Patient of the Week:
Bald Eagle

Lead toxicity at this level causes severe neurological impairment and can lead to fatal organ failure.

Though initially alert during examination, the eagle's condition deteriorated rapidly once placed in an enclosure.

The head droop and being unresponsive to noise and movement indicates profound neurological distress.

Our veterinary team immediately began treatment, administering medication to bind and remove the lead from the bloodstream (a process known as chelation therapy) and providing fluids to support the bird’s organ function.

Despite these efforts, the prognosis remains grim due to the extreme level of toxicity.

Lead poisoning in wildlife most commonly occurs when animals ingest bullet fragments left in gut piles or unrecovered game.

Lead bullets fragment on impact, scattering tiny particles—some traveling up to 18 inches from the wound site. Bald Eagles, like many scavengers, rip and swallow large pieces of meat whole, unknowingly consuming rice-sized lead fragments.

Once ingested, stomach acid breaks down the lead, allowing it to enter the bloodstream and inflict widespread damage.