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The Unusual Pet Vets, 91 King Street, Sunshine Coast (2024)

07/11/2024

🐹 A𝐛c𝐞s𝐬-𝐞d w𝐢t𝐡 𝐅e𝐫n! 🔬

The gorgeous guinea pig Fern came to see Dr Sasha at our Sunshine Coast clinic after her attentive owner noticed a lump under her chin. After a thorough physical exam, Dr Sasha recommended performing a fine needle aspirate (FNA) of the lump to confirm its nature. Upon examining the sample under a microscope, it was diagnosed as an abscess.

Fern was then admitted to hospital for radiographs to determine if the abscess was linked to her jaw or teeth, and surgery was scheduled to remove it.

Fortunately, the abscess wasn't associated with the jaw and was able to be removed whole. A sample was sent for culture and sensitivity analysis to guide the most effective antibiotic treatment.

After some warmth, tasty snacks, and plenty of chin scratches from our amazing nursing team, Fern was able to head home that afternoon feeling much better!

Clinic: Sunshine Coast
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

06/11/2024

🐰 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲'𝘀 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗲! 🪳

Meet Sesame, the sweet bunny who visited our Murdoch clinic for her annual health check, during which her owners expressed concerns about her skin condition. Dr Brandon examined Sesame and found her to be healthy overall, but her recent groom had highlighted thinning hair and flaky skin.

To investigate further, a small amount of hair was plucked from the crustiest area on her back and examined under a microscope. We caught a culprit: Cheyletiella parasitovorax, commonly known as the rabbit fur mite or "walking dandruff". This mite is the most prevalent type we encounter in rabbits, and the good news is that it is generally easy to treat. It seems that Sesame's age-related apathy towards grooming may have allowed the mites to thrive.

Sesame went home on treatment to alleviate her itching and has made a quick recovery!

Clinic: Murdoch
www.unusualpetvets.com.au🐰

05/11/2024

🐰 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗲'𝘀 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦-𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 😳

Sage travelled over 600 km to see our UPV Osborne Park team! After her dad noticed a lump protruding from her abdomen following meals, they visited their local vet. There, the team felt a firm lump and suspected it might be an abscess. An ultrasound suggested that surgical removal could be necessary, prompting Sage and her dad to make the long drive to our clinic for further diagnostic work and possible surgery.

In typical circumstances, we would prefer to conduct CT imaging to determine the exact nature of the mass and identify what it was adhered to before any surgical intervention. However, due to time constraints, Sage was only in Perth for a few days, so we performed an in-house ultrasound. While the imaging was highly suggestive of an abscess, it couldn't reveal the structures to which the mass was attached. We were particularly concerned that it might be adhered to the liver, spleen, or part of the intestine, which could affect Sage's gut motility. Fortunately, Sage was clinically well, continuing to eat happily and passing normal stools.

Given the circumstances, we decided to proceed with exploratory surgery to assess the mass's attachments and attempt removal. This meant a nerve-wracking morning for her dad while we awaited the surgery's outcome.

There was a collective sigh of relief when Dr Lucinda and the surgical team discovered that the mass was only adhered to the omentum (the tissue adjacent to the intestines) and did not involve any major organs or compromise Sage's intestinal tract.

Our relief was further confirmed when Dr Lucinda sliced into the mass after removal and found only purulent material, confirming it was indeed an abscess rather than a cancerous tumour, which was another concern. Dr Pimple Popper, eat your heart out!

Clinic: Osborne Park
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

04/11/2024

🦎 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝘀 👏

Say hello to Tripod, a brave young Gillen's Monitor who recently visited us at Unusual Pet Vets Sunshine Coast! His owner brought him in after noticing that one of his legs had become flattened and dry, likely due to being trapped under a decoration in his enclosure.

Upon examination, it was determined that Tripod's leg had become necrotic, so he was started on pain relief and antibiotics to help manage the condition and booked in for an amputation surgery. Dr Sasha used specialised equipment to carefully amputate Tripod's tiny front leg.

We're delighted to report that Tripod is adjusting wonderfully to life on three legs and is moving around comfortably at home!

Clinic: Sunshine Coast
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

03/11/2024

🐹 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗵'𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 🫀

Meet little Jarrah, the adorable cavy who visited Dr Luke at our Murdoch clinic after his owner noticed that his eyes were bulging.

During a thorough examination, Dr Luke became concerned not only about the eye issue but also about the muffled sound of Jarrah's heartbeat. Jarrah had his eyes pressure tested and underwent radiographs of his chest, along with an ultrasound to assess his heart. The radiographs revealed that Jarrah's heart margins were enlarged, which could have elevated his blood pressure and contributed to the bulging eyes.

