Two adult bald eagles recently “talon-locked” during a mid-air battle in Duluth, Minn. and crash-landed on the Duluth International Airport tarmac. While one bird was able to fly away, the other was severely injured and was taken to The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota for care.

Talon-locking is known to occur among eagles of the same sex during breeding territory battles and among male and female eagles during courtship.

The eagle cared for at The Raptor Center sustained puncture wounds from the second bird’s talons and is expected to recover.

Watch a KARE 11 video featuring The Raptor Center executive director Julia Ponder, D.V.M., and the bald eagle patient here.

The Minnesota Urolith Center (MUC) at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine recently reached a big milestone: they received their 750,000th urolith, or bladder stone.

Data collected from urolith samples helps the MUC provide recommendations, consultations, clinical studies and lectures on uroliths and how to better treat and prevent them worldwide.

The receipt of the “struvite-calcium phosphate carbonate stone” was also marked by a $500,000 renewed sponsorship of the center by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Horse lovers, veterinarians and scientists alike have long wondered why horses put out to pasture in the fall are so prone to contracting a deadly muscle disease that can kill the animals within days. Now, a team of University of Minnesota researchers may have found the answer …

Kristi Flynn, D.V.M., a veterinarian with the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, knows firsthand that the holidays can be a dangerous time for pets.

She’s seen pets come into clinic for everything from stomach problems to fractures and strains during the winter months.  Who knew the holidays could be so hazardous for pets?

If you’re looking for ways to keep your pet out of harm’s way this holiday season, here are a few of Flynn’s top tips …

Wednesday morning, a five-month-old Chihuahua mix arrived at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center for a life-changing operation.

WCCO-TV documented the dog’s story …

Who doesn’t love a good story about a furry friend made healthy again?

This morning KARE published a story about Berlin the polar bear who, after a mid-October health scare, is back at the Como Zoo again.

After being found unresponsive by zookeepers last month, Como Zoo called in a team of veterinarians from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Blood tests, ultrasounds, x-rays and endoscopies turned up signs of internal bleeding, so the veterinarians decided to do what was necessary to make Berlin better.

They performed an abdominal exploratory surgery to find out just what exactly was wrong and fix the problem.

“As soon as Berlin arrived at the hospital, we knew that we had to move quickly and efficiently,” said Jose Mendez, D.V.M., a large animal surgical specialist within the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The medicine, anesthesia and surgery services worked as a perfect team to perform all the necessary diagnostic tests within one hour. Once we realized that she had evidence of internal bleeding, we took her directly to surgery. It is highly unlikely that she would have survived without surgical intervention.”

And survive she did! Berlin was given a green light by her U of M vets last week to journey back to her Como Zoo exhibit.

She is reported to be eating normally again and follow-up blood tests have shown she is making steady progress toward returning back to good health.

Congratulations to Berlin, her Como Zoo staff and her team of doctors! We over at Health Talk couldn’t be happier that Berlin is feeling better.