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A day in the life
With around seven hundred species over two sites, the vets never know who they’ll be treating next.
A routine dental check “Every day is different, and always a challenge” says Yedra Feltrer, one of ZSL’s veterinary officers.
Each morning, the vet nurses check the hospital patients to ensure there have been no problems overnight. Their observations are discussed, along with any new cases, highlighted by the daily report sheets or mentioned by the keepers, at the department’s morning meeting.
Next the vets and vet nurses begin their rounds organising their work around the keepers, who not only have expert knowledge of the animals in their care, but can help to minimise stress to the animals when they are being treated. Generally the vet staff try to accomplish active procedures in the morning, so that an animal recovering from general anaesthetic can be observed for as long as possible to ensure they are recovering well.
To ensure the animals’ comfort and aid a speedy recovery, the vet staff endeavour to treat many of the animals in their enclosures. Almost every enclosure is large enough to allow a sick animal to be separated and treated, however if their symptoms are serious they can be transferred to the hospital, with a friend from their enclosure to keep them company, if they’re staying for a long time!
At the hospital, examinations take place in the treatment room. Both hospitals are equipped with large holding areas, suitable for keeping larger animals, birds and reptiles during treatment or quarantine.
In addition, the Veterinary team often looks after animals seized by HM Customs, whilst decisions are made about their future welfare and supply a temporary home for endangered species bred for reintroduction.
