Spotted Eagle-Owl Very Ill

The following story about a spotted eagle-owl was submitted by Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in South Africa.

This spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus) was found grounded and collected by the SPCA Randfontein & Westonaria, and then she was brought to us. She was in a sorry state when she arrived, as she suffered from severe trichomoniasis. Also, she was severely underweight and dehydrated, and she had maggots in her nasal passages.

Treatment included IV fluids, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories. We also manually cleared away any visible maggots, as well as ticks we found on her eyelids. She had a massive plug of necrotic (dead) tissue in throat and, therefore, could not even swallow food or drink water.

During this time, the owl was tube-fed EmerAid IC Carnivore. She soon started eating by herself and gained in excess of 300 grams (About 10.5 ounces) during her stay. After some time, the plug started coming apart from the healthy flesh, and Dr. K assisted with the gentle removal of the parts that were still stuck.

Now that she had a clear throat, she was ready for release. Ecosolutions assisted us in finding a suitable release site for her, and she went to St. Andrew’s School for Girls. She will stay in a release pen there for a short while, and then finally be released from there.