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The Unusual Pet Vets, Buderim (2025)

18/07/2025

🐹 𝗔 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗳 𝗚𝘂𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀! 🔫

Meet Aredhel, the little adventurer who recently found herself in a bit of trouble after swallowing something she definitely shouldn’t have. Aredhel was first seen at a 24-hour emergency hospital after her family noticed she was quieter than usual, lethargic, and experiencing diarrhoea. There, she was diagnosed with an intestinal foreign body and found to have significant electrolyte abnormalities.

After being stabilised overnight, radiographs suggested a blockage in her intestines, and she was transferred to our team at UPV Murdoch for further investigation and surgical care.

Upon arrival, an abdominal ultrasound revealed a suspicious shadow in the intestine, with gas building up on one side and faecal matter on the other, classic signs of an obstruction.

Dr Luke took Aredhel straight to surgery. Through a ventral midline incision, he located a firm mass in the mid-small intestine, along with fluid buildup upstream and empty bowel downstream. Carefully opening the healthy tissue around the blockage, we found the culprit: a Nerf gun pellet!

The foreign object was successfully removed, and the intestines were flushed with sterile saline before the surgical site was closed in three layers. Thankfully, Aredhel’s intestines were otherwise in great condition.

The best part? Her recovery was textbook! She bounced back beautifully, tucking into Emeraid Intensive Carnivore food and regaining her usual cheeky energy in no time. She’s now safely back at home, and her family is keeping a very close eye on their Nerf gear!

Moral of the story? Ferrets (and all pets!) can be curious, so make sure dangerous items are out of reach. Aredhel’s recovery is a reminder of how important quick action and surgery can be when a foreign body is involved!

Clinic: Murdoch
www.unusualpetevets.com.au

17/07/2025

🦜 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹-𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 😳

Meet Bandit, our sweet and striking 17-year-old Galah, who recently visited our Canberra clinic after his family noticed a large fatty lump growing near his tail.

Bandit has a history of fatty masses that have fluctuated in size over the years. His devoted owners already had him on a fantastic diet, including budgie seed, fresh veggies, and sprouted seeds, but this lump had grown quite large and had started to bleed occasionally when it was bumped. Concerned for his comfort, they decided to have it reviewed and removed.

Dr Savannah examined Bandit and found the mass was located very close to his vent. Given his history (and how these lumps are often linked to high cholesterol or fatty liver disease), she recommended running blood tests before proceeding with surgery. Thankfully, everything came back all clear!

The most common fatty lumps we see in birds are lipomas, benign tumours made up of fat cells that usually sit just under the skin. While they can occur in any overweight bird, they're most frequently seen in budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, galahs, cockatoos, and Amazon parrots.

Bandit was admitted into hospital the day before surgery to settle in and receive some subcutaneous fluids. The next day, he was anaesthetised, intubated, and carefully monitored throughout the procedure. Dr Savannah removed the mass using a combination of surgical tools and electrocautery to minimise bleeding.

Bandit stayed with us overnight to recover and ensure he didn't disturb his sutures, as some cheeky parrots will pick at their stitches and need a little cone of shame to help them heal. But not Bandit! This charming gentleman was the perfect patient and didn't need one at all.

He returned for his follow-up visit, and we’re thrilled to report that his surgical site had healed beautifully. Bandit is now back in his aviary, mass-free and feeling much more comfortable!

Clinic: Canberra
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

16/07/2025

Today, we’re celebrating two amazing exotic species we’re lucky enough to care for — it’s 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 and 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮 𝗣𝗶𝗴 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆, and we are here for them today and every day! 🐍 💛 🐹

15/07/2025

🐰 𝗕𝗝'𝘀 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 🪨

BJ, the bunny, recently hopped into our Sydney clinic after his owner noticed his back end was becoming increasingly wet and soiled with urine.

After a thorough examination and diagnostic testing, we discovered the cause: two bladder stones. These stones were likely contributing to his urine scalding and discomfort.

In rabbits, bladder stones (uroliths) are most commonly made of calcium carbonate. Several factors can influence their formation, including a high-calcium diet, limited exercise, obesity, or even underlying kidney disease.

As bladder stones can cause significant pain and inflammation and lead to secondary urinary tract infections, Dr Shelby recommended surgery. BJ underwent a cystotomy (surgical removal of the stones via an incision into the bladder), and we’re happy to report it was a success!

At his recheck appointment, BJ was healing well and had returned to his bright, happy self. No more soggy bottom!

