UQ veterinarians save pet tiger snake

Veterinarians at the UQ Gatton Veterinary Medical Centre saved the life of a venomous tiger snake.

Mr Ian Jenkins, of Snakes Downunder Reptile Park in Childers, brought his eight year old Tiger Snake, Aggro into the clinic after being referred by the veterinarians at Childers Veterinary Clinic for a tumour on its head.

Head of Service of the Small Animal Hospital Dr Bob Doneley and Specialist Anaesthetist Dr Martin Pearson operated on Aggro.

Dr Doneley is a specialist avian vet, with extensive experience in reptile and small mammal medicine and surgery.

“Surgery on snakes is uncommon and surgery on venomous snakes is very uncommon,” Dr Doneley said.

“At the UQ Veterinary Medical Centre we have the resources and trained staff to be able to handle unusual cases with avian and exotic animals.”

“My colleague Dr Pearson anaesthetised Aggro while I removed the tumour using a skin flap to cover the area. The surgery was a complete success and Aggro has made a full recovery,” he said.

The tumour turned out to be benign, and it is not expected to re-occur.

The University of Queensland Gatton Veterinary Medical Centre is an advanced veterinary clinic and teaching hospital that services South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales and is equipped to handle unusual cases.

The UQ Gatton Veterinary Medical Centre is open to the public and offers medical and surgical facilities for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small mammals and fish. It specialises in surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology; to book an appointment phone (07) 54601788.

Media: Erin Pearl (07) 5460 1229, 0409 265 587 or e.pearl@uq.edu.au