Button the Swamp Wallaby Jan 14, 2012
Age: Juvenile Sex: Male
Transported to: The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital by his licensed wildlife carer Helen, who had been raising Button after being orphaned.
Veterinary Assessment: Dr Claude assessed Button and found that his little stomach was severely bloated. He was also suffering from bad case of gas and diarrhoea, though pathology tests cleared him of any infectious disease.
Treatment: Some medical treatments attempted to resolve the bloat were unsuccessful, so Dr Claude performed an exploratory laparotomy and found that Button's small intestines were a little tangled (intussusception), which she corrected. Dr Claude also aspirated excess air, and administered pain relief and fluids.
Future: Button is currently feeding on grasses and milk formula, and is under close observation in the Nursery ICU. He will remain in care until he is old enough for release back into the wild.
AZWH Statistic: Summer is our busiest time of year for orphans, with over 275 admitted in the last two months alone.
