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“Things are going really well with Arya,” says avian veterinarian at the Academic Veterinary Hospital Zoë van der Plaats. Arya, a Harris's hawk, works on a waste disposal site in the Port of Rotterdam, scaring off birds that cause a nuisance. Last year, her right eye was removed because it had been damaged by elevated eye pressure (glaucoma).

Cornea

Falconer Tessa van Huisstede saw a film over her right eye. She did not hesitate and immediately called the Academic Veterinary Hospital. Zoë examined Arya and was concerned. “We didn’t find any anomalies in the physical examination, but the cornea of the right eye was clearly discoloured. It didn’t look good.” She enlisted the help of trainee veterinary ophthalmologist Clara Verdenius. Clara: “My colleague called me at the weekend and asked me if I could take a look. The examination indicated that Arya had inflammation (uveitis) in both eyes and elevated eye pressure (glaucoma) in the right eye due to the inflammation. Since both eyes were showing signs of inflammation, it was likely that this originated from an infection elsewhere in the body.”

Blood test and medication

A blood test was taken by the Birds and Special Animals department. This indicated that Arya had significantly raised inflammation levels. She was subsequently treated with various medicines: corticosteroids (anti-inflammatories), an antibiotic and drops to help reduce eye pressure. Zoë: “Because of the corticosteroids, we also had to treat her preventatively against fungal infections. That’s because these medicines suppress a bird’s immune system, so they are very susceptible to other infections.”

Operation

Arya got somewhat better, but after a few weeks, it appeared that her right eye was already so damaged as a result of the elevated eye pressure that, unfortunately, it could no longer be treated with medication. She was blind in this eye and was in pain. If an eye is permanently blind and painful, surgical removal is the best option. The operation was carried out by the avian specialists. With good care, she should recover. Tessa set the alarm every three hours for the medicines. The final check indicated that things were going in the right direction.

Character

Tessa could not wait to release Arya once again. Arya is now once again scaring off just as many birds as before her operation. Zoë: “Euthanasia in birds with one bad eye isn’t the only option. We take the character of the individual patient into account when considering whether or not to operate.”

Text: Nicole van Hoorn, Images: Bas Niemans