PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

Regular health assessments should be scheduled for zoo­housed wombats. The frequency of examination depends on factors such as the age and health status of an individ­ual, but as a general rule once q 1-2 yr is appropriate in most situations. Components of a preventative medical assessment include a complete physical examination, weight and body condition review, dental examination, faecal analysis, CBC and serum biochemistry and imag­ing if indicated (Bryant and Reiss 2008; Vogelnest and Allan 2015). A review of husbandry, including diet and environmental parameters, is recommended at the time of the scheduled examination as these are critical for good health in wombats.

7.