BATTLE CREEK, MI – With long legs and a long-life span, a giraffe at a Michigan zoo has been suffering from arthritis but is feeling much better after receiving cutting-edge treatment.
Cece, who turned 26 years old on Thursday, has been a resident of Binder Park Zoo since 1999. She was born on June 8, 1997, at Houston Zoo.
Binder Park teamed up with Michigan State University veterinarian Val Johnson to help treat Cece’s arthritis with stem cells, the zoo announced. She received an intravenous injection over the winter and has “responded very well.”
“We have been able to decrease the amount of pain medications and rest days she requires, as she’s been doing great on the savannah habitat this year,” zoo veterinarian Kim Thompson said.
That means Cece can do more of what she loves: visiting guests at the giraffe feeding deck and chowing down on romaine lettuce, the zoo said.
Johnson’s lab is working on a clinical trial using mesenchymal stem cells to treat inflammatory conditions in giraffes and other exotic animals. Cece is among about a dozen giraffes that have received treatment.
Unlike other treatments that focus on symptom relief with anti-inflammatory medications and joint supplements, mesenchymal stem cells work to improve cartilage in the joint and decrease the progression of arthritis, the zoo said.
Arthritis is one of the most common conditions seen in giraffes due to their large bodies, long legs and long lives, which can be up to 30 years in captivity, the zoo said.
Cece can be identified from the other Binder Park giraffes by her lighter coloring, which includes white spots on her brown chest spots. She is also very food motivated and social with a calm personality. But don’t try to touch her face – she’s not a fan.
Learn more about the Binder Park Zoo giraffes here.
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