Zoo Medicine Up Close

I'd like to start by wishing all the men who've ever supported us, given us guidance, taught us about life, and shown their kindness to us a Happy Father's Day!

I've been working in the plain's barn for the last week, which is where the giraffe, oryx, eland, zebra, and kudu are kept--along with one hyrax and a crane named Fraiser. This week was especially exciting as far as medical procedures go, which is unfortunate for the sick animals, but also a great learning experience. I saw surgery on a kudu's leg Monday. She's had an infection for quite some time. I got to watch all the pre-surgery action--anesthetizing her, hooking her up to an IV, drawing blood, taking radiographs, etc. Kirk aspirated the very large, swollen bump on her leg and squeezed. If you're not into gross things...stop reading now.

White puss the texture of oatmeal shot a foot across the stall. It was sweet! After flushing the area, he inserted antibiotic beads into the site to flush out the infection with different rounds of medication, rather than darting her with antibiotics every day, which is what's been happening for the last month. Kirk let me open the suture packet for him and I was reminded of how important sterility is, even in the middle of a barn. Afterward he jokingly told me I'd passed the test and was now a vet. If only it were that easy! The kudu seems to be doing really well! It's amazing how infections and diseases that dogs and cats can be treated really easily for can kill hoofstock so quickly. It's much harder to treat a disease in a 200 lb. exotic animal without the conveniences of an operating table. A lot of work goes in to simply preparing for every surgery.

We've also been administering fluids to an oryx calf who's not feeling too hot. I held the IV bag today...pretty exciting stuff! The little guy is 30 lbs. of pure power, so I'm glad I don't have to hold him! It takes about three people to hang onto him successfully. In other activities, I've been petting giraffe snouts daily and am going to see a lion exam next week! I'm excited for what's yet to come!

God Bless,

Liz

Zoo-rific Fact of the Day: Giraffe love honeysuckle and pretty much any other leafy greens they can get their long purple tongues around. Our tallest giraffe is 16-feet-tall, but one of the keepers told me the other day he thinks the tallest recored was 19-feet-tall!