Kinah’s Nursery Time
Posted at 10:48 am March 14, 2007 by Janet Hawes
Installment #2
(Read Installment #1 here)
Kinah was placed inside an isolette incubator to keep her warm and comfortably supported during treatment. A small plastic tube was inserted into the isolette to provide oxygen to help Kinah breathe easier. Veterinarians prescribed antibiotics for her pneumonia and topical medications to aid in the healing of her many wounds. For several days, removing Kinah from her oxygen-rich environment and the effort needed to suckle her formula took a lot out of her. After a feeding and administration of treatments she was exhausted and breathing with great difficulty. Even so, we were pleased that Kinah was giving each feeding her best effort and showing more enthusiasm for meals than could be expected.
By the end of the fourth day we observed some improvement: Kinah woke up and nursed hungrily, grabbing the nipple and pulling it towards herself. She started to sit up and look around a bit between feedings. Her wounds began to heal and itch a bit, and she would scratch and wiggle to get more comfortable. Kinah showed a strong fondness for grooming and would stretch out dramatically to facilitate the process.
Two weeks later the pneumonia was a thing of the past. Kinah graduated from her incubator to a wire enclosure that had perches for climbing, plastic chains, fresh leafy browse, and loads of toys for her to play with. It didn’t take long for Kinah to begin practice on her balancing and climbing skills along with a thorough investigation of anything novel put before her, including the plate of fresh fruits, soft vegetables, and biscuits we offered her twice daily.
Along with Kinah’s new digs, she began to grow beautiful, soft fur in the bare patches where Marbelina had overgroomed her. The torn earflap would always be deviated, but the lovely fur circling her head now covered the area.
Things were looking up, so our next concern was to get going on the reintroduction and socialization of Kinah.
Janet Hawes is a senior keeper in the primate nursery of the Children’s Zoo at the San Diego Zoo.
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March 14th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Thanks, Janet, we are waiting anxiously for “the rest of the story.” Kinah sure is cute and a lively girl when she is well. She looks like she is determined to get on with life, and live it to the fullest extent she can.
March 14th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Thanks for the update Janet! I’m so glad to see our tough little cookie flourish under the staff’s care…she’s lovely and I hope the reintroduction goes well! Grow strong Kinah…you can do it little one!
March 15th, 2007 at 8:24 am
What a beautiful description of the journey little Kinah has had. So looking forward to the next installment.