GRAND RAPIDS, MI - When Willow, an 8-month-old red panda cub, got sick due to anemia, veterinarians at John Ball Zoo collaborated with a dozen veterinarians from around the country to help evaluate her.
“We often say, ‘It takes a village!’ That has never been more true than over the past few weeks at the Zoo,’' according to a John Ball Zoo Facebook post.
Zoo officials shared on March 13 how Willow came to the animal hospital for weight loss and weakness and was found to be “extremely anemic, meaning she had too few red blood cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen through the body.”
The post said providing Willow the best possible care “involved a small army of amazing people, at John Ball Zoo and across the country, working together’' to help her.
As of Friday, March 26, Willow was “recovering well,” Darci David, John Ball Zoo marketing manager, told MLive.
Treating anemia in young red pandas is a unique case for any veterinarian, according to the Zoo about assembling a team to assist in her care.
Prior to the Facebook post, officials reported Willow had spent a large portion of the last couple of weeks in and out of the hospital’s new intensive care unit (ICU).
On March 13, Willow was described as not out of the woods yet but responding well to the treatments prescribed by Dr. Ryan Colburn, John Ball Zoo’s veterinarian, and being closely monitored by animal health and animal care teams.
The teamwork to get Willow on the road to recovery has been extensive with some lab samples needing to be analyzed at three other laboratories besides the one at John Ball Zoo.
Willow needed three blood transfusions to correct her anemia, two of which came from her parents, Wyatt and Wasabi. Willow is one of three of their cubs born in June.
Related: Triplet baby red pandas born at John Ball Zoo
The Detroit Zoo and the Potawatomi Zoo each donated additional red panda blood, although Willow only needed one of the donations as she started to regenerate her own red blood cells.
“Our veterinary and animal care teams have been amazing through all of this - from sleepovers at the hospital to driving hundreds of miles to retrieve blood donations,’' the Zoo’s Facebook post said.
The Zoo cited the efforts of some locals in having a role in Willow’s improving health, including Grand Rapids-based companies BluePearl Pet Hospital and Keystone Pharmacy, veterinary internist Dr. Yoojin Kim as well as Zoo supporters.
John Ball Zoo, located at 1300 Fulton St., opened Saturday, March 27 at limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zoo leaders say if you visit the red panda family this year, there may be times when Willow is behind the scenes as she receives necessary medical care.
“When she is out in her habitat this Spring, you may notice that Willow is considerably smaller than her rambunctious sisters, Ruby and Rose. While her illness has set her behind, we hope to see her make quick progress catching up as she continues to recover,’' the Facebook post said.
John Ball Zoo's veterinary technician Kaylee DeBoef provides a treat for Willow, one of three of the Zoo's 8-month old red panda cubs as head veterinarian Dr. Ryan Colburn watches. The animal health team discovered Willow was anemic and took action to improve her health. (Hope Davison | MLive.com)Hope Davison
Visitors looking forward to seeing the red panda family and over 2,000 other animals can sign up online to purchase timed tickets or at the zoo, although immediate entry is not guaranteed if purchased in-person. Ticket information and more are available at www.jbzoo.org/visitandtickets.
Wearing a mask is required and social distancing measures are in effect. Spring hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
More on MLive:
Prom goes outdoors, nontraditional in second year of pandemic in Michigan
Michigan reports 4,670 coronavirus cases, 22 deaths Saturday, March 27
Michigan restaurant owner who defied COVID-19 rules: Does fight hurt other businesses?‘
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Treating John Ball Zoo’s anemic red panda cub involved a ‘small army of amazing people’ - MLive.com
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