Consulting Medical Specialists
Detroit Zoo veterinary staff also rely on important relationships with medical specialists in southeast Michigan to help provide the best care. The Zoo has frequent visits from veterinary ophthalmologists, a veterinary cardiologist, human cardiologists and veterinary dentists.  These highly trained professionals often donate their time and expertise to the animals at the Zoo.

Dr. Dan Lorimer, Board Certified veterinary ophthalmologist at Michigan Veterinary Specialists prepares to remove a cataract from an Egyptian goose.

Dr. Ben Colmery, Board Certified Veterinary Dentist, repairs a broken tooth in an African wild dog.

Dr. Bill Brown ultrasounds the heart of a harbor seal.  The seals are trained to move to a location and then hold still.  For the ultrasound, the seal moves over a hole cut in a wooden platform that allows images of the heart from underneath.  This seal’s heart was found to be completely normal.

Dr. Ray Morreale (right) performs surgery on a King penguin.  Dr. Morreale is a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist from Michigan Veterinary Specialists who makes frequent trips to the Zoo to help maintain eye health in a number of animals.