Small Animal Activities

Help Us to Help Your Animals by Providing the Best Possible Care for Our Patients

The Murdoch University Veterinary School is delighted to announce that it has acquired a Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner for the benefit of our patients. This will be the only CT Scanner designated for animal use in WA and it is the same as those used on human patients to create 3 dimensional images of soft tissues - to detect, diagnose and monitor certain conditions including cancers.

Renovations for the proper surroundings to meet radiation safety standards so that it can be used safely by staff and Vet students will need $50,000 to be raised. These renovations have begun and so far we have raised $11,000.

The Murdoch University Veterinary Trust invites you to help us install this CT Scanner. You can send a donation by cheque or credit card. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and you will be sent a receipt.

We hope that your pet never needs to use this scanner but we are pleased that it will be available to help us diagnose and treat all small animals from around the state. Please help the Trust

Murdoch University Veterinary Trust / Perth Zoo Resident

Dr Karen Payne, inaugural Murdoch University Perth Zoo Resident 2001-2004 Karen’s work in Masters of Philosophy in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine combines a research thesis and clinical experience working as a veterinarian at Perth Zoo’s veterinary department. Her thesis investigated the Hepatitis B virus in Silvery Gibbons (Hylobates moloch), in particular performing sequencing of the viral genome to determine if the virus is of human or gibbon origin. The thesis also looked at the epidemiology and pathology of the virus in this species, as well as assessing the role of vaccination protocols in prevention of the disease.

The results of the thesis confirm that the gibbons carry their own specific Hepatitis B virus which is closely related to, but distinct from, human Hepatitis B. Vaccination appears to be a successful method of preventing spread in situations where the risk of viral transmission would appear high. These findings may have implications on the management of both captive and wild populations of this critically endangered species.