Zoo vet goes in to deal with her patient of the day, but it came with cyanide: ‘Nail art for zoo vets’

Wild animals are dangerous, and as a video from a Zoo Veterinarian just proved, they sometimes come with chemical attacks. Cheryl Stout recently shared a wild story about her newest patient, an Asian millipede, on Instagram and TikTok. It also included a fact she had just learned. According to her, a millipede’s natural defenses, which she had expected, can also destroy nail polish.

Sitting in her car, Stout showed the camera brown streaks and gouges on her nail. “I feel pretty confident in saying that at no point in the story are you gonna be able to predict where we’re headed next,” she stated. It turns out the millipede wasn’t happy with its medical visit. Stout noted, “Yes, she was upset with me because just like you don’t like going to the doctor, she didn’t like going to the doctor either.”

She noted that this species is “a really big species of millipede. I can’t even show you how big.” On this big terrestrial arthropod, every segment of its body has a pore on both sides. Then, when they get stressed, they initiate a defense mechanism. Stout said that the millipede “oozed cyanide out of every pore in her body. Like a little millipede oil spill of death.” 

She was quick to clarify that she and the millipede were fine

According to the Toronto Zoo, the Asian giant millipede lives in tropical environments and prefers hot and humid conditions. The Toronto Zoo notes that these animals have chemical defenses secreted from glands on the sides of their bodies via small pores. 

Per the site, these secretions are not typically fatal to humans, but they can cause significant discomfort and even blindness. The Toronto Zoo also explains that these millipedes are essentially long, cylindrical bulldozers that use their calcified heads to move through leaf litter and rotting wood.

Stout mentioned that she knew exactly what to expect from her patient. “I knew she was gonna ooze the cyanide. I knew she wasn’t gonna be happy to see me,” she said. What she didn’t anticipate was the impact on her manicure. She noted, “Who knew that cyanide stained nail polish permanently? I’ve been trying. I can’t get that off.” It led her to joke that it’s “nail art for zoo vets.” She laughed about the situation, adding, “This is why I don’t paint my nails.”

Social media was floored by the new fact. One TikToker had a question that was echoed by a lot of people: “Why weren’t you wearing gloves or did the glove break? Or does cyanide ooze through gloves?!” Stout kept her response simple, explaining, “could’ve, didn’t.” 

The arthropod’s defense mechanism proved very impressive to a TikToker. They wrote, “Millipede’s aren’t dramatic, they’re just… biochemically expressive! Talk about leaving a lasting impression!” Interestingly, another user identified the specific substance, stating that it is hydrocyanic acid.

The larger conversation was a mix of awe and terror. One Instagram user admitted, “Ma’m, I am already VERY terrified of invertebrates/insects (I appreciate their role in their respective environments and therefore do my best to stay away from said places) and you have just added a layer of validation to said fear.” Another user humorously noted, “Somehow now my day at work answering emails seems less bad.”

A professional nail technician even weighed in on the bizarre situation. They remarked, “I’ve been a licensed nail tech for nearly 30 years and I have heard all kinds of crazy stories explaining how a clients nails got messed up. But you win for sure!” Stout responded to them, saying, “Yessssss. If it makes you feel better I only ruined my own sloppy painting, not a nail tech’s beautiful work.”

Despite this crazy interaction, it’s clear Stout loves her job. She happily claimed that her patients range from “really, really big creatures” to “really, really small creatures.” It should be noted that these animals are very dangerous, irrespective of the fun stories we see. It is why Tasmanian officials have been warning tourists to stay away from the social media sensation from Neil the Seal.

Even emergency workers have struggled. Recently, an encounter with a ‘massive’ unidentified whale sent a New Jersey fire rescue boat to the seabed in seconds.