WORLD FIRST - Snow Leopard Lithotripsy

Cloe the snow leopard was diagnosed with a kidney infection and kidney stones in her left kidney. We decided the best option to help save her kidney function was to consider lithotripsy.

Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is a procedure used to shatter simple stones in the kidney or upper urinary tract. Ultrasonic waves are passed through the body until they strike the dense stones. Pulses of sonic waves pulverize the stones, which are then more easily passed through the ureter and out of the body in the urine.

The procedure went very smooth and Cloe seems much happier and is doing well. We would like to thank everyone involved who came together to make this happen!