A young monkey named Son had captured the hearts of the vet clinic staff after he arrived with a severe head ulcer. His tiny frame trembled as he was gently held during the initial visit, and though he was scared, he allowed the vet to treat him. The ulcer had likely developed from rough play with his siblings, and the vets took extra care to clean and dress the wound, ensuring little Niko wouldn’t have to suffer any further.
A week later, Son was brought back for a follow-up visit. The vets were hopeful that the treatment had worked, but as soon as they tried to approach Son’s head, his demeanor changed drastically. His eyes, usually wide with innocent curiosity, narrowed in suspicion. As the vet reached towards his head, Niko let out a piercing screech and swatted away the approaching hand. His small but sharp teeth flashed as he tried to bite, lashing out with surprising ferocity for his tiny size.
The team tried everything to calm him down—offering him treats, speaking to him in soft voices, even bringing out a soft blanket he was fond of. But Niko’s mistrust only grew, his tiny body shaking as he refused to let anyone near his head. The vets realized he was traumatized by the memory of the initial procedure and was now associating the vet with pain.
After much patience, they managed to gently restrain him, working carefully around his head while soothing him. Gradually, Niko relaxed as they redressed the ulcer, his little body slumping once he realized no pain was coming. By the end of the visit, though still wary, Niko showed signs of trust. The vets hoped that with time and gentle care, the baby monkey would come to see them as friends rather than threats.
