Wallaby At Turtle Back Zoo On The Mend After CAT Scan (VIDEO)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Scientific advancements in veterinary health care are paying off for patients across the nation – including a wallaby at the Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County.

Murray, a resident of the zoo – which is located in West Orange – recently needed to get a computed tomography (CT) scan after vets found him with a suspected enlarged aortic arch and bronchopneumonia. But getting health care for an “exotic” animal like Murray isn’t always easy.

And that’s where a partnership with the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine came in handy, zoo administrators say.

The New York City-based center – a partner hospital associated with Thrive Pet Healthcare – was able to perform the CT scan for the Turtle Back Zoo. Using the findings, Yasmeen Prud'homme, a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine, was able to come up with a treatment plan for Murray.

The result? A wallaby on the mend, Thrive Pet Healthcare reported (article continues below).

Kailey Anderson, a veterinarian at the Turtle Back Zoo, said the recent exam is a good example of how advancements in medical imaging are benefitting exotic animals like Murray.

“Collaborative partnerships with specialized centers enable Turtle Back Zoo to deliver optimal care to our animals and cultivate relationships among veterinary professionals dedicated to exotic animal health,” Anderson said.

“We look forward to expanding these partnerships and our diagnostic capabilities right here at the zoo with the opening of our new Animal Wellness Center in the fall,” Anderson added.

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