Brevard Zoo – Checking up on Agave

Brevard Zoo – Checking up on Agave

Veterinary cardiologist Dr. Borde checks out Agave’s heart.

Agave is one of Brevard’s three young coati kits who arrived last year as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ White-Nosed Coati Species Survival Plan.

In September 2021, during a routine exam, staff noticed that Agave had a heart murmur. At that point, it was not appearing to affect her, so staff continued to monitor her closely and routinely rechecked her condition. She did not show any signs of distress until March 7, when keepers found her collapsed in her Rainforest Revealed habitat!

Thanks to the hard work and quick action of their animal care team, 10-month-old White-Nosed Coatimundi Agave received a diagnosis and treatment plan following collapsing episodes.

After a visit to a veterinary cardiologist, it was determined that Agave has a congenital heart defect, something that Brevard’s staff will manage for the rest of her life.

You can read about Agave’s story here.

 

Image Credit: Brevard Zoo