What types of medical situations do zoo keepers handle? What types of medical procedures do the veterinarians handle?
The most important job for a zoo keeper in relation to the health of the animals is to be observant. Any abnormal behavior, such as a change in eating habits, could be a sign of sickness or injury. Most wild animals do not tend to show major signs of sickness. In the wild, a sick-looking animal would be more prone to attack by other animals than would a healthy-looking animal. Therefore, zoo keepers must be extremely observant in order to detect any subtle irregularities in an animal’s behavior, physical condition or routine. These irregularities can indicate that something is not quite right with the animal. If zoo keepers observe abnormal behavior they may collect urine, feces or other samples to be analyzed by the veterinarian. These samples are also collected and analyzed on a regular basis to monitor the health of all zoo animals. When animals need long-term routine medicine, injections, rehydration, hand-feeding or wound care, zoo keepers may incorporate these duties into their d
