SouthPaws at the National Zoo

Dr. James McConnell was called in on emergency by the National Zoo
veterinarians this summer when Hsing-Hsing, the zoo’s giant panda, became
ill and started losing weight precipitously. After a full clinical evaluation, including abdominal ultrasound and numerous laboratory tests, it was determined that the zoo’s aging panda was in advanced chronic renal failure. Fortunately, supportive treatments appear to have stabilized him for now. Hsing-Hsing is one of the oldest pandas in captivity in the world. He has been a star attraction at the National Zoo since he was donated to the
United States by China during the Nixon administration. While his prognosis remains guarded, Dr. McConnell and the National Zoo veterinarians remains very impressed by the panda’s ability to compensate and once again thrive in spite of this very serious disease.

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