Jarrah was referred to a cardiologist for an echocardiogram to further evaluate his heart function. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (a heart condition), and he will now need to take lifelong medication to help manage it. Thankfully, since starting the treatment, his owner has noticed that Jarrah is brighter, his eyes are slightly less bulgy, and he's continuing to live his best life.

Jarrah will be closely monitored moving forward, all while being spoilt rotten by his loving family.

Clinic: Murdoch
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

02/11/2024

🐰 𝗔 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘁: 𝗣𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝘆𝘀𝘁 🪱

🛑 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 - 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙄𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 🛑

The gorgeous Pepper visited our Ferntree Gully clinic with a mysterious swelling in his right inguinal (groin) area. Since Pepper hadn't been castrated, this region raised concerns for a potential inguinal hernia, a common issue in rabbits due to their open inguinal ring, which increases their susceptibility to herniation.

During the initial consultation, an ultrasound was recommended to gather more information about the swelling. The scan revealed a fluid-filled sac, raising concerns that Pepper's bladder may have herniated through the inguinal ring. Using ultrasound guidance, a needle was carefully inserted into the sac, and clear fluid was aspirated. Rather than further investigating the fluid at this stage, the owner opted to proceed with exploratory surgery, as this would likely be necessary regardless of the findings.

Dr Lara performed the exploratory surgery and also recommended castrating Pepper at the same time to address any potential herniated abdominal contents contributing to the swelling. The tissue surrounding the area was inflamed and thickened, requiring Dr Lara to carefully dissect through muscle layers while remaining cautious of potential bladder involvement. Upon reaching the root of the problem, however, it was revealed that the swelling wasn't a hernia at all; it was a tapeworm cyst!

While adult tapeworms are rare in domestic rabbits, larval tapeworm cysts are not uncommon in outdoor rabbits. The treatment for these cysts typically involves surgical removal, followed by a course of oral worming medication.

After the cyst was successfully removed, Pepper felt much more comfortable. He was in high spirits at his follow-up appointment with Dr Lara - happy and on the mend!

Clinic: Ferntree Gully
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

01/11/2024

🐸 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 💚

Meet Kermit, a cheeky 2-year-old green tree frog who came to see Dr James with a noticeable lump on his nose. Kermit's excitement for feeding time often led him to leap into the glass of his enclosure, and over time, this repeated trauma caused the area to swell, forming a large granulomatous mass on his nose.

The next day, Dr Kiara performed delicate surgery to remove the lump. Kermit was anaesthetised using a combination of injectable and gaseous anaesthesia, with an endotracheal (ET) tube placed to assist with ventilation throughout the procedure. Dr Kiara carefully excised the mass and closed the surgical site with three tiny sutures.

Kermit recovered swiftly from the anaesthetic and was able to go home the same day, armed with pain relief to ensure a comfortable recovery.

Clinic: Peninsula
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

30/10/2024

🎃 Wishing you a 𝕊ℙ𝕆𝕆𝕂𝕋𝔸ℂ𝕌𝕃𝔸ℝ Halloween! 👻🕸️

If you're getting into the spirit of Halloween and dressing up your unusual pet for the occasion, drop a fang-tastic photo in the comments below and let the Halloween cuteness (or creepiness!) begin! 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️

30/10/2024

🐍 𝐉e𝐟f t𝐡e W𝐨m𝐚'𝐬 𝐒p𝐞c𝐭a𝐜u𝐥a𝐫 𝐄v𝐞n𝐭 👁

Jeff, the Woma python, visited our Jindalee clinic after his owner noticed something unusual with his eye. Upon closer examination with macrophotography, Dr Josh identified a small hole in the centre of Jeff's spectacle (the transparent scale covering his eye). What initially seemed like infection or inflammation turned out to be sand that had made its way into the subspectacular space (the space between the eye and the eye cap scale (the spectacle).

To facilitate the removal of the sand, a small wedge was removed from the bottom of the scale and the sand was gently flushed away. A small amount of dye was instilled in the space to see if there was damage to the cornea's surface, revealing superficial injury to the eye's surface.

Jeff was treated with topical eye drops and systemic pain relief, and he's expected to make a full recovery. With future sheds, a new, healthy spectacle will replace the damaged one, restoring his eye to full health.

