Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hawk-eagle with weak bones from all-meat diet causing calcium loss
By Toyoda, T et al.·Published in Avian pathology : journal of the W.V.P.A·2004·Laboratory of Comparative Pathology Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteodystrophia fibrosa in a Hodgson's hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis).
Plain-English summary
A Hodgson's hawk-eagle was brought in by its falconer after showing severe weakness and suffering multiple bone fractures. The bird had been fed an all-meat diet, which led to low calcium and phosphorus levels in its blood. Examination revealed a serious bone condition called osteodystrophia fibrosa, where the bones become weak and fibrous due to improper nutrition. The hawk-eagle's parathyroid glands were also enlarged, indicating nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, a condition caused by a lack of essential nutrients. Proper dietary adjustments and supplementation could help improve the bird's health and bone strength.
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Abstract
A Hodgson's hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis) reared by a falconer showed severe weakness with multiple fractures of bone. It had a history of being fed an all-meat diet. Serological examination revealed a hypocalcaemia (72.0 microg/ml), and hypophosphataemia (29.0 microg/ml). Gross and microscopic examinations demonstrated severe osteodystrophia fibrosa (fibrous osteodystrophy) characterized by osteoclastic bone resorption and intertrabecular fibrosis with unmineralized trabecular bone containing a large amount of unmineralized osteoid. There was also hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands, which is consistent with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14681062/