Gidget's Story
Below is the pathologist's
necropsy report on little Gidget. I wept reading it and knowing
the despair… the boredom… the depression she felt
being cold, underfed and undernourished.
Gidget was a macaque
who had been confined in a garage for 10 years in a wire rabbit
cage and her feces and urine were allowed to build up to such
an extent, it scalded all the skin off her hip area. The hair
finally grew back except for a large patch on the left side
of her thigh area.
Gidget was exposed to exhaust fumes
for ten years… fed only this and that. She had no toys,
no enrichment besides a dirty old blanket for comfort. Every
major organ in her tiny body was diseased from lack of a proper
diet and exposure to who-knows-what chemicals. She had no
protection from winter's cold nor summer's heat, locked in
a garage.
Gidget was removed from the garage
by a woman who took her and kept in a basement for two more
years before bringing her to the sanctuary.
Gidget enjoyed the best three weeks
of her entire life here at the sanctuary. I still hear the
happy chirps she made over her new diet because of the foods
she had never before received.
Gidget was comforted and groomed
by Katy, her new companion. Monkeys know when something is
wrong and Katy never left her side. Katy's magic fingers!
Little did I know that Gidget was dying… I thought she
was just enjoying the sun on her body for the first time in
too many years. Poor sweet girl.
I held her until she passed, and
I had the satisfaction of giving her for three weeks, the
best time of her entire life. She was with monkeys for the
first time, and they loved her. Katy Jo groomed and groomed
on Gidget. Gidget was so lethargic, but I know that Katy's
little monkey fingers made her trip to the sky a peaceful
time. I will miss her forever.
Poor Little Gidget was fodder for
the pet trade!
Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Accession: 03081800
Report Date: 8-29-03/UBM
Owner: Mindy's Memory Sanct.
Coordinator: Uriel Blas-Machado |
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Oklahoma State University
P.O. Box 7001
Stillwater, OK 74076-7001
(405) 744-6623
FAX: 744-8612 |
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THUNDERBIRD VET HOSPITAL (Acct: 974)
ATTN: CORR, MICHELLE
1250 156TH AVENUE N E
NORMAN, OK 73071 |
SUBMISSION SUMMARY |
Taken: not given Received: 8-25-03 |
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Species
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Animals
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Test
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Completed |
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Primate
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1
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1
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1
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**Final Report**
DIAGNOSIS AND COMMENTS 8-29-03/10:23 a
| DIAGNOSES |
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DATE |
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| Liver: Hepatic lipidosis,chronic,diffuse,severe |
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8-26-03 |
| Heart, Papillary Muscles: Myocardial
fibrosis, multifocal, mild, with myofiber atrophy |
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8-29-03 |
| Lung: Pulmonary edema, diffuse,mild,
with scattered hemosiderin-laden macrophages |
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8-29-03 |
Kidney: Renal cortical infarction, chronic
multifocal, mild with glomerular scierosis
tubular atrophy, and interstitial lymphocytic
nephritis |
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8-29-03 |
| Kidney: Renal Cysts |
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8-29-03 |
| Spleen: Splenic cyst |
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8-29-03 |
| Stomach: Gastritis, lymphocytic, chronic
multifocal, mild |
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8-29-03 |
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Comments:
Microscopic findings are consistent with the history and
post mortem gross finding described.
The liver findings are indicative of prolonged anorexia
with extensive mobilization and accumulation of cholesterol
esters, lipidosis, ketoacidosis, and death. Based on the history
of CNS signs described (disorientation and drowsiness), hepatic
encephalopathy must be considered.
The findings noted in the lungs and kidneys are consistent
with the myocardial tissue alterations noted in the papillary
muscles of the left heart; all indicative of chronic myocardial
and valvular insufficiency. In the absence of clinical signs
indicative of heart failure, the significance of these findings
in this particular case in uncertain.
Uriel Blas Machado, DVM, PhD, DACVP
8/29/2003
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