Authors Hamish Morrin & Yvonne Morrin

ABSTRACT A 3-day-old capybara presented with deep cutaneous wounds to both front feet. The wounds were treated with ozonated oil, antibiotics, pain relief and cleaning, over a period of 6 weeks. Veterinary treatment in a zoo environment presents challenges that can impede normal wound-healing processes. The juvenile could not be kept in a clean environment and could not be housed separately from its mother, and bandaging could not be used due to the risk of ingestion. Treatment required daily capture of the juvenile while mitigating the mother’s defensive behaviour. Although the capybara suffered partial loss of digits, recovery was sufficient for normal activity.
Keywords zoo, welfare, exotic, wound

To cite this article: VNJ Volume 37 (4) September 2022 pp 20-24

DOI: 10.56496/VZCH3327

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