One of the most important things the Zoo vets do is prevent possible problems. The preventative health program involves preventive care and vaccinations. “Vaccinations are just as important for animals as they are for people,” said Dr. Sutherland-Smith. Another part of this program consists of routine preventative health examinations. The animal keepers are responsible for monitoring the animals in their care so that any problems can be caught before they become severe.

When dealing with endangered species you must be especially careful because there are not many left as it is. A large part of Dr. Sutherland-Smith’s job is to provide anesthesia carefully and safely for any animals whose conditions are such that the vets need to do a more comprehensive exam or even surgery.

Veterinarians have to know about a lot of diseases and conditions and must be able to recognize their symptoms and diagnose the problems. In addition to old-fashioned know how, this sometimes involves using many high-tech machines. For this reason, Zoo vets have to work with new technology. If you are not a technology person, then this might not be a job for you. Once the animal has been diagnosed, the proper measures must be taken to remedy the problem. In some cases this means surgery, other times it means administering medication and possibly keeping the animal on an IV.

After visiting the hospital, I have decided that I may actually like to become a vet. Being a vet was never something that attracted me; this is only because it is not something that I fully understood. I still would like to become a wildlife biologist; however, I would also like to have the proper training and education to perform veterinary work. Being a vet means being able to help animals in a hands-on way. This is something I have always wanted to do.

-Justin, Animal Careers Team

Zoo Veterinarians Spaning the Globe to Save Animals
Veterinarians at the San Diego Zoo divide their caseload of animals into three different types. Animals that reside at the Zoo are treated right on site. Vets will come to the animal’s exhibit, usually at the request of the keepers, and first determine the severity of the condition. They may then bring them to the Zoo hospital if the condition ranks high enough on the scale of 1 to 10 used by the vets. Then there are the animals coming into the Zoo that need to be quarantined and tested for disease before they can join the rest of the animals in the collection. Lastly, there are the animals that are quarantined at the San Diego Zoo that are going to live at other zoos. Veterinarians run tests and update all vaccines for these animals to make sure they are healthy enough to leave and will not bring something harmful to the animal collection at their destination zoo.

Besides working with the animals that live at the Zoo, the veterinarians also are directly involved in the conservation projects around the world that are coordinated through the center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES). One example project that is pretty close to home involves the San Clemente Island loggerhead shrike. These little songbirds live on an island off the coast of California. The CRES team manages a captive breeding program on this Navy-owned island. The veterinarians play a crucial role in helping to keep these birds healthy and treating any animals that are sick or injured. The adventures of a Zoo veterinarian must be tiring work, but the contribution each makes to conservation makes it worth it.

Marika, Conservation Team

Veterinarians are Smarter than Human Doctors
Imagine sick animals like sick humans. Animals get treated for sicknesses and humans get treated. Veterinarians and physicians use a lot of the same techniques. Animals can’t go to the hospital by themselves, but if they’re lucky, they have people checking up on them every once in awhile to check on their health. This can be harder than it sounds because animals actually hide their illness or injury. The weak and the slowest are the ones that get eaten by the predators, so it is a survival tool to act like you are not sick.

One thing that human doctors do not have to learn in medical school that is an important part of being an exotic animal veterinarian at the Zoo is how to shoot a tranquilizer gun. Not all animals have to be darted to be treated. Some of the smaller animals can be held by the keeper or restrained in a carrier. Other animals are actually trained to allow the vets to draw blood, to look in their mouths, or to touch their skin. A couple of weeks ago the interns and I went to see the sea lion show. After the show we met with the trainers and sea lions (see the blog, Animal Ambassadors Represent). The training techniques they use during the training is using a clicking devise, hand gestures, and fish and squid. We rubbed our hands on the sea lion and the trainer asked him to open his mouth. By making these experiences rewarding for the animals, they will be willing to do them, even if they are performing for the veterinarian! It’s pretty amazing how the different jobs at the Zoo work together for the health of the animals.

Chelsi, Real World Team

Photo Team Member Appreciates the Veterinarians’ Use of Spy Cameras
While she isn’t working directly on helping sick animals, Dr. Meg Sutherland-Smith can be found checking on them using the 15 cameras that surround the quarters. From one control she can look at mammals, birds, and even animals that are being operated on, all with zoom, too! This camera device comes in handy for late-night checkups or an all-around watch of the animals that are being kept there for quarantine, surgery, or radiographs. The system allows for the night security to make sure that everything is as it should be with the patients. If there were an incident, the security would contact Dr. Sutherland-Smith or other doctors and they would be able to examine the patients without having to go and disturb them. These 15 cameras are also excellent to use with pregnant animals. During the night, if the animal gives birth and nobody was there to watch over it, the cameras would record everything and the doctors are able to rewind the footage and determine the time of birth, if everything went correctly, and how the mother responded to her new baby.

Lauren, Photo Team

While some people are terrifed of these prickly objects, the vets use these needles to anaesthetize animals for safe transport to the hospital. The needles differ in size to accomodate animals that cannot be handled by hand, like elephants or lions.

Joopi Kuhn, a hospital keeper, is handling an African hedgehog in quarantine with seven others. Being in quarantine doesn’t mean that they are sick, just that they need to be tested for possible health problems and to make sure that they do not pass along any possible disease to the Zoo’s animals.