People go to the zoo to enjoy the beauty of nature’s exquisite creatures. What people don’t realize is all the tough work that it takes to maintain healthy animals and healthy gardens. Have you ever imagined what it’s like to take animal x-rays?
Zookeepers are responsible for taking care of the health of thousands of creatures, which can be a demanding and elaborate process. The job can involve everything from a rattlesnake getting a face implant to fix a deformity caused by an overgrown venom gland, to a Sarus crane getting cataract surgery.
Annual check-ups and X-rays are preventative and are usually performed on lightly anesthetized animals to help prevent problems from sedation. On that note, the Oregon Zoo in Portland recently conducted a set of digital radiology scans using equipment funded in 2009 by the Banfield Pet Hospital. The zoo uploaded the fantastic result online. The photos reveal that beauty isn’t only on the outside of the animal, but the inside too.
The zoo wrote:
Digital radiology allows us to get X-ray results faster and fine-tune the images after taking them, so we’re able to minimize anesthesia and examination time for animals. This decreased anesthesia time means lower risk and improved safety for our patients. Plus, we can digitally archive images for later comparison and share X-rays with consultants and veterinary staff at other zoos.
The Oregon Zoo is the most popular attraction in the state of Oregon. The 64-acre zoo currently holds over 1,800 animals of more than 230 species, including nine threatened species and 19 endangered species. In addition to animals, the zoo thrives in biodiversity with specialized gardens and an extensive plant collection throughout its entire animal exhibit.
Check out the amazing photos of animal X-rays below:
