Veterinary Ophthalmology Takes a Wild Turn: Caring for a Red River Hog at Safari West
If outside the area, please call your nearest emergency vet.
Veterinary medicine sometimes takes us beyond the walls of our hospital and into some pretty extraordinary places! Recently, our ophthalmology team had the opportunity to travel to Safari West in Santa Rosa, California, to provide specialized eye care for a very special patient: Mustard, a 10-year-old Red River Hog.
Safari West reached out to our team regarding Mustard, who had been experiencing a non-healing corneal ulcer in his right eye for approximately three weeks. Corneal ulcers can be painful and challenging to manage, particularly when they don't respond to initial treatment. Given the persistent nature of Mustard's condition, the team wanted to explore specialized ophthalmic care to help him get back on track.
Uniquely, Mustard is trained to receive eye drops, making ongoing treatment and monitoring a little easier for his veterinary care team. However, his condition warranted a more specialized approach.
One of our board-certified ophthalmologists, Dr. Elyse Salpeter, traveled to Safari West, examined Mustard's eye, performed a corneal culture and provided specialized recommendations for his veterinary team, all in the comfort of his familiar surroundings.
Providing veterinary care to wildlife and exotic animals often requires a little extra creativity, collaboration, and flexibility. Traveling to the animal rather than bringing them into a traditional hospital setting can help minimize the stress associated with transportation while allowing them to remain in their familiar environment.
We are grateful to the team at Safari West for trusting us with Mustard's care and for the opportunity to work together to support the health and well-being of their incredible animals.
At our hospital, we love that veterinary ophthalmology allows us to help patients of all shapes, sizes, and species. Whether they have four legs, two legs, or a very distinctive snout, every patient deserves the opportunity to see comfortably!
We're wishing Mustard all the best!
Learn more about Safari West and its Red River Hogs at Safari West.
The information contained in the article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of the advice of a veterinarian.
