Although this is not a rescue story, it is included because of Jenny’s rare (for a tiger) medical condition.
Jenny is a twelve-year-old female tiger on the main tour who lives happily in her own enclosure. Looking at her today, you would never know that Jenny is the only known tiger to recover from a debilitating condition known as fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM).
It started in the fall of 2012. One day in September, the keeper noticed that Jenny, who at that time shared an enclosure with three other tigers, was down on her hind end and not moving her rear legs or tail. Right away they called Fred Froderman, the veterinarian, who immobilized Jenny in order to conduct a complete examination. Jenny was moved to the clinic area and housed in one of the two travel cages, and preliminary treatment was begun.
During the next few days, Jenny improved slightly but still did not move her hind legs or tail. On the advice of Dr. Froderman, Jenny was transported to the University of Illinois for further evaluation. On the trip, she moved her tail for the first time. At the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam revealed her diagnosis: she was suffering from FCEM.
Although it is common in domestic cats, Jenny was only the second tiger ever reported to have this disease. One lion also had the disease, but neither the tiger nor the lion recovered. There is no cure for FCEM, which occurs when fibrocartilaginous material from a spinal disc occludes blood vessels in the spinal cord, causing necrosis, or breakdown of parts of the spinal cord. Time and supportive care are the only treatments.
By the end of September, Jenny was able to stand for the first time since the disease started. She was still weak and unable to fully extend her hind legs. However, with the excellent medical, nutritional, and therapeutic care provided by the keepers, under instructions from the staff at the University of Illinois, she continued to improve slowly. By October, Jenny was standing regularly and attempting to walk. She was moved out of the clinic and into her own enclosure.
By November, Jenny was walking daily and regaining her strength and coordination. Since then, her recovery has been remarkable, as the only other exotic felids reported to have FCEM did not recover their mobility. Her improvement is attributed to the quick response of the keepers and Dr. Froderman, the expert medical staff at the University of Illinois, and the daily care provided by the Exotic Feline Rescue Center.
Jenny, November 20, 2011
Lola and Lily, June 16, 2013