Clinic: Sydney
www.unusualpetvets.com.a

13/07/2025

🪶 𝗥𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗼’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 🩺

Rumbo, the beautiful Indian Ringneck, recently visited Dr Pat at our Sunshine Coast clinic for a routine pre-boarding health assessment.

During his examination, Dr Pat noticed something unusual sticking out of Rumbo's right ear—a feather!

Despite having a feather lodged in his ear, Rumbo had shown no signs of discomfort at home. It likely became stuck during moulting, and without help, he wouldn't have been able to remove it himself. Left undetected, it could have caused significant irritation and potentially led to an ear infection.

Rumbo's unexpected ear feather is a great reminder of just how important regular health checks with an avian vet are. Birds are masters at hiding illness and discomfort and it's usually what they don't tell us that matters most.

Clinic: Sunshine Coast
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

13/07/2025

🐹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄’𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 😔

Meet Marshmallow, a beautiful 1.5-year-old female guinea pig who visited our Peninsula clinic after her owner noticed something concerning during a routine nail trim. The outer toe on her back left foot appeared rotated, swollen and had been bleeding.

Dr Michelle prescribed anti-inflammatory pain relief to reduce swelling and keep Marshmallow comfortable. However, after a week, there was little improvement, prompting a return visit for further investigation.

X-rays revealed more than just soft tissue swelling, there were signs of infection in the bones and joint of the affected toe. To prevent the infection from spreading further into the foot, the decision was made to amputate the digit.

The following day, Dr Amber performed the toe amputation. After prepping the area, a local anaesthetic block was applied, and a tourniquet was placed to minimise bleeding. The toe was carefully removed at its base, and the site was closed with a few interrupted sutures before being bandaged.

Marshmallow returned for a bandage change three days later and was recovering well, with the incision healing nicely!

Guinea pigs are quite prone to nail, digit and foot infections. Soft, dry bedding and a simple, safe enclosure setup are essential to prevent injuries. As soon as any swelling or redness is seen associated with the feet of guinea pigs, they should be assessed by an experienced guinea pig veterinarian.

Clinic: Peninsula
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

12/07/2025

🐹 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵: 𝗚𝗶𝘇𝗺𝗼 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 🌾

Gizmo, the guinea pig, has always loved munching on hay, but one day, he suddenly squeaked and sputtered, indicating something wasn’t right.

His worried owner rushed him to visit our Osborne Park team and, upon presentation, quickly noted that Gizmo was having difficulty both swallowing and breathing. It was suspected that a piece of food, likely hay, had become lodged at the back of his throat.

To investigate further, Gizmo was admitted for a brief anaesthetic so an endoscope could be used to examine his airway and throat.

With steady hands and a tiny endoscope, Dr Sam located the foreign body and skilfully removed it. Looking at what was pulled out, we can say for certain that Gizmo had a piece of hay lodged in his throat!

Once in recovery, Gizmo bounced back quickly. True to form, he happily tucked into his green veggies. He was able to go home that same evening, much more comfortable and back to his snack-loving self.

Clinic: Osborne Park
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

11/07/2025

🐍 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹’𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 👁

Ariel, a stunning Common Death Adder, was brought in to see Dr Holly at UPV Murdoch after her attentive owner noticed an issue with her right eye. On examination, significant swelling was observed around the spectacle (the transparent scale covering the eye in snakes), along with an opaque discharge accumulating beneath it. The discharge had begun oozing from a small perforation, raising suspicion of a spectacle abscess, a condition requiring surgical intervention.

The following day, Ariel was admitted for surgery. Given her venomous nature, careful handling protocols were followed. An endotracheal tube was placed to maintain a secure airway, and a Doppler was used to monitor her heart rate. The affected area was aseptically prepared using surgical iodine.

As Dr Holly made an incision into the spectacle, the diseased tissue was found to be extremely friable, and the entire spectacle detached with ease, revealing a soft tissue mass overlaying the eye. The mass was carefully removed, and a sample of the discharge was submitted for aerobic and anaerobic culture to help guide antibiotic selection.

Given that she no longer had a spectacle to protect her eye it was recommended also to enucleate the globe (eyeball).

Dr Holly carefully ligated the blood vessels and optic nerve with suture material before removing the globe. The surrounding healthy soft tissue was then closed with sutures.

Ariel was prescribed a course of post-operative antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to support her recovery and prevent infection.

Ariel recovered beautifully from surgery, and her dedicated owner reports that she is back to her usual gentle self.

