Episode 1 - Primrose the Chimp
Primrose is a forty-two year old chimpanzee who lives at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park. She collapsed in 2003 suffering from breathing problems and a collapsed lung.
Whilst investigating the collapsed lung the vets diagnosed a heart condition and prescribed medication to treat it. As Primrose was due to have a routine healthcheck, the vets decided it would be a good time to invite Adrian Bosworth, a cardiac specialist from the RVC, to examine Primrose, confirm the diagnosis and see how her condition was progressing.
Scanning a chimpanzee
Primrose needed to be moved from her enclosure and taken to Whipsnade’s animal hospital for the procedure. Vet nurse, Emma Maddocks, hand-injected Primrose with an anaesthetic to sedate her, before the team moved Primrose to the hospital. Hand injecting is much less stressful for an animal than the alternative, which would be darting. Once Primrose arrived at the hospital she was placed on oxygen administered using a mask, but which gave the vets the option of administering gaseous anaesthesia. It was important that Primrose was given as much oxygen as possible to support her compromised heart.
ZSL vet, Jonathan Cracknell monitored Primrose’s vital signs, using advanced monitoring equipment and carried out chest x-rays. Meanwhile Adrian began to ultrasound Primrose’s chest. There was no evidence of a collapsed lung or any other problem with her lungs. Primrose’s heart was found to be of a reasonable size, but during the ultrasound Adrian found a hole in her heart which Primrose has probably had since birth. This is similar to the condition in humans, with as many as one in ten humans being born with the problem.
Adrian also found evidence of significant left-sided heart disease, with several of Primrose’s heart valves working insufficiently. Adrian summarised that the problems were similar to age related diseases seen in humans and that similar therapy should be instigated which had already been done. Overall though Primrose’s condition is progressing slowly and Adrian was able to confirm that the vets had diagnosed and treated her correctly.
Treatment
Primrose will remain on the same medication for her heart condition and the vets will continue to monitor her progress, adjusting her treatment as appropriate.