One Pampered Piggy- Physiotherapy with Olive the Babirusa

How do you help a babirusa with a sore leg? Physiotherapy! Olive, a female Sulawesi babirusa, arrived at the Toronto Zoo in 2011 with a prior injury to her right hind leg. She underwent two surgeries in the past and is currently on oral pain medication to ensure she remains comfortable. As she has gotten older (she is now 11 years old), Keepers noticed that she was bearing less and less weight on this leg. In order to improve her gait, Keepers and Zoo Veterinarians developed a physiotherapy plan using the same principles that are used when humans receive physical therapy. Babirusas love tactile sensations like rubs and scratches, so Olive’s training started with keepers rubbing her all over. Gradually, more and more time was spent touching her sensitive leg until she was comfortable with it being handled and manipulated. Her physiotherapy sessions now include massaging her leg, hip, and back, exercises to improve range of motion, forward and backward leg stretches, and toe extensions. Olive’s participation