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Wildlife Medicine Happenings
RECENT EVENTS: Hawk rescued from the Tufts Administration Building this summer is recovering in Grafton. Red-tailed Hawk On May 2, 2004, an adult red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) presented to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic from Lynn, MA after being found unable to fly. On initial examination, the bird was very dull, was breathing rapidly, and had a large bruise and puncture wound over the right elbow. The bird was anesthetized for radiographs of the wing to determine if any bones were broken. The radiographs showed no fractures, only a large area of soft tissue swelling around the elbow. The wound was cleansed thoroughly and a dressing was applied. Blood was collected for a complete blood count and the bird was given pain medications and antibiotics. On day two of the bird’s hospitalization, the elbow wound bandage was changed. The wound was still oozing blood from the day before, which concerned the veterinary staff. More blood was collected and analyzed at this time. In healthy animals, blood will clot in a short amount of time, but the blood from this hawk took a very long time to clot. Because this problem may be caused by ingestion of rat & mouse poisons, we made a presumptive diagnosis of secondary anticoagulant rodenticide toxicity and the bird was started on Vitamin K therapy. Unfortunately, this scenario is commonly seen in birds of prey. Hawks and owls normally eat rodents. Many people buy commercial poisons in an attempt to control nuisance rodent populations around their houses, but don’t realize that these poisons adversely affect many animals, including dogs, cats, hawks and even humans. Many rodent poisons are anticoagulants. They work by blocking the actions of vitamin K, which is necessary for the production of clotting factors found in the blood. The animals that consume the poison will use up their clotting factors and are then unable to make more. They may initially be weakened from blood loss and will ultimately bleed to death. This not only happens to rats and mice, but also to any other animal that eats the poisons. Hawks, owls and other predators don’t eat the poisons directly. Such predators catch the rodents that are slowest or weakest and may easily consume animals that have died from rodenticides or other poisons (thus the terms secondary toxicity). Hawks cannot tell healthy from poisoned animals and will eat both live and dead rodents. One poisoned meal may not cause major effects in the hawk. But the poison is active for several weeks and, during that time, the hawk is likely to consume more rodents killed by the poison. The poison accumulates in the hawk, and the bird may bleed to death or become weakened from blood loss. Birds suffering from secondary rodenticide toxicity often exhibit weakness, aren’t interested in food, have difficulty breathing, bleeding and extensive bruising. Therapy is directed at supplementing the poisoned animals with vitamin K so that their bodies can produce blood-clotting factors. The anticoagulant poisons are long-acting so the therapy must be continued for several weeks. Some poisoned animals that have lost significant amounts of blood may even require blood transfusions. Red-tailed Hawk received Vitamin K therapy every day for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks the therapy was discontinued and the bird was closely observed for any new bleeding. Another blood sample was collected and observed for clotting time. The sample clotted in a normal amount of time and the bird did not show any bruising or difficulty clotting from the blood collection site. The bird was released after 5 weeks of care and an estimated treatment cost of $2,179.40. Cases such as this one not only allow us to help individual animals and to teach our veterinary students, they help us understand some of the subtle and unintended effects that we have on the world around us. All chemicals used to kill rodents can have effects on other species. Each year pediatricians and emergency rooms treat many children who have eaten the poisoned baits. Veterinarians also treat many pet cats and dogs who ingest rodent poison or the dead rodents themselves. None of us want mice in our kitchens. But as this case shows, before we resort to poisons we should carefully make sure that we repair all the holes and cracks through which rodents can enter, use properly set killing traps (snap type mouse traps), or consult professional pest control personnel. Thanks to generous donations, we are able to provide medical care to wildlife in need. Please consider a donation today and be a part of something special—the opportunity to give wildlife a second chance at life and help protect our natural world. Black Bear Cub A black bear cub arrived at the Tufts University Wildlife Clinic on July 30th, 2003 after being hit by a truck in Conway, MA. Biologists at the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife service were notified by good samaritans who found the bear cub listless but alive on the side of the road. The biologists sedated the bear and transported her to the Wildlife Clinic for medical care. 
On presentation, the bear cub was unconscious and bleeding from the mouth. She appeared to have a broken lower jaw, several deep lacerations on her tongue, a large laceration on her front right leg, and some hemorrhage into the white portion of her left eye. Her heartbeat was weak, but steady, and her lungs sounded very wet. In addition to the fractures and lacerations, the veterinary staff was concerned about the severity of head trauma and possible contusions on the lungs. Radiographs were obtained and confirmed a fracture of the lower jaw and a fracture of the front right leg. The lower jaw fracture was stabilized with orthopedic wire and before casting the leg fracture, the laceration was cleaned and sutured. With most of the external injuries stabilized, it was a waiting game to see how severe this little bear's head trauma was. She took a very long time recovering from her sedation and the Wildlife Clinic team was concerned that she was bleeding into her brain. The bear was given several medications to relieve pain, reduce inflammation of the nervous system and prevent infection of her injuries. After 24 hours, the bear was only slightly responsive to noise. The Neurology Service at the Tufts Small Animal Hospital consulted on the case and recommended a CT (Computed Topography) scan of the brain. Lucky for the bear, the results of the CT scan indicated that there were no areas of bleeding or compression of her brain. 
The bear's condition began improving steadily after 48 hours at the Clinic. She became more alert and began eating and walking. She showed a healthy fear of humans and readily "huffed" and "chomped" as a threat to her caretakers. To reduce the amount of human contact, the bear cub was moved into a specially designed carnivore enclosure that allows the veterinary staff to supply fresh food and water and clean the enclosure with no physical or visual contact with the bear. This ensures her wild behavior and prevents her from associating food with humans. The bear cub required several weeks of hospitalization while her fractures healed. She made a full recovery and was released back into the wild on 10/10/03 by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at an undisclosed location in Western Massachusetts. For more information on Black Bears in Massachusetts visit the following website: http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/Dfw_black_bear.htm
Bobcat A North American Bobcat arrived at the Tufts University Wildlife Clinic July 24th, 2003 after being hit by a car in Sheffield, MA. He was found lying in the middle of the road and assumed to be dead. Good Samaritans stopped to investigate and noticed that the bobcat was still alive. They transported him to a local Veterinarian who took radiographs and administered shock therapy to the animal. The bobcat was then brought to Tufts Wildlife Clinic for further care. 
When the bobcat arrived, it was alert but quiet and was not observed to be using his back legs. The Wildlife Clinic staff sedated the bobcat for a full examination, more radiographs and bloodwork. On physical examination, the bobcat was noted to be very pale and hypothermic, with many small lacerations around his face. Radiographs showed a dislocated right hip and fractures of the pelvis. The bobcat also had pneumothorax, or air in the chest cavity that can be caused by blunt force trauma to the lungs. The bobcat was started on antibiotics and pain medications. Because the pneumothorax was mild, no treatment other than cage rest was instituted. The lacerations on his face were cleaned and sutured. The Surgery Department at the Tufts Small Animal Hospital was consulted and the orthopedic surgeons were optimistic about repair options for this cat. They volunteered their services and the bobcat went to surgery on July 31st, 2003. The dislocated hip was repaired and the pelvic fractures were left to heal on their own. The bobcat recovered well from surgery and remained at the Clinic for several weeks to ensure he was strong enough for release back out in the wild. He was released near where he was found the middle of October, 2003, with a radio collar and has been tracked by a biologist at MA Fisheries and Wildlife. As of our last update, he is doing well and is within 7 miles of where he was hit by the car.
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