Clinic: Murdoch
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

11/07/2025

🦜 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 (𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲) | 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗩𝗜𝗖 🐍

Do you thrive in a leadership role and have a passion for the fascinating world of exotic pets? This is your chance to help shape our 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱-𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻, opening 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱!

We’re looking for a dedicated and organised Nursing Manager to lead our clinical team and support the day-to-day operations of the clinic, as well as contribute to the successful launch and ongoing development of our newest clinic. This rare opportunity combines hands-on nursing with leadership and management responsibilities.

🩺 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿?
✅ Full-time role (38 hours/week) with a rotating roster (incl. 1 in 3 weekends)
✅ Work with an amazing team of exotic pet vets and nurses
✅ Competitive salary + CPD allowance + wellness program
✅ Join an AVA Employer of Choice with a strong focus on support, growth & work-life balance

🧐 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿?
✔️ A strong, positive leader with experience in vet practice or team management
✔️ Passionate about exotic pets, patient care and team wellbeing
✔️ Skilled in rostering, inventory, and workflow coordination
✔️ A great communicator with a collaborative mindset

📎 Ready to join the flock? 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 with your cover letter and CV:
👉 https://www.seek.com.au/job/85612080?ref=cm-ui

10/07/2025

🦜 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗲’𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲 𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 🧐

Quillee, a beautiful two-year-old cockatiel, was brought to our Canberra clinic after her owner noticed that her right eye appeared red, irritated, and teary. Upon examination, Dr Daniella found that the eye inflammation was being caused by significant swelling in the infraorbital sinus, the air-filled cavity just in front of the eye.

In birds, sinus swellings can develop due to a range of causes, including vitamin A deficiency, bacterial or fungal infections, poor ventilation or low humidity, or anatomical issues that prevent normal sinus drainage. In Quillee’s case, it was suspected that the swelling stemmed from structural changes caused by a Chlamydia psittaci (Psittacosis) infection earlier in life.

Unfortunately, when the sinus becomes obstructed, it often leads to a build-up of pus. But unlike mammals, bird pus is thick and cheese-like, which means it usually requires surgical removal rather than being drained.

Surgery was recommended, and during the procedure, Dr Will carefully dissected the swollen area and removed a large ball of thick, purulent material. This was submitted for culture and sensitivity testing to guide the most effective antibiotic treatment. The site was flushed and intentionally left open to allow ongoing drainage.

Quillee was sent home with a combination of anti-inflammatory medications, oral and topical antibiotics, and a vitamin A injection to address any possible deficiency.

Three weeks later, Dr Savannah saw Quillee for her post-op check and was thrilled with her progress. The sinus had returned to normal, and Quillee was feeling much brighter and more comfortable!

Clinic: Canberra
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

09/07/2025

🎉 𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀! 🎉

We are absolutely thrilled to share the incredible news that Dr Kiara Simonis has officially passed her 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 — making her one of only a handful of veterinarians in Australia to hold this prestigious qualification! 🦜🇦🇺

This achievement represents the culmination of years of dedication, study, research and clinical excellence. From publishing original research to compiling an extensive case log and enduring some of the most demanding exams in veterinary medicine, Dr Kiara’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring.

Becoming a Fellow is no small feat, it reflects the highest level of expertise in the field, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate this incredible milestone with her.

Please join us in congratulating Dr Kiara on this phenomenal achievement! 💐👏

Your passion, persistence, and commitment to excellence in avian care are truly remarkable, and we are so lucky to have you leading the way.

Well done, Dr Kiara — this is so well deserved! 💛🦜

07/07/2025

🐍 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗻𝘆𝘅'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 😮‍💨

Meet Onyx, our handsome South West Carpet Python, who recently slithered in after his family noticed telltale crackling respiratory sounds.

As part of his testing, Dr Lucinda recommended a tracheal wash, a diagnostic test where we collect fluid from the windpipe to check for infection or inflammation.

To perform the wash, a sterile swab was used to clear the tracheal opening. A soft rubber tube attached to a syringe was then gently passed into the trachea to flush sterile saline, which was then aspirated back for analysis. The swab was also rolled onto a slide for cytology by an external pathologist.

Onyx is currently responding well to anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. We're hopeful that Onyx continues to improve.

Clinic: Osborne Park
www.unusualpetvets.com.au

The Unusual Pet Vets

18/07/2025

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15/07/2025

13/07/2025

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12/07/2025

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11/07/2025

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07/07/2025

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