Animal Exams

Ruutine Exam for Ruuxa

Ruuxa, the six-year-old Hartmann’s mountain zebra, underwent a procedure to receive her scheduled routine preventative health examination and hoof trim last week. Like domestic horses, zebras need routine hoof trims, as hoof walls continuously grow – as human nails do. Since zebra are wild animals, they require general anesthesia to safely perform the procedure.

For these procedures, the Zoo’s Vet Team calls for assistance from Kim Burnop, a local farrier, or professional who specializes in the trimming of horse hooves. With her expertise, they can give our zebra’s hooves full care that includes cleaning, trimming, and filing. Hoofstock, like such as zebras, need this proper care to avoid the development of hoof overgrowth which can cause them to develop lameness or hoof infections. Since Ruuxa’s last exam in May, her hooves showed great improvement.

While Ruuxa was anesthetized, she also received routine wellness and preventative care that included a full physical exam, blood work, dental care, and vaccines.