06/19/2025
Recently, our team at Summit Veterinary Referral Center had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the experts at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park to support the care of an orphaned cougar cub named Sullivan.
𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠
The stories of rescued orphaned cougar cubs Sullivan and Sienna are a powerful reminder of the importance of rescue and collaboration in wildlife conservation.
Thanks to the combined efforts of wildlife officials, veterinarians, and dedicated caretakers, these orphaned cubs have a second chance at life. And for Sullivan, that second chance includes the best diagnostic care modern veterinary medicine can offer.
Sullivan, rescued in early March near Spokane, Washington, has been recovering well at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park after a rough start to life. But recently, animal care staff noticed he was limping.
“Our initial diagnostic exam at Northwest Trek’s veterinary hospital was unable to determine the cause for Sullivan’s limp,” explained Dr. Kadie Anderson, Head Veterinarian at Northwest Trek. “When it persisted, we decided to pursue more specialized imaging.”
Dr. Kadie brought Sullivan to Summit Veterinary Referral Center in Tacoma for an MRI, where specialists from both Summit and Northwest Trek collaborated to carry out the procedure. Neurologist, Dr. Jerry Demuth at Summit, also assessed Sullivan and ran a specialized nerve conduction test used to evaluate how well the nerves are sending signals to his affected leg.
The MRI and exam revealed an injury to Sullivan’s foot, and he’ll need extra care going forward, including physical therapy to help improve the use of his leg.
"We're incredibly fortunate to have the support of our talented veterinary colleagues at Summit," said Dr. Anderson. "Collaborations like this are essential to providing the highest level of care for wildlife. We're fully committed to helping Sullivan heal, and that means making the most of every resource at our disposal."
𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Sullivan’s journey began in early March, when he was found alone by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) near Spokane. The tiny cub was in critical condition—malnourished, dehydrated, and severely anemic. WDFW transported him to Northwest Trek’s animal care clinic, where he received immediate and intensive treatment.
To learn more about Sullivan's story, you can visit: https://www.nwtrek.org/sullivan-undergoes-exam/
