Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under Season 3 Episode 2 Hoofin' It

The episode Hoofin' It from season 3 of Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under takes viewers on a journey into the world of hooves as the team at Taronga Zoo Sydney races against time to help a young zebra with a potentially life-threatening injury and a feisty bushbaby who needs a check-up.

The episode starts with Dr. Larry Vogelnest, the head veterinarian at Taronga Zoo Sydney, and his team getting a call about a female zebra named Shani who has injured one of her hooves. Shani is not putting any weight on her injured leg and is visibly in pain. Dr. Larry, along with Dr. Karina Milner, the senior veterinarian, and animal keeper Bobby-Jo Clow, rush to the scene to assess her condition.

The team soon realizes that Shani's injury is quite serious as it has caused a deep abscess in her hoof. They decide to sedate her so that they can examine the abscess and drain it. The sedation process is risky with zebras, and the team has to work quickly to make sure Shani doesn't get stressed and hurt herself more. Once Shani is sedated, Dr. Larry and Dr. Karina carefully use a knife to make an incision in her hoof, which releases the pus that had built up inside. They then clean the wound and bandage Shani's leg.

But Shani's road to recovery is far from over. Dr. Larry and his team need to monitor her closely to make sure the wound doesn't get infected. They also need to make sure that Shani starts using her injured leg again and that her gait doesn't get affected in the long run. The team comes up with a plan to get Shani walking again by using a special shoe that redistributes her weight equally across all four hooves.

While Shani's injury is serious, the team at Taronga Zoo is confident that they can help her get back on her feet with the help of proper care and attention.

Next up, the episode focuses on Tilly, a bushbaby who needs to undergo a check-up. Bushbabies are small, nocturnal primates that are native to Africa. Tilly is a feisty character who doesn't like to sit still, which makes it challenging for the veterinarians to examine her. The team decides to get creative by using a special box that has a small opening for Tilly's head. They then use treats as bait to make her stretch her neck out and get her head into the box.

Once Tilly's head is inside the box, Dr. Larry and his team can examine her eyes, ears, and teeth. They also take blood samples to check for any potential health problems. Bushbabies have a high metabolism, which makes them susceptible to sugar-based diets. The team wants to make sure that Tilly's diet is balanced and that she is getting the right nutrients to keep her healthy.

The episode ends with Tilly getting a clean bill of health and Shani slowly starting to put weight on her injured leg. The team at Taronga Zoo