Chimp heart checkup at Chattanooga Zoo

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Zoo have been making strides to understand heart health in chimpanzees since 2011. On Thursday, one of the oldest female chimpanzees Brandi got an echocardiogram test at her vet exam.

Dr Bill Warren who is the cardiologist of Chattanooga Heart Institute, talked about the results they found today.

“An echocardiogram is an excellent test to confirm that, and the echo today did show that she does have some degree of congestive heart failure. Her heart muscles were a little weak and Doctor Ashley and I were just talking to each other about what medications we might use to treat the chimpanzee and hopefully getting her heart beating stronger” said Dr. Bill Warren.

Veterinarian Tony Ashley explained chimpanzees’ life expectancy and how common issues like this are.

“Cardiovascular disease is very common in great apes in general so it’s more common in males than females, it’s also more common as they age so she’s an aged senior now so that’s probably part of the reason why.” said Vet Tony Ashley.

The Chattanooga Zoo has annual checkups for the chimpanzees and are monitoring them closely to ensure great heart health.