Zoo Hospital is the first game of its kind on Wii that lets players experience a veterinarian's job. Players can use the Wii Remote in surgical procedures to eliminate parasitic pests, perform dentistry, X-ray organs and remove foreign bodies like gallstones to restore the health of 48 ailing zoo animals, including dolphins, gorillas, macaws and camels. Soothing and feeding each animal via intuitive gestures, while following up on post surgical patients in their enclosures is as important as precise operations, since happy, healthy animals increase the Zoo Rating which in turn affects the number of customers visting the zoo.
Zoo Hospital allows players to experience a 3D zoo environment and enables up to two friends to treat animals together in cooperative multi-player mode. Aspiring vets can also unlock new animals, enclosures, medical mini-games, and plaques by successfully performing procedures and raising the Zoo Rating.