A critically endangered white-naped mangabey suffering from epiphora and epistaxis came to RVC Small Animal Referrals for evaluation and treatment.

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) veterinary team had already removed strands of grass which had become stuck in Ziggy’s nasal cavity, which were thought to be responsible for her sneezing, nose bleeds and discharge from her eyes.

The three-year-old monkey, native to sub-Saharan western Africa and living at London Zoo, had reduced symptoms after the material was removed, but she was still suffering from discharge. The ZSL consequently asked the RVC team to evaluate Ziggy’s symptoms to ensure that all foreign bodies had been removed from her nasal cavity.

At RVC Small Animal Referrals Ziggy had a CT scan to visualise any further debris that had not been removed in the initial procedure. The RVC team, alongside vets and keepers from ZSL, then performed endoscopic surgery to remove the additional debris.

The RVC team involved with the procedure included Monica Augusto from the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service, Gert ter Haar from the Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery Service, anaesthetists Paulo Monticelli and Tristan Merlin, Head medicine and endoscopy nurse Gina Parkes, and endoscopy nurse Jade Porter.

Following the surgery, Ziggy was put on a short course of anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Subsequent check-ups at the zoo confirmed that all the debris had been removed, and Ziggy has made a full recovery.

Speaking after Ziggy returned to the zoo, ZSL Head of Veterinary Services, Nic Master's, said: “Collaboration with institutes such as the Royal Veterinary College is vital so that we can pool our combined expertise, and specialist equipment to provide the very best care for the animals we look after. We’ve worked with the RVC on a variety of different clinical cases over the years, with brilliant results. Ziggy’s case was a great example of how beneficial these collaborations can be to the animals here.”