It was a close call for Ariel the otter from the Cape May Zoo, but thanks to the veterinary team at Cape Veterinary Clinic, Ariel will live to swim and play another day.

Geriatric Otter Suffers a Stroke

Ariel was taken to the vet to try to uncover why she was having trouble eating.

According to a Facebook post from Cape May Zoo, Ariel was examined by Dr. Hubert Paluch, the Cape May Zoo's Director, and Dr. Matthew Marquis, a veterinarian at Cape Veterinary Hospital.

The doctors put Ariel under sedation to give her an exam and she had trouble coming out of the sedation, leading to her having a stroke.

Ariel, our geriatric female otter, was evaluated by Dr. Paluch and Dr. Marquis for difficulty eating. She was sedated for a complete physical exam and treated for an infected salivary gland.

 

Ariel had a difficult time coming out of sedation and ended up having a stroke. This is where blood flow to the brain is interrupted and can be a rare complication of sedation or anesthesia.

 

 Ariel Was Rushed to Cape Veterinary Hospital

The Facebook post says that Ariel was stable at first, but soon became unresponsive.

Although she was stable at first, Ariel was completely comatose (non-responsive) the next day. Due to the need for emergency equipment, she was rushed to Cape Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Matthew Marquis and his incredible team of veterinary nurses assisted in getting Ariel stabilized.

Dr. Marquis and his staff of nurses tended to Ariel and she began to show improvement by the next day, becoming more alert, able to use her legs and even more playful.

She even escaped from her crate! Since then, with the help and love from her tremendously dedicated staff, Ariel has made huge improvements each day and is enjoying some of her normal activities.

Taking no chances, the zoo intends to keep Ariel in the zoo's medical ward until the theater warms up and to give her lots of attention.

Otters' Life Expectancy

Ariel is 16 and is considered a geriatric. On average, a typical  North American river otter will live to the age of 12, with some surviving longer.

The oldest living river otter on record was 27 years old.

Ariel arrived from the Kansas City Zoo in February 2023 to be a companion to the Cape May Zoo's resident otter, Mork.

Cape May Zoo says North American river otters are native to New Jersey and can be found in local waterways. They are well-adapted to aquatic life, with streamlined bodies, webbed feet, and sensitive whiskers.

The Cape May County Park & Zoo in Cape May Court House is home to a collection of more than 550 animals representing 250 species in 85 acres of exhibits.

The Cape May County Park and Zoo is free and open every day of the year except for Christmas.

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