Clinic: Jindalee
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

29/10/2024

🐠 𝗜 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝗲! 😅

Goldfish came to see Dr Tegan at our Sydney clinic with quite a big problem! A large tumour that had been growing quickly on the side of his head. It was uncertain whether the tumour had involved the eye itself, so the decision was made to anaesthetise Goldfish and remove the tumour to get a clearer picture.

Nurse Amy carefully placed Goldfish in a bath of medicated water, monitoring his vitals throughout the procedure. Dr Tegan successfully removed the tumour and, to everyone's relief, found that Goldfish's eye, though very close to the tumour, was unaffected and could be saved.

After the surgery, Goldfish was transferred back into fresh water and recovered excellently. He's now back in his pond, enjoying his restored vision on the left side and taking in all the sights once again!

Clinic: Sydney
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

28/10/2024

🐍 𝗔 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻 🤩

Lil Man, a 2-year-old Black Headed Python, presented to our Murdoch clinic after his owners noticed persistent cloudiness in his eyes. Despite multiple sheds, the cloudiness didn't clear, affecting his vision and overall body condition.

Upon examination, it was discovered that both of Lil Man's spectacles (the transparent scales covering his eyes) were diseased, with the left one showing a defect. To assess his condition further, Lil Man was given a short general anaesthetic, allowing us to examine his eyes under magnification closely. We found that his eyes were unusually small (microphthalmia) and dry, with the left spectacle being more severely affected by a crater-like lesion.

The eyes were flushed with saline, confirming no retained spectacles. We resected the lesion on the left spectacle to allow treatment with antibiotics and lubricating eye drops. Lil Man was sent home with injectable anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics. However, he returned when his left eye began to protrude, haemorrhage, and swell, leading to the decision to remove the eye.

The next day, Lil Man underwent surgery. He was anaesthetised via an injection into the tail vein, and a Doppler was used to monitor his heart rate. An ET tube (catheter tip) was placed to maintain his airway, and he was manually ventilated with anaesthetic gas and oxygen. The surgical site was prepared with a Betadine solution, and a local anaesthetic block was administered. Dr Briony carefully performed the surgery, using cautery to control bleeding. The site was left open to heal naturally, and polyhexanide gel was applied to the socket, followed by a small bandage for cleanliness and cushioning.

After surgery, Lil Man was ventilated until he was breathing on his own, then extubated and placed in a warm, humidicrib for recovery. He was discharged later that day with strict husbandry instructions and continued pain relief and antibiotics.

At his post-op check with Dr. Luke, Lil Man was healing beautifully and showing great progress!

Clinic: Murdoch
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

27/10/2024

👃 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗡𝗼𝘀𝗲, 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝘀! 🐰

After an unfortunate bite encounter with a neighbouring bunny, Roxy, a 5-year-old rabbit, found herself in a bit of a "nosey" situation! Her loving family brought her to our Osborne Park clinic, where we quickly assessed her injury.

The bite to Roxy's nose had caused the skin on the left side to completely detach, leaving it attached only on the right side. With no blood supply to the damaged tissue, the skin was at risk of necrosis. To give Roxy the best chance of recovery, she was admitted for surgical debridement and wound repair.

Roxy was safely anaesthetised, and Dr Kat began her rhinoplasty (a nose reshaping and repair surgery). After administering a local anaesthetic and preparing the area aseptically, Dr Kat carefully removed the dead tissue and flushed the wound with sterile saline. This debridement was essential to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection. Once the wound was clean, Dr Kat delicately sutured the healthy tissue together, giving Roxy a fabulous new nose!

We're thrilled to report that Roxy recovered smoothly from her anaesthetic and quickly put her new nose to the test, sniffing out treats with gusto! At her one-week postoperative check, Roxy looked amazing; you can hardly tell she ever had a nose job! 🐰👃✨

Clinic: Osborne Park
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

25/10/2024

🐹 L𝐮p𝐢t𝐚'𝐬 𝐋o𝐬t L𝐨c𝐤s ✂

Lupita, the sweet guinea pig, visited our Ferntree Gully practice due to hair loss around her hindquarters and crusting on her ni***es. Hair loss in guinea pigs can have several causes, but in Lupita's case, the absence of skin scaling, irritation, and parasites, combined with the location of the hair loss (both flanks) and her status as an entire female, led us to suspect hormonal ovarian cysts.

Common signs of hormone-secreting ovarian cysts include symmetrical hair loss on the flanks, crusty ni***es, and discomfort or irritability in the abdominal area. If left untreated, ovarian cysts can become significant space-occupying masses, even if they don't always cause hormonal symptoms.

