Today is the Cubby Birthday, which we celebrate each month as a milestone in their lives. But this one has an unfortunate turn of events. Thumper, the biggest cub of all, has taken a turn for the worse. Curator Bailey noticed yesterday, as she reviewed the security cam footage, that Thumper was having trouble breathing. She sent the video to the UTCVM. Drs. Cushing and Waligora came to the facility to see Thumper, and with the help of Curator Bailey and Assistant Curator Kamryn immobilized the cub and took him to the Release Staging building for examination and treatment.
When thumping on his side and suctioning his lungs failed to produce much fluid, the doctors gave Thumper antibiotics, pain and anxiety meds, and an appetite stimulant, all via injection. He was returned to the Hartley House, to a different room than Tamale, who was waiting. Later, when Thumper was fully conscious and mobile, the Curators called the vets and asked if it would be OK to reunite the cubs. The vets agreed that it would likely be good for Thumper to be back with his friend. The gate between the rooms was raised, and the two cubs slept together for most of the night.
Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good. Thumper is back on oral antibiotics, but the Curators have had trouble finding a food he will eat in order to get the meds into him. Curator Cole offered him a variety of foods to see which was chosen, and it seems that cubby bearysauce is the favorite, so the Curators will bury his meds in bearysauce and do their best to help him recover.
The UT vets made a house call to examine and treat Thumper.
Assistant Curator Kamryn assists Dr. Cushing.
Thumping on the cub and suctioning his lungs produced little fluid.
Antibiotics, pain and anxiety meds, and an appetite stimulant were given by injection.
After he was fully conscious and mobile, Thumper was reunited with Tamale.
Food choices were offered to see what appealed to Thumper. He favored the cubby bearysauce.
Martha and Betsy are doing well in The Cub House.
Surprise! Caramel seems to have decided that the boys in her enclosure are not so bad, after all!
Juggles has yet to make friends with the trio of Doodlebug, Nugget, and Tater, but at least he is on the other end of their platform.
And so we wish all of our cubs a happy nine-month birthday, and we remember those cubs who didn’t make it (Flapjack and Burrito, most recently). Happy birthday to all cubs and bears everywhere!