With the help of dedicated supporters, we purchased two new ventilators that are transforming how Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s veterinary team cares for animals under anesthesia.

The new equipment provides precise, automated control of an animal’s breathing during procedures helping maintain consistent oxygen levels, removing excess carbon dioxide, and allowing veterinarians to more closely manage anesthetic depth. The result is safe, more effective care for animal patients.

For some animals, anesthesia presents unique challenges. Animals adapted for diving, including marine mammals and diving birds, may hold their breath due to their natural dive reflex, making them more difficult to ventilate. An individual animal’s overall health status also influences how well they breathe under anesthesia.

With this upgraded technology, veterinary staff can spend less time manually managing ventilation and more time focused on diagnosing and treating their patients. The ventilators deliver precise, adjustable volumes of oxygen and anesthetic gas at a consistent rate tailored to the patient, removing the variability associated with human-provided respirations. “Ventilators provided through The Zoo Society funding have had a significant impact on the care we provide to our animals,” said Head Veterinarian Dr. Karen Wolf. “They’ve truly been a game changer.”