A penguin at a zoo in Scotland has been taken to an animal hospital through an ice barrel having experienced a brain infection.
Alfie is a king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo and was rushed to the Hospital for Small Animals in January after keepers noticed he was acting unusually. He was refusing food and went on to isolate himself from the rest of the penguin king group, The Daily Record reports.
The keepers rang the vet team straight away and took some blood for testing. However, only a few days later Alfie experienced a neurological episode and was taken to the penguin isolation area to prevent himself from being injured in the pool.
He was put on medication and suffered episodes nearly every day. He continued to refuse food.
Alfie back on Penguin Rock (Edinburgh Zoo)When he began vomiting, keepers rushed him to the on-site vet hospital for radiographers and he had an endoscopy exam. They reached out to specialists at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
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Dr Joao De Frias, a Lecturer in Neurology and Neurosurgery, recommended staff to take Alfie to the Hospital for Small Animals for CT and MRI scans. During transport, he was given a low dose of sedative and placed inside a barrel with ice so he could be kept nice and cool.
A GoPro was also used so he could be easily monitored. After his scans, Alfie was diagnosed with a suspected infectious meningoencephalitis - which was a large infection of his brain.
He immediately started treatment as keepers had to assist in feeding him while he was ill. As he started to feel better and as his health improved, Alfie was allowed daily visits from other king penguins to lift his spirits.
Penguin friend Sir Nils visited him often. Thankfully, Alfie’s neurologic episodes stopped and his appetite returned.
He was soon given full access to Penguins Rock again. Edinburgh Zoo said his return was a touching moment as all of the other king penguins came to welcome him back. Now, three months later, Alfie is recovering well.
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