New treatment for bushfire kangaroos

2 weeks ago 2

Images of injured wildlife from last summer’s horror bushfires season broke hearts around the world.

Now two Sydney doctors are offering new hope to kangaroos who suffered burns in the blazes, using lasers to help them heal.

Dr Rhys Donovan and Dr Matt Breeds normally help people’s beloved pets at Sydney’s Animal Rehab Klinik but they’ve recently shifted their focus to wildlife, and the adorable photos they’ve shared of their patients wearing cute little goggles — called “doggles” have melted hearts online.

“We always have a little chuckle whenever we pop the doggles on,” Dr Donovan said.

“They look very cool, like the old school pilots that are about to take flight,” he added.

The “doggles” are designed to protect an animal’s eyes while they undergo laser treatment.

Laser treatment is largely pain free, using light wavelengths to accelerate healing by increasing circulation and decreasing inflammation and swelling.

Sydney Animal Klinik has been using lasers to treat burns as well as making casts to heal fractured bones on injured animals.

Dr Donovan said while neighbourhood vets usually handle emergencies, actual rehabilitation for animals is uncommon.

Dr Donovan and Dr Breeds aren’t vets but chiropractic and osteopathic practitioners that completed their graduate diploma of Animal Biomechanical Medicine, which gave them the skills and knowledge to begin working with animals.

Dr Donovan said he was motivated to help the injured animals after he was invited to help affected wildlife in the wake of the fires by two of his colleagues.

“It was very intense for me to see the devastation,” he said. “It was the first time I’d been exposed to that.”

He said the crew mostly helped kangaroos as well as a few wombats and possums.

While he reported joeys faring pretty well, “the mums were not very well off”.

“They all had burns on their feet from bouncing across the embers trying to escape the fires.”

Dr Donovan said the pair hoped to get animals back into the wild, or to a sanctuary if their injuries are too devastating.

“It is great to know we have helped make their lives better. They are such special creatures,” he added.

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