Cy’s last exam showed some testicular edema, which is not uncommon in chimpanzees like Cy with congestive heart disease. His veterinary team and caregivers began training him so that we could gather diagnostic images using ultrasound and share them with specialists. This will help us monitor the amount of fluid around his testicles more frequently than we could with a full exam under anesthesia and thus keep better track of his overall health.
Kudos to our vet and PRT teams for another success in cooperative medical care!
J.B.,
Sigh…poor Cyrus. If the excess fluid in his gonadal region is contingent with his congestive heart disease, what are the means by which the latter ailment is treated? I recall that Burrito has (had) the same condition. Is this the result of both males living in captivity, and or any stress which is pertinent to that state? I like to think that Cy did not endure the same physical and psychological stressors which Burrito endured, but, his heart has the same condition. What can you tell us about Cy and Burrito’s cardio-vascular issues?
I could be wrong, but I think it’s because chimps and horillas in captivity aren’t as active as in the wild, where they cover miles every day. Plus, they’re living a lot longer. I don’t think chimps in the wild live to 50
Tobin – The edema is managed by adjusting his heart meds to help his heart pump more efficiently. But we always have to consider other factors that could lead to fluid in the scrotum, such as a hydrocele, and other reasons for the scrotum to appear larger, such as scar tissue. We still don’t know exactly why captive chimpanzees, especially males, are so prone to heart disease. Stress, lack of exercise, and genetic founder effects (i.e., the chimps that produced the most offspring in captivity initially had a higher genetic predisposition by chance) are all possibilities, but diet may play the largest role. No matter how healthy a diet chimps are provided in captivity, the foods they eat must lead to a vastly different gut biome than that of wild chimps. A friend’s team studied the diet of chimps in Uganda and found that the fruit they eat has more fiber and less suger than the carrots we grow domestically. That’s why we try to focus the diets we provide on raw, unprocessed produce, nuts, and seeds, with minimal chow and other processed foods. Even that may not be enough, or it may not be enough to reverse decades of diets heavy on less healthy foods. If you think about how little we truly understand about human health, just imagine how much less we can know about the health of a few thousand chimpanzees living in zoos and sanctuaries around the world. But rest assured that Cy is in good hands with Dr. Erin and her team of cardiologists and they’ll work together to keep Cy on the best plan possible.
Wow, that is so cool that you can do that without anesthesia.
And with a roomful of crazy chimps around him (take a bow Mr.Willy B.)
I am always so impressed with your forward thinking proceedures, and the trust that they have in you, They all know that whatever crazy thing you ask of them, you have good intentions.:revolving_hearts:
With everyone hanging around for some treats, it takes a village! Of course, you couldn’t forget Terry!
JB, what did the results say? would a diet for people with lymphedema help? Like celery, etc?
Linda – We have more imaging to do still and Dr. Erin will need to review the results with specialists, but our main strategy will be to adjust his medications (if needed) to help his heart pump more efficiently and to help remove excess fluid.
thank you
That is amazing that Cy lets you ultrasound that sensitive area! Good job everyone!
Amazing job! So impressed with how long Cy held his position. What favorite goodies does he receive as his reward? And I’m also curious how long you have been practicing this. Well done everyone! That’s team work. I hope the results of the ultrasound are positive. We want precious Cy healthy and well for his family.
Kathleen – I believe he was receiving chopped up fruit for his reinforcers. The shaping plan for this behavior we developed last summer but training began in earnest this winter. The PRT team has done an incredible job and Cy is a great patient.
It’s true……teamwork makes the dream work, just look at how many people it takes, plus the star of the show. Isn’t he wonderful to cooperate so well. A huge thank you to all of you for the hard work you put in to make things like this possible..
That ultrasound procedure went so smoothly, no small task getting all the necessary photos for that exact diagnosis, and you made it look so easy; with Cy’s total co-operation of course. And we were treated to a little diversion by WillyB. What was the chimp house atmosphere like prior to the procefure?Interested to know the reults of the test and how Cy is faring, but no matter what, that very handsome Cy is in safe and skillfill hands. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Susan – Actually, Gordo was causing a major ruckus just as the team was preparing for this procedure. We were all relieved that they managed to settle down enough for the team to proceed. We need to do more imaging to get all the information we need, but these images will serve more as a basis for monitoring than a diagnostic test.
I find it very disturbing that chimps (and gorillas) are so prone to heart disease. Has it been determined why that is? Also, are there things that can be done to prevent it and treat it effectively?
Huge applause to everyone! :clap::clap::clap:
Cy is such a pro at PRT! He was still for so long!
I hope and pray for Cy’s health, always. Burrito is proof that something like a heart issue doesn’t mean it has to slow you down!
Whoa! So many moving parts with stillness at it’s center. Incredible. Amazing! Excellent training and oh the power of treats!