Partnering with MedVet
It takes a village to care for over 600 species at the zoo.
Caring for over 600 species at Utah’s Hogle Zoo takes a village. One key component of animal care is excellent health care. Hogle Zoo has an on-site veterinary team that works with all the animals at the zoo and often consults with specialized experts to elevate the care we provide for our resident animals.
A great example of the zoo’s partnerships and dedication to animal health care is a story about Ryder, our resident 4-year-old black-footed cat. In 2022, one of Ryder’s care team members noticed that he wasn’t putting any weight on his right front paw and immediately notified our on-site veterinary team members for an assessment.
Our vet staff soon discovered a fracture in Ryder’s paw after collecting radiographs (x-rays) and performing an exam in which Ryder was temporarily sedated, called an anesthetized exam. When medically evaluating wild animals like Ryder, we always take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and the animals safe—he’s not your average house cat, despite his looks!
Ryder’s foot was initially splinted following his exams, but after consulting Board-certified Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Sylvia Lee at MedVet, an innovative approach to repairing a small foot fracture was performed. The repair was successful thanks to the partnership between Hogle Zoo and MedVet and their dedication to care.
As Ryder healed, his animal care team worked to replace bandages, take follow-up X-rays, and ensure the bone was healing properly. Ryder was running about his habitat in no time.
Providing excellent animal wellbeing through animal health is a key priority for Utah’s Hogle Zoo and our health partners. Saving animals in the wild starts with the wellbeing of the animals under our care. Thank you to our amazing veterinary teams for the work they do every day and to our health partners for their collaboration in care!
About Animal Wellbeing
Providing excellent animal wellbeing through animal health is a key priority for Hogle Zoo. Saving animals in the wild starts with the wellbeing of the animals under our care. Patenka is just one example of the individual personalized care we give each resident animal resident at the zoo.
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Utah's Hogle Zoo
