Greater Bush Baby - Veterinary Procedure to Remove Granulated Skin Tissue

For detailed information on the African Bush Baby (Greater Bushbaby), please visit our "Meet The Rest Of The Family" section of the Sanctuary's Web site. In this "Behind The Scenes", we take you with us again into the Surgical Room. Off the wall random "Boo Boo's" pop up daily here at the Sanctuary and almost nothing surprises David and me much less our veterinary team anymore.

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Here Murry, an African Bush Baby, undergoes a veterinary procedure to remove a silver-dollar-sized piece of granulated skin tissue. Dr. Kramer of Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Clinic utilizes the latest in surgical instrumentation to remove the tissue of interest. Instead of the traditional scalpel, Dr. Kramer wields a cauterizing radio frequency knife. I'll have to ask him the exact name of this cool electric razor blade. Basically, he puts a 6" x 6" square plate under the area of the animal he wants to operate on. Then using a pen like tool with a choice of cutting tips, makes the incisions. He can even dial in various power levels to adjust how deep, fast, and degree of cauterization he desires. This helps reduce tissue trauma and bleeding as well as to improve healing speed.
Ok, here's some background. Murry, the Sanctuary's adult Bush Baby or Galago started licking and over grooming the area under his tricep and abdominal skin fold area. This immediately caught our attention as 5 years earlier Murry had a surgical procedure to remove a section of granulated skin tissue in the same spot. The pathology on that specimen was not very helpful and suggested a possible arthropod (SPIDER) bite. Anyhow, when I examined this area I discovered the same pink irritated skin as seen in the past. I knew whatever it was it was back and had to be removed as Murry would surely aggravate and even self mutilate the area if left in place. Bush Babies are notorious for this behavior. It is for this reason that we had to bandage and wrap his operation site so extensively. Post surgery care can be a bigger hurdle to get over then the actual procedure depending on what species of animal you are dealing with. Each animal species has its own specific needs and idiosyncrasies to deal with. Bushbabies, and specifically Galago garnettii (the Greater Bushbaby) are notorious self mutilators. If you pay close attention to his wrappings, we had to actually place what I call fake "Target Zones". By this, I take extra short pieces of highly sticky veterinary tape and stick it on top of the main bandage. I also, sometimes will wrap a small piece around their wrist or ankles depending on the individual animal. What these "Target Zones" accomplish is a distraction. In most cases, because the animal can actually reach the "Target Zone" strips of tape, they spend 99% of their time messing with them instead of the actual functional bandage and wound site. This is imperative as David and I have both seen a small boo boo turn into a BIG DISASTER!

In any case, Murry is doing great 2 days post surgery. We are keeping him inside in an air conditioned habitat to reduce extra sweat and moisture from accumulating in the bandage. He is alert and eating well. We have him on pain medications 2 times daily as well as bubble gum flavored antibiotics. His favorite! Remember to visit the Sanctuary's incredible WEB CAMS, Educational Center and Gift Shop. Our White Tigers, Tundra and Loki are fired up to meet you, not to mention Sampson, the Sanctuary's African Spotted Leopard who rather eat you then meet you ;-). Speaking of Sampson, we now have a LEOPARD CAM!!!!!!!! David and I have been dreaming of putting Sampson on cam. Thanks to the help of our viewers, the Sanctuary has built a brand new LEOPARD HABITAT, complete with a Leopard Cam or two. Definitely check it out! In the meantime, "Watch And Learn".


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