Vets manage to save koala in strife after mystery misadventure
When the team at Glenelg Veterinary Services opened their doors on Monday they couldn’t have predicted they would end the day giving a koala a ‘wash and blow-dry’ but that’s what happened when this koala came to town.
“The thing about this job is that you never know what might walk in the door at any time,” the vet clinic in Casterton, south western Victoria, posted to its Facebook page.
A young male koala was spotted walking down Main Street near the Glenelg clinic and the staff said it looked as if he had gotten “himself into a bit of strife”.
“His entire back half was covered in some sort of vegetable oil,” they wrote on Facebook, along with photos of the unusual patient.
Nobody is sure how the young koala got himself into the slippery situation but Glenelg Veterinary Services was glad he slid their way because although he was “otherwise healthy” the result could have become fatal.
“When the dense undercoat becomes wet/soiled like this, it means that they are not able to regulate their body temperature correctly and, especially in this weather, can become hypothermic,” vet staff posted.
The vet clinic is usually focused on providing medical treatment but turned into a koala spa for the day to get the oily little Aussie native back to his fluffy best.
“We gave him a general anaesthetic in order to wash all of the oil out of his coat,” the vets wrote, adding that they had to wash, rinse and repeat.
“We had to do it twice, followed by a vigorous blow-dry,” they wrote, documenting the process with photos.
Feeling fluffy and fine, the staff released the patient back to the great outdoors, and he took it all in his stride.
“He recovered uneventfully and was last seen up the top of a gumtree, chowing down on gum leaves,” the vets posted.
Followers of the Facebook page were loving the ‘before and after photos’ of the koala, with one person calling it “a makeover”.
“Fabulous story, the best looking koala around,” another person responded.
Many people praised the vet for the wildlife bath time.
“You guys are terrific, thanks for caring and treating, we are lucky to have vets like you,” one person wrote.
“Survive to live another day, great work” another person added.
Some people thought the koala looked so good after his makeover, that the vet should expand their business.
“Now you guys are not only dog groomers but Koala stylist, well done!” another person commented.
“All set for the start of the breeding season!” Vet and owner Nicola Pattison posted.
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