Wobbly Penguins Treated at Chancellors Road Animal Hospital

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MRI scans revealed why Ricky, Bobby and Elvis were limping

A visualisation of the new hospital building. Picture: LVS

October 21, 2024

The team at Linnaeus-owned London Vet Specialists (LVS) carried out CT scans

A trio of penguins from Whipsnade Zoo have been admitted to an animal hospital after they inexplicably started limping.

All three birds, Ricky, Bobby and Elvis, were being scanned in a bid to discover why and staff didn’t flap when one of the penguins laid an egg.

Theteam at Linnaeus-owned London Vet Specialists (LVS) on Chancellors Road carried out CT scans.

LVS hospital director and RCVS neurology specialist Emma Laws said, “It’s safe to say it was not a typical day for us here at LVS!

“We have an excellent relationship with Whipsnade Zoo and were examining three penguins which were experiencing issues with lameness and limping.

“We carried out full-body CT scans which meant we could look for both orthopaedic and non-orthopaedic causes of the lameness, such as joint problems and arthritis as well as renal problems or neurological disease.

“In the process one of the scans revealed that one of the penguins, Bobby, was carrying a large egg, which came as a bit of a surprise.

“It was even more of a surprise when she promptly laid the egg as she was waking up from her anaesthetic. I think I can safely say that it was a first for all of us!”

The scan revealed that Bobby was carrying an egg

Emma teamed up with LVS head of anaesthesia Dr Andrew Foster, radiographers Zoe Mansfield and Liam Butler and patient care assistant Rowan Hall to carry out the scans.

The zoo’s own vets, Hannah Rowland and Shivananden Sawmy, were also present with vet nurse Karla Berry, to monitor the results of the scans.

All three penguins, Ricky, a 16-year-old male rockhopper, Bobby, a 27-year-old female black footed penguin and Elvis, a 23-year-old female black footed penguin, were all started on anti-inflammatory pain relief to help improve their lameness.

They are now back at Whipsnade where, as active and frequent swimmers, they have been doing their own hydrotherapy treatment. All three penguins continue to be monitored closely by the zoo’s dedicated keeping team.

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