Dentist Helps Broken Beak
Cyrano's beak before the team started work.
Cyrano the eagle was rescued and taken to the Bird Treatment & Learning Center after being found with a missing upper beak, wet and infested with lice.
After close inspection the team believe the bird may have got his upper beak wrapped in fishing line which slowly tightened and cut into the beak. Vets worried that further wear may have caused the beak to completely break off, which would have undoubtedly would have resulted in death in the wild.
After much deliberation, the vets enlisted the help of a dentist, Dr Kirk Johnson. With much development, the team developed a ‘spacer’ to fill the gap in the beak that is made out of the same material used to make temporary crowns for humans. Unfortunately the beak will never be strong enough to allow the eagle to be released back into the wild, but the team are hopeful that it will become more structurally sound on its own.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
