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Category: Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital

Commitment to Care: OKC Zoo’s 31-year-old Gila Monster Undergoes Surgery

On Thursday, May 27, one of the Zoo’s Gila monsters underwent surgery at 10 a.m. at the Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital to remove a tumor from her kidney tissue. Native to southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, Gila monsters are reptiles and named for the Gila River in Arizona. They are covered in beadlike dorsal scales that are black and yellow or pink, and they have a forked tongue that is used to “taste” the air for the presence of food and predators. They ... Read More

Celebrating Animal Health Care Staff: Liz McCrae, Vet Clinic Coordinator

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week, October 13 through October 19, by profiling our hard-working animal health care staff, starting with Liz McCrae, Vet Clinic Coordinator. Liz, congratulations on your recent promotion to veterinary clinic coordinator! Tell us a bit about your new role and how you are settling into it after three months?  My new role on the veterinary team is an exciting new endeavor and I am settling i... Read More
at Monday, October 14, 2019

Eye-dentifying a Solution: 19-year-old Lioness Undergoes Eye Surgery

When it comes to animal health concerns – there is no ‘lion’ around at the Oklahoma City Zoo.  During a morning body check in March, the Zoo’s carnivore care team observed a prominent squint in the left eye of 19-year-old lioness, Tia. Upon noticing this change in her health, Tia’s care team took immediate action and contacted the Zoo’s veterinary team to arrange an evaluation. Zoo veterinarians evaluated Tia’s left eye and concluded tha... Read More
at Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Pass the Anti-HISS-tamine: Sumatran Tiger Eko Being Treated for Allergies

After Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden caretakers and veterinary staff noticed Sumatran tiger, Eko, rubbing and scratching his face, they reached out to a local veterinary dermatologist who discovered Eko was experiencing an allergic reaction. Eko initially had a few scratches on his face that would come and go. It was thought these were minor wounds resulting from play with his brothers, Ramah and Gusti, until he was observed rubbing on his face, a non-typical behavior. After that dis... Read More
at Thursday, May 2, 2019

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