Medical care of zoo animals has become more holistic over the past decade, encompassing all aspects of animal welfare by incorporating attention to the social and behavioral well-being of the animals, in addition to their physical health. Such a comprehensive approach to healthcare considers enclosure design, nutrition, husbandry, management, group social structure, behavioral enrichment, and good medical and surgical care.
This chapter provides a general discussion of management practices, preventive medicine, clinical care programs, and some of the more commonly encountered disorders in zoo animals. For more specific information, refer to other chapters within this section (eg, Amphibians, Marine Mammals, Llamas and Alpacas, Ratites, Nonhuman Primates, Reptiles, and Vaccination of Exotic Mammals). For more information on nutrition, see Nutrition: Exotic and Zoo Animals.
