Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
You know what they say – you can lead a bear to the bathtub, but you can’t make him bathe! 🐻❄️
In November 2024, our dedicated Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team observed that our polar bear ‘Siku’ was experiencing itchiness that developed into bald patches from scratching. He was treated with medications to reduce the itchiness, and with the help of local veterinary dermatologist Dr. Becky Valentine, Siku was diagnosed with allergies, especially to various grasses and dust mites. Since then, treatment for Siku’s allergies has continued with immunotherapy and an anti-itch medication (Apoquel). Just as with humans, Siku’s allergies tend to flare up at different times of the year, resulting in more black patches during this time. These black patches are his skin – polar bears have black skin to help them to absorb as much sunlight as possible and keep warm in the chilly Arctic! ☀️
When Siku has a flare up, additional topical steroid medications and antibiotics are sometimes needed. Recently, our ACHW team decided to try another kind of therapy – a salt bath! Saltwater baths are used by different animals at the zoo to treat different skin conditions. While Siku showed a lot of interest in the pool, it became more of an enrichment object than a skin treatment for him! 😂 Our team will continue to explore the benefits of saltwater for treating Siku but he has shown marked improvement thanks to medications. 💊
Thank you to our incredible ACHW team for your bear-y good care! 💙
#YourZooYYC
You know what they say – you can lead a bear to the bathtub, but you can’t make him bathe! 🐻❄️
In November 2024, our dedicated Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team observed that our polar bear ‘Siku’ was experiencing itchiness that developed into bald patches from scratching. He was treated with medications to reduce the itchiness, and with the help of local veterinary dermatologist Dr. Becky Valentine, Siku was diagnosed with allergies, especially to various grasses and dust mites. Since then, treatment for Siku’s allergies has continued with immunotherapy and an anti-itch medication (Apoquel). Just as with humans, Siku’s allergies tend to flare up at different times of the year, resulting in more black patches during this time. These black patches are his skin – polar bears have black skin to help them to absorb as much sunlight as possible and keep warm in the chilly Arctic! ☀️
When Siku has a flare up, additional topical steroid medications and antibiotics are sometimes needed. Recently, our ACHW team decided to try another kind of therapy – a salt bath! Saltwater baths are used by different animals at the zoo to treat different skin conditions. While Siku showed a lot of interest in the pool, it became more of an enrichment object than a skin treatment for him! 😂 Our team will continue to explore the benefits of saltwater for treating Siku but he has shown marked improvement thanks to medications. 💊
Thank you to our incredible ACHW team for your bear-y good care! 💙
#YourZooYYC
