Accompanied by his puppy companion, a male cheetah cub at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park underwent surgery to repair growth abnormalities in his limbs on Wednesday.
Ruuxa was recently diagnosed with a growth abnormality in his forelegs where the growth plate in the ulna stopped growing before the radius, causing a bowing of the limbs.
"This is a condition occasionally seen in domestic dogs and, if not treated, can cause pain and problems with the animal's ability to walk later in life," Safari Park senior veterinarian Jeff Zuba said in a statement. "With the help of Dr. (Sean) Aiken, who is experienced with this procedure, we were able to correct the deformity."
Ruuxa’s constant companion Raina, a Rhodesian ridgeback puppy, accompanied him to the veterinary hospital and waited nearby throughout the entire procedure. After surgery, Raina was given access to the recovering cheetah and sat by his side until Ruuxa came out of sedation.
"Raina appeared very concerned about Ruuxa when she saw he was sleeping and she couldn't wake him," Safari Park animal training manager Susie Ekard said in a statement. "She licked him and nuzzled him, and when he awoke, she lay with him and seemed very content to know her cheetah was OK.”
Ruuxa and Raina have been constant companions since being paired together since there were both about a month old.
The cheetah cub is expected to make a complete recovery and should soon be running and roughhousing again with his puppy pal.