Dr Lara performed an ovariectomy using a bilateral flank approach. The surgery was successful, and the small, hormone-producing cysts were removed. Lupita recovered beautifully, and by her post-op check, she was regrowing her hair even stronger than before!

Spaying female guinea pigs when they're young can help prevent ovarian cysts and the complications they cause.

Clinic: Ferntree Gully
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

25/10/2024

🦎 𝐏u𝐟f t𝐡e M𝐚g𝐢c D𝐫a𝐠o𝐧 🐉

Meet Puff, the brave Bearded Dragon who visited us our Sunshine Coast clinic! Puff had been straining for a little while, and her dedicated owners brought her in to see what was going on.

After a thorough examination, Dr Josh performed an ultrasound, which revealed a few abnormalities, including an enlarged gallbladder. To further investigate, Dr Sasha performed a cloacoscopy to check Puff's internal cloacal anatomy. This showed that the cloaca all appeared okay however on palpation Puff's gallbladder had grown even larger, raising concern.

Dr Sasha performed an ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage, and a sample was sent to the lab with the results confirming an infection. Puff was sent home with antibiotics, and we're delighted to report she's now a whole new dragon! She's recovering wonderfully and feeling much better at home.

We're so proud of Puff for being such a resilient little dragon and thrilled to see her thriving again!

Clinic: Sunshine Coast
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

24/10/2024

🐰 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗱'𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 👨‍⚕️

Floyd, the fabulous 8-year-old lop rabbit, presented to Dr Harry at our Osborne Park clinic after his owner discovered a lump on his neck. During the examination, Dr Harry also identified dental issues, which may have been the cause of the mass. Rabbit teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, and if they aren't worn down properly, the roots can elongate below the jawline and cause problems such as abscesses.

Dr Harry recommended a CT scan to gather more detailed information about Floyd's teeth and the mass. Floyd's owners agreed, and he was referred to an external specialist for the imaging to be performed.

The CT scan revealed that Floyd had advanced chronic dental disease and confirmed the mass was indeed an abscess, though it was unrelated to his dental issues. Dr Harry recommended that Floyd undergo a dental procedure and surgery to remove the abscess.

Upon returning for his procedures, Floyd received a dental float, where Dr. Harry carefully burred his teeth back to as close to normal as possible. Afterwards, the mass was prepped for surgery, and Dr Harry excised the abscess along its margins, removing it in its entirety. To prevent future abscesses, the surgical site was left open using a technique called marsupialisation, which helps prevent bacteria from getting trapped and forming a new abscess.

Floyd recovered smoothly, and the surgery site healed without any complications.

Clinic: Osborne Park
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

23/10/2024

🌡 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽🦎

When Charmander's owner returned home from work to the sound of a beeping thermostat, little did they know their scaly friend had indulged in a rather unusual snack—a thermostat probe!

Charmander was quickly brought to our Ferntree Gully clinic to see Dr Lara, who immediately suspected that this curious reptile had taken her culinary experimentation too far. An X-ray confirmed the suspicion: the probe was lodged in Charmander's intestines. Given the size and shape, it wasn't something that would "pass" as easily as her regular meals so surgery was recommended.

Dr Lara successfully removed the rogue thermometer, and thanks to the quick action of her owner, Charmander's intestines were still healthy.

Now fully recovered, Charmander can go back to basking under the heat lamp while her owner makes sure that the next item on the menu won't be another household gadget!

Clinic: Ferntree Gully
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

22/10/2024

🐹 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘁'𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 💩

Meet Peanut, the cute cavy that was referred to our Adelaide clinic after experiencing persistent loose faeces that hadn't responded to antibiotics. During his examination, a hernia near his sc***um was identified, raising concerns about if that was the cause of his issues.

To investigate further, a conscious ultrasound was performed. The ultrasound showed that the hernia contained some of the gastrointestinal tract.

With these findings, it was decided to proceed with hernia repair surgery. Dr Louise and Nurse Karen carefully prepared Peanut for the procedure which went smoothly.

We are thrilled to report that Peanut has made a great recovery and is back to his usual self!

Clinic: Adelaide
www.unusualpetvets.com.a

21/10/2024

🦎 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆! 🐍

🐢 Today is not just a day for reptile enthusiasts to revel in the beauty of their scaly friends. It is also a day to shine a light on the challenges these amazing creatures face in the wild. From shrinking habitats to climate change, reptiles need our help to protect their home environments.

🐊 At our clinics, we’re fortunate to care for a variety of unique and wonderful reptile patients. Join us in celebrating their beauty and appreciate just how extraordinary they are! 💚