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Health risks related to owning monkeys as pets in West Texas

NewsWest 9 spoke with a local veterinary clinic in Midland about the health risks for both humans and monkeys related to pet ownership.

MIDLAND, Texas —

From the lack of trees to arid landscape, West Texas is not known for being monkey friendly. 

So, bringing an animal that thrives in one environment into a completely new area can cause harm. 

“Sometimes for a fast move like that it’s a lot of changes too quickly," said Nevaeh Watson, head technician at A to Z Veterinary Clinic. "It can cause them to start being severely sick, severely stressed.”

But it’s not just the change in location that puts them at risk. 

Monkeys are also susceptible to a lot of the same illnesses that humans are. 

“Monkeys in general, I like to say, are like a little toddler," Watson said. "You’re basically buying another toddler to take care of for the rest of your life; and of course, this toddler, if they get sick, you get sick and vice versa. If you get sick you give them exactly what you have as well.”

Watson said monkeys are very high maintenance and require a lot of attention and care to make sure they live healthy lives. 

“We’re in Texas, so the temperatures change fast and randomly," Watson said. "So sometimes with them when it’s not regulated it can be very hard on them. So definitely there’s cause for them to have more of a high risk. But also with Texas, you know, with all the sicknesses we have going around, COVID-19 and so forth, there’s so much stuff that’s already airborne that even when they come into Texas they’re already at high risk for different diseases.” 

Watson also said even if monkeys are bred in Texas, they can still have issues because their bodies just aren’t built for West Texas conditions. 

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