Big cat gets a CAT scan at London Zoo for the first time

A major cat with earache obtained the star therapy at London Zoo on Monday.

The veterinary crew employed a cell CAT scanner to look into their Asiatic lion’s recurrent ear bacterial infections.

Veterinarians treating the 12-year-previous lion introduced the scanner to the London Zoological Society (ZSL) conservation zoo to totally investigate his troublesome remaining ear canal, after other actions unsuccessful to solve the issue.

“Bhanu is an crucial member of the European-huge breeding programme for endangered Asiatic lions and justifies the very best treatment,” states the zoo’s senior veterinary officer Taina Strike.

“So we arranged the full VIP procedure bringing a CAT scanner to a major cat for the first time, so we could see further into his ear with no him needing to journey.”

Bhanu was safely and securely anaesthetised ahead of currently being thoroughly transported to the mobile CAT scanner on the again of a flatbed truck.

From there, it took 6 users of ZSL’s team to gently carry the 180kg lion into the accurate place on the scanner.

The diagnostics also included experts from throughout the globe, as a scan expert in Australia with knowledge of doing the job with big cats was also existing by using video clip hyperlink to are living evaluate the outcomes.

The group could quickly rule out any worst-scenario scenarios, these types of as a tumour or a deep-seated an infection, which would exhibit up on a CAT scan quickly.

They concluded that Bhanu experienced a very narrow left ear canal, which was vulnerable to blockages and bacterial infections.

“Just like your pet cat at dwelling, huge cats can the natural way get ear infections far too, which are normally addressed with ear drops,” claims Taina.

Vets took the prospect to give Bhanu’s ear a complete cleanse and remedy, ahead of taking the significant cat back again to his household to wake up.

The team have due to the fact shaped a very long-time period cure approach for his treatment.

As a substitute of ear drops, the crucial feline will acquire frequent oral medication to cut down swelling in his ear canal, anti-fungals to handle any an infection and a in depth ear clean through his once-a-year wellbeing verify.

View the movie previously mentioned to see how Bhanu experienced his CAT scan.