Open Daily 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Last entry at 6:00 p.m.
Last entry at 6:00 p.m.
What’s it like to be a veterinarian at a zoo? Every single day is a different but exciting challenge! The vets and support staff at the Houston Zoo work hard every day to ensure the health of our more than 6,000 animals. This includes:
Preventive care: Animals are examined routinely and given vaccinations for diseases such as West Nile, Rabies, Tetanus, and Distemper. Yes, this also includes fecal examinations to detect parasites before they become a problem!
Quarantine: Before a new animal is allowed into an exhibit, we must be sure it is healthy. All new animals are quarantined and receive a thorough examination.
Wellness physical examinations: Veterinary staff performs routine physicals on Zoo animals, including blood analysis, dental work, TB testing, and bank blood serum or plasma for future needs.
Treatment: When an animal has a medical problem, the vet staff is there to help by providing necessary medical treatment, including diagnostic testing, writing prescriptions, and doing surgery. We also consult with outside specialists when needed to be sure all our animals receive the best care possible.
Animals in nature have to work for a living – to find food, to make nests, and to find shelter. Play is another natural activity. Life for the animals at the Houston Zoo is more predictable than in the wild. That’s why our keepers use enrichment to create variety through work and play.
At the Houston Zoo, we choose items and activities that are safe and encourage natural behaviors, such as:
• Giving orangutans branches of plants like mulberry and bamboo to make nests
• Hiding crickets in a cardboard box for our maned wolves to discover
• Running treats like chickens down a zip line over the lion exhibit to help our lions run, jump, and reach
• Giving tasty ostrich eggs to our very appreciative Komodo dragon, Smaug
• Making ice pops for carnivores and primates out of their favorite foods to help them stay cool on a hot day
The Denton A. Cooley Animal Hospital, built in 1985, is open 365 days a year to serve the animals of the Houston Zoo. Here you’ll find radiology, ultrasound, surgery, laboratory, treatment, examination areas, a diet preparation kitchen, and housing for species ranging from tiny amphibians to antelope!
Dr. Joe is one of 4 vets at the Zoo and has tended to the health care needs of Houston Zoo animals since 1982. His reptile and amphibian expertise has taken him to the Galapagos Islands, home of the Charles Darwin Scientific Station and Galapagos National Park, where he provided assistance in the health assessment of birds and tortoises. He also donates his time along with the other vet staff (in partnership with the NMFS Galveston Lab Sea Turtle Facility) to help injured sea turtles, removing hooks, rehabilitating them, and releasing them into the Gulf!
Want to help our animals work and play with different enrichment items? Consider purchasing an item off our Amazon.com wish list!
You can also donate these new items in their original, unopened packaging:
• Perfumes, spices (salt-free), and extracts for scent (olfactory)
enrichment
• Animal sound CDs, wind chimes, mirrors, wind socks, and bells for visual and auditory enrichment
• Items for exhibit enhancements: PVC pipes, caps, and threaded caps of all diameters; carabineers to hang ropes and toys; unpainted wicker baskets; and nylon and natural fiber ropes up to 1’ in diameter
• Live plants such as bromeliads, monkey grass, bamboo, ginger,
hibiscus, banana, flowering kale, and mint.
• We also welcome gift cards from home improvement and pet stores!
Make a monetary gift to support Animal Enrichment! Just $25 could help our elephants chill out with tropical fruit ice pops…..and $100 could help our chimps get artsy with painting supplies! You’ll help keep our animals healthy and happy.
This nonprofit, volunteer organization is made up of professional zoo keepers and other people dedicated to professional animal care and conservation. They are a resource for professional development, enrichment, training, and conservation for zoo keepers and animal care professionals. Follow our Greater Houston Chapter on Facebook to keep updated on important happenings!
