While many Veterinary Practices only deal with certain species, at Donaldson’s Vets, we really do see “All Creatures Great and Small”.
While all our Vets see all species from time to time, we have some Vets who spend most of their time out on farms, some are on equine yards and some are in the surgery looking after cats and dogs.
Two of our Vets, Jeremy Cookson and Matthew Smith have a particular interest in exotic species. Owners of unusual animals often travel long distances to bring their unusual animals as Exotic Vets are thin on the ground in many areas.
Last week, our Vet Matthew was called on to implant a microchip in a Steppe Eagle.
The Eagle belongs to Scissett based group “Wise-Owl” which specialises in the rescue and rehabilitation of birds of prey as well as doing Bird-of-Prey demonstrations and displays. The displays include many different activities such as static and flying displays involving a variety of birds, owls, falcons, hawks and buzzards.
The Steppe Eagle originates in an area from Romania, east through the south Russian and Central Asian steppes to Mongolia and female birds can weigh up to 4.9 kg. The steppe eagle’s diet is largely fresh carrion of all kinds, but it will kill rodents and other small mammals up to the size of a hare, and birds up to the size of partridges. It will also steal food from other raptors. Like other species, the steppe eagle has a crop in its throat allowing it to store food for several hours before being moved to the stomach.
The reason the Steppe Eagle was being microchipped is similar to the reasons people have their cats and dogs microchipped. If it were to escape, the microchip would help anyone finding it to return it to its owner. In birds, the microchip is inserted into the breast muscles whereas cats and dogs are microchipped in the scruff of the neck.
These beautiful birds need very specialised care. The team at Wise-Owl Bird of Prey Rescue and Rehabilitation Team are very experienced at caring for these beautiful birds.
For more information about everything from their rescue work to School Displays visit www.wise-owl.co.uk/
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