A while back we noticed that a black spot had developed on Burrito’s gums behind one of his upper incisors. He would let us examine the spot during positive reinforcement sessions, but because of its location we were never able to conclusively determine what it was. Unfortunately, that meant we had to get him into the clinic. This time, however, we would be using our brand new clinic in Phase 1 of the new expansion.
Any time a chimpanzee is anesthetized, we try to get as much information on their health as we can, so in addition to enlisting the help of our secondary veterinarians, Jen Wallace, DVM and Erika Nelson, DVM, Dr. Erin also invited some specialists.
Stephanie Moore, CRNA, managed Burrito’s anesthesia throughout the procedure.
Lynn Nelson, DVM, DACVIM came all the way from the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine to do Burrito’s cardiac and abdominal ultrasound. This was her second evaluation of Burrito’s heart.
Diane Carle, DVM, DAVDC and Sara Kessler, LVT from Animal Medical Center of Seattle and Jessica Reed, DVM from Seattle Humane came to take dental x-rays and to do a full dental evaluation and cleaning.
You’ll be glad to hear that everything went great! Dr. Erin removed a small foreign body from Burrito’s gums which should heal in no time. Burrito’s teeth look good and while we’ll have to wait for his full cardiac report, all signs were positive (for a guy of his condition and age, anyway).
The new clinic is larger and better equipped than our mobile unit, and being just steps from the chimps’ indoor enclosures, it is both easier and safer to transport the chimps back and forth.
When procedures are done, we put the chimps back into a recovery room with plenty of blankets to keep them safe and comfortable as the anesthesia wears off. Dr. Erin monitored his heart with a bluetooth stethoscope that records to a phone so that the data can be reviewed and shared.
Curious George kept Burrito company.
Our thanks go out again to everyone who donated to our Phase 1 expansion and to the amazing group of nurses, technicians, and veterinarians who have ensured that Burrito gets the best medical care possible.
Wow! So glad all is well with Burrito. Great looking facility. Strange to see him from new perspectives.
I’m curious. How do you segregate him and get him out and then how will you get him back in?
My guess is…………food! 😛
Hi Maureen – The chimps need to be isolated the night before the procedure, so we invite them into the smaller front rooms at dinner time and close them in then. It’s usually not too hard. The hardest part is kicking everyone else out of the building the next morning. It’s always better to have peace and quiet and access to the enclosures around the room that the chimp is being held in when giving the anesthetic injection, but the other chimps are understandably reluctant to leave the building because they know what’s going on. Yesterday, it took bring the visiting veterinarians outside to show Jamie their shoes to get her to leave. For our group, it’s not hard to reintegrate the chimp, especially if they’ve only been separated for 24-36 hours. If chimps are recuperating in isolation for weeks or longer, the social dynamics of the group may change in the interim and that can make reintroduction difficult. But when we return chimps to the group, they usually have a short reunion and then life goes on. The girls will be glad to see Burrito today, and by the end of the day when he starts causing trouble they’ll wish he could be isolated again 🙂
Ooohhh, you all are amazing people for caring so much about the chimpanzees! Burrito looked very tuckered out from his procedure (and the anaesthesia), but he toughed it out even if he was asleep.
LOVED the photos, Jeeb. My favourite was the one of his hand being held by one of the vets.
I’m also glad my boy is okay. Did you actually identify the foreign body? You only said you’d removed it and things were healing well.
Thanks so much for sharing this!
Cheers.
We need to examine it more but it appears to be a clump of tiny bristles. Why they didn’t cause more inflammation or an abscess is a mystery, as the body should normally try to expel a foreign body like that. Much better than a cancerous lesion!
Spectacular event! So glad things went well and will be looking to hear the cardiac report. Exxtremely pleased to see the role that Curious George was able to play in this big event for Burrito. Hugs and appreciation to all!!!
Isn’t technology great. Glad Burrito received such great care.
So glad he’s okay! Was it just from his habit of chewing on things? When I saw the title of the post, I was afraid it was his heart…..I had forwarded a link to “Burrito’s small friend” to my niece, and she just responded today that her little guy, who has a CG that I bought him of his own (plus a smaller version that isn’t an official CG, just “monk”, which he’s had since he was a baby), and we were just wondering how Burrito’s small friend was holding up. Now I see he’s doing well! The girls haven’t gotten to him yet!
Great job!
Poor little Burrito,
He looks so small and vulnerable on that table.
It’s wonderful to have such an amazing Vet team !
I am sending out a heartfelt “Thank you” to the skilled ladies of Healing Team Burrito. Poor dear boy, yes he does look so vulnerable. When you said they found and removed a foreign body from Burrito’s gums, does this mean something had lodged into his gums and thus caused an infection or sore or did the doctors find something that might need to be biopsied? I will worry about him until I know he is back to his old self, ready to play chase and tug. Thank goodness Curious George is at his side for when he wakes up.
Thanks for sharing the photos and procedure. So happy to see the new clinic functioning, just in time.
Great news!! So thankful for technology and wonderful vets!! The pix of hand holding between Burrito and (I assume) a vet or vet tech was just to wonderful for words!! Hugs and love to you all….
I’m so glad adorable Burrito is ok. But it did hurt to see him knocked out. He looked so vulnerable, but I know you had to sedate him to make sure he is ok. Such a kind, happy soul.
Thanks for keeping us informed of what is happening with our beloved Chimps. The new facility looks great. My favorite photo is the one of B’s hand being held by a vet. It was strange to see that big guy laying on the table and I was touched that you tucked Curious George under his arm for when he wakes up in recovery. I too, am curious if the spot will be biopsied… no mention of it possibly being cancerous. Get Well quick, Burrito.
I have a question and a bit touchy but it looked like the pulsock monitor was attached to his Testicles (sorry Burrito) in one of the pictures why was that done there?
Sometimes on chimps we have trouble getting pulse ox readings through fingers and toes so we will extend the penis from the scrotum and use that. We’ve also used lips and ears…it all depends on what it least in the way of the other operations.
Haha. I had to go back and look. I hadn’t even noticed. Thanks J. B.
I am so glad that the entire process went smoothly and Mr. B is going to be as good as before and still able to enjoy all his favorite things (aka, food). 🙂 Thank you CSNW for always keeping up informed and up to date. And I am glad that Curious George is there for Buritto until the girls can provide their reassurances and welcomes.
That blog was very interesting about Burrito. It looked like he had all the specialists
plus others taking very good care of him. It warms my heart to see this and read about it.
Animals are so reliant on humans to care for them. Chimps are so special. Thanks for
sharing. Barbara
I know that you provide excellent care and treatment to the chimpanzees which they were so long denied, and I have little doubt that Burrito will recover. Still, to see him on the gurney…again, I know that he is not being mistreated and that you are seeking to improve his health. I love him so much.
Just wanted to thank you J.B. for your answers to all the excellent questions. Very interesting, and very touched by everyone who loves Mr. B.
Thank you for the amazing care you give to all the Chimps and especially Burrito at this time. It is so nice of you to let us see pictures of him during the procedure. I feel sorry for him having to go through that but I know it is in the best interest of his good health. I am glad that Curious George showed up again as a friend to him. Love and hugs to all of you.