Research and Professional Papers

Dr. Dave Scott performs a laproscopy on a Red-tailed Hawk to check for asper. Photo by Michele Miller Houck.

The time will come when diligent research over long periods will bring to light things which now lie hidden. – Seneca, Natural Questions

“A Retrospective Look at Outcomes of Raptors with Spinal Trauma”

Dave Scott, DVM, with thanks to Gregg Miller, Central Piedmont Community College

Ocular trauma with resultant damage is very common in raptors admitted to rehab facilities. At Carolinar Raptor Center, our data indicates that 45% admitted have significant damage to at least one eye. In a Louisiana State University retrospective study completed between 1998 to 1999, 75% of admitted raptors had ocular lesions. The cause of eye injury is almost always trauma - "hit by car." The prognosis for these patients is not easy to predict. Dr. Scott studied these cases to identify prognostic indicators and to predict likelihood of recovery with an eye toward creating a diagnostic protocol.

Treatment Protocol included the following:

Meloxicam 0.5 mg/kg BID x 10 days
Dexamethasone 2 mg/kg IM once at admission
Supportive care
Repeated fundic exams
Visual tests (vision strips, live prey, etc).

Lead Toxicity in Raptors by Dan Mele