The four week wildlife module was strategically scheduled mid-year to break up the monotony of dog and cat cases in the teaching hospital. The first two weeks was a jumble of lectures, practicals and field trips. We discussed current conservation challenges such as trophy hunting, heard from vets working on the frontline of black cockatoo and sea turtle research, learnt the basics of marine mammal necropsies and aquatic pathology, listened to an inspiring talk from an exotics and zoo vet (Peter Ricci - the new Bondi Vet), and learnt about the work of vets at a bear rescue organisation called Free the Bears. The talks were really insightful and gave me an appreciation of the huge range of fields vets can be involved in.
As well as all the theory, there were a number of hands-on practicals during the first fortnight. One of the highlights was doing routine health checks on one of Australia's most elusive critters - the bilby! As a result of habitat destruction and introduced species, the bilby population has significantly declined and they are now classified as a threatened species. These particular bilbies were part of a captive breeding program, which aims to reintroduce them to the wild. A thorough examination was required to ensure they were in good health and could remain in the breeding program. I intubated, monitored anaesthesia, collected a blood sample and performed a full clinical exam. While under anaesthesia, we could fully appreciate their anatomical quirks, including the marsupial pouch, double nail for grooming, and spike on the tip of the tail (thought to play a role in communication). If you've ever wondered what the inside of a marsupial pouch looks like (I know I have), check out the image below.
We also got a tour of a black cockatoo rehabilitation centre and practiced handling some of the hospitalised patients. Black cockatoos are huge, strong birds and can be pretty feisty, so restraining them is quite an involved process. Thankfully I still had all 10 of my fingers at the end of the day! There were a couple of practical sessions on fish health and aquaculture, which were interesting but not really my cup of tea. During these, I learnt how to tube feed, medicate, aspirate the swim bladder and surgically remove an eye from a fish. One evening was spent at a native wildlife sanctuary where we did a guided night walk and learnt about some of our more elusive native species, including woylies, numbats and bandicoots. We had a close encounter with a very bold brushtail possum who strolled right up to us for a better look. Last but not least, we were given a tour of the native species breeding program at Perth Zoo, which focusses on numbats and western swamp tortoises. Fun fact: western swamp tortoises are the most endangered reptiles in Australia.
Llegan las fiestas y nos preguntamos: ¿cómo cuidamos a nuestras mascotas?
A días de que comiencen los festejos de fin de año, las dudas de aquellos que tienen mascotas vuelven a surgir, sobre todo con relación a los fuegos artificiales y el miedo a que se asusten y se pierdan. Es cierto que en San Martín de los Andes la pirotecnia está prohibida, sin embargo, desde hace algunos días que se pueden escuchar estruendos por la noche que provocan los ladridos y alboroto de…
Todos los tips para iniciar un acuario de la mano de ZooVet
Si de mascotas se trata, cada persona y familia tiene sus preferencias, pero una tendencia que crece cada día más son los acuarios. El tema es saber qué tipo de pecera y peces se adaptan mejor al estilo de vida de cada uno, y para eso en RSM consultamos a las veterinarias de ZooVet que contaron todo lo que hay que saber.
Foto ZooVet
Antes de elegir los peces hay que saber qué tipos de peces…
Stopped by to say hello with my main gal Gigi at #franklinparkzoo (ssh! She's kinda my favorite) #gorilla #zoospreventextinction #zoonewengland #zoovet
Visitamos el stand de @zoovetar en Intermedica 2016! Ahora podes encontrar la línea de pequeños animales en www.PupsBox.com #zoovet #Vanguardia #innovacion (en Golden center Salon Dorado)
