggravating any carpal injuries.
NX is still quite feisty and is a challenge to catch-up, but Dr. Miranda is still comfortable with keeping her inside until the next set of radiographson January 3.
If radiographs look good, the plan will be to move NX to a small outdoor enclosure.
NX will also receive an ophthalmic examination to check on her right eye injury on January 3.
January 3, 2012 update
NX was anesthetized on the morning of January 3 for another set of radiographs.
Dr. Miranda reports that the avulsed piece of bone in NX’s injured shoulder is healing and appears to be reattaching.
While NX’s left shoulder still appears to be “dropped” a little on the radiograph,
Dr. Miranda is pleased with NX’s range of motion and how that shoulder feels.
The boney changes in the humeral head appear to be unchanged from prior radiographs.
The veterinary team will continue to monitor on future x-rays. NX’s eye injury is also resolved –
Dr. Miranda says that the vitreal fracture in NX’s right eye has healed.
After recovering from anesthesia, NX was moved to one of the Center’s “C-pens” – a small outdoor enclosure for raptors that are not quite ready to be moved into a flight pen. Enclosures in this complex measure about 8’ x 16’ and are large enough for birds to hop and flap to different perches, but are not large enough for flight. At this point, the Center vet and rehabilitation staff do not want NX to over-extend her healing shoulder and wing by flying.
NX is scheduled for another set of radiographs on Monday, January 16. Pending satisfactory radiographs, she will then be moved into a flight pen.
January 6 update
NX continues to rest comfortably in her outdoor enclosure. Dr. Miranda and team have been checking her daily — to monitor her appearance and also check that she has her carpal “bumpers” intact. Since NX has been keeping her protective bumpers on, the team has (fortunately) not had to catch-up NX since she was placed outside. The rehab staff are feeding NX one rat and one fish each day.
January 10 update
Thanks to Dr. Miranda’s heavy-duty protective bumpers on NX, the veterinary team still hasn’t had to catch-up NX in her outdoor enclosure. She continues to eat well.
January 16 update
NX came into the Wildlife Center hospital today for another set of radiographs. Dr. Miranda is pleased by how well the avulsion fracture is healing – the little chunk of fractured bone continues to reattach itself. NX’s range of motion in her injured wing is good, and no additional changes were spotted on the head of her humerus [a potential concern on the December 20 radiographs].
Since the Center is currently housing three mature Bald Eagles in each of its A-pens, some “eagle shuffling” will need to be done in order to get NX into a large flight pen.
The rehabilitation and vet staff will be working on that Tuesday January 17, and plan on moving NX into A2 if all goes well.
NX is currently weighing in at 4.45 kg [a 450 gram gain since her December admission date], though the staff expect to see that weight decrease once she becomes more active again in a flight pen!
NIXY is ON LIVE CAM!
January 19 update
NX was moved into a flight pen on Tuesday, January 17. The swinging perches in the A2 enclosure have been lowered to about 5′-6′ high, so that she doesn’t have to work too hard to make it up to the perches after her six weeks of rest and recovery. NX has been spotted flying the length of the flight pen, though appears to tire quickly — which is to be expected at this point.
Dr. Miranda opted to keep the “industrial-strength” carpal “bumpers” on NX,
just to ensure that her “wrists” are protected as she adjusts to the flight pen. They don’t hinder her ability to fly.
Its good to see Nixy again! She flew across the floor. A bit odd.
Then she jumped to Aperch under swing, then aimed and jumped to the swing.
A minimum of wing work.
http://wildone.org/eaglecam/wildlife-center-web-cam/
Wing guards removed!
January 30, 2012 update by Amanda, WCV
NX was caught up today for a bi-weekly foot and feather check and weigh-in.
Dr. Miranda also inspected NX’s tattered bumpers and opted to remove them for the time being
while observing how NX gets around in the flight pen.
The veterinary team report that NX’s current weight is 4.25 kg, and feet are in good condition.
Cam viewers may have noticed that NX is still missing one of the feathers on her left wing that she was missing back in August 2011 – feather #9.
Feather #6 on her left wing is also broken (noted by the veterinary team weeks ago),
but feather #8, which was broken in August, is new.
The next foot and feather check will be on February 13.
The veterinary team will also take another set of radiographs then, just to check on the healing progress of NX’s injured shoulder.
http://www.wildlifecenter.org/wp/2011/12/injured-nx/
February 2, 2012
8.25 am HOLY COW! . A white mouse is eating NX's dinner!
I Saw him run in from right side boards!
WCV Staff better make sure the rats they serve are DEAD!
Even if Nixy doesnt see it, surely she can hear it, but she does nufin!
I can see by the water in her tub, its pouring rain there.
8.29 She sees it and pounces on her dinner. Duno bout mouse.
Perhaps I should do what Duane did ... find the mouse .. hahaha
In front of front Aperch, out a few feet - this side of mallet, tub
February 14 update
Dr. Adam reports that NX is in good body condition and currently weighs 4.18 kgs.
Several of her feathers are “in blood” — meaning that they are growing in to replace the previously damaged feathers that were there.
The Center’s digital radiology server was functioning again today, so the veterinarians were able to interpret yesterday’s radiographs.
NX’s shoulder fracture continues to heal — there is a nice callous around the avulsion fracture.
NX’s left shoulder is still “dropped” in comparison to her right shoulder on radiographs – which will probably be a permanent position.
This does not appear to be affecting NX’s wing extension or range of motion.
The vets are also able to see some boney changes at the end of NX’s left humerus, near the elbow. This is likely mechanical – caused by her healing shoulder.
The team would like to re-radiograph NX in a month to assess her injury and ensure there are no additional boney changes in the wing.
February 13 radiographs images on link
http://www.wildlifecenter.org/wp/2011/12/injured-nx/
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. A white mouse is eating NX's dinner!
