In early July, a southern giant petrel was found in dire condition — thin, weak, and unable to stand — by a caring member of the public. The bird was taken to our friends at Bird Care Aotearoa, who contacted our veterinary hospital for further assessment.
When the petrel arrived, a physical exam was carried out and blood tests were performed. These indicated the bird was suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration resulting in the kidneys struggling to function. The petrel initially required intensive care, including intravenous fluids and gradual tube feeding to prevent refeeding syndrome. This is a dangerous condition that can arise from introducing food too quickly after a period of starvation and must be carefully managed to avoid severe electrolyte imbalances or other complications.
Our skilled vet team provided a heavily padded bed (as this species spends little time on land and would otherwise develop foot issues) and gentle physiotherapy. As its condition improved, swimming sessions were gradually introduced to help with strength building. During the process of recovery, the petrel’s diet changed to introduce a diluted fish slurry, then full-strength slurry, and finally to whole fish - which it eagerly started to consume on its own.
