MVSC & Zoos Victoria's Latest Patient

posted: 29/Jul/2014

Recently our Internal Medicine Department was asked to visit Werribee Open Range Zoo to assist with the regular health screening of their cheetahs. As with many species, cheetahs have gastric Helicobacter-like organisms (HLO) of unknown significance. When last screened, approximately 4 years ago, all of the cheetahs had HLO and the Zoo Veterinary Staff wished to take this opportunity to repeat screening. Our expertise in endoscopy was called upon to assess two male cheetahs, Kaidi and Inkosana, 10 year old brothers. Kaidi had had some weight loss in the last few months but both cheetahs otherwise had no significant signs.

At the time of their regular screening the cheetahs are anaesthetised for physical examination and to obtain blood and urine samples. Dr Darren Merrett and Kimberley White from our Internal Medicine Department travelled to the Werribee to perform a gastroscopy and found themselves in the company of Dr Chris Brown (the Bondi Vet) who was filming the cheetah check up story.

Despite being starved for the procedure, both cheetahs had managed to consume stray rabbits prior to anaesthesia. There was no gross evidence of gastic disease in either cheetah, but Kaidi’s biopsies confirmed the presence of HLO (of unknown significance) and Inkosana’s biopsies were clear of the organism. All other blood samples for both cats were normal.

It was an incredible experience to be able to be so close to the world’s fastest animal. 

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