Tian Tian gets a complete medical work-up
Tian Tian has not been feeling his best for a while. The Panda Keeper at the National Zoo noted that he was having some soft stool and a decreased appetite. Tian Tian is trained to hold still at the mesh for exams and blood samples, so veterinarians were able to perform a preliminary exam and tests. The results suggested Tian Tian had a urinary tract infection and possible gastrointestinal upset. Tian Tian responded well when given antibiotics and stomach protectants, but his appetite and activity level still weren’t quite back to normal. After consulting with Chinese veterinary colleagues, Zoo curators and veterinarians decided to perform a complete medical work-up under anesthesia which included checking his cardiovascular health, bloodwork, radiographs and ultrasounds, and his urinary tract and digestive systems to look for other reasons that Tian Tian might not be feeling 100 percent.
Tian Tian’s check-up went very well. The zoo veterinarians, along with a veterinary cardiologist and a veterinary radiologist, examined Tian Tian thoroughly for any signs of disease. They noticed that Tian has some decreased muscle mass but there was nothing out-of-the-ordinary in the exam or initial lab tests. The vets and pathologists are running more tests on samples they collected. Since Tian Tian’s exam he has gained some weight back and is acting very playful.
In the meantime, Mei Xiang’s hormones remain at baseline. We continue to check her urine for her hormones to rise, which should happen in the next few months. Panda breeding season is typically in the spring and, as the weather attests, we are well on our way.
Source: National Zoo
