By Michelle Burgum | Donor Relations Officer
Patient of the week
Eloise the Echidna
Age: Adult Sex:Female Weight: 2.95kg
Found: In Upper Caboolture. Eloise had been
attacked by 2 dogs.
Transported to: The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital by a member of the public. On the way, Eloise crawled up into the footwell and behind the glove box of the car she was traveling in. The entire glove box compartment had to be removed on arrival!
Veterinary Assessment: Eloise was given a sedative to allow the nurse to gently extract her from the tight spot she was in. Without sedation it would have been impossible to safely remove her. Dr
Robyn assessed Eloise once she was finally out and found her condition to be good, apart from some fractured/ bleeding spines caused by the dog attack.
Treatment: Once Eloise was completely checked over Dr Robyn cleaned the blood from her spines and administered her with a painkiller and anti-inflammatory medication.
Future: Eloise spent one night in the mammals intensive care unit before being transferred to a carer. Her progress will be monitored for 3-4 days before Eloise is released back into the wild.
AZWH Fact: The Echidna's spines only cover the top of its body and when attacked it will burrow into the ground or curl itself into a ball using its spines as protection against a predator. Luckily for Eloise this amazing method of defence is what saved her.
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