Surgical treatment of lead poisoning in a mute swan (Cygnus olor)
Poole, C.
Veterinary Record 119(20): 501-502
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3811151 Document Number: 268180
Freshly ingested lead shot was removed surgically from the gizzard of 3 swans with clinical signs of lead poisoning. The incision was made immediately caudal to the sternum and the gizzard contents were removed manually through a longitudinal incision in the ventral aponeurosis of the gizzard. Post operatively the birds were given sodium calcium edetate and antibiotics daily for a week. The two swans in good condition (an adult male and one cygnet) recovered well. The third swan, a cygnet in poor condition, survived the operation but did not recover completely and died 12 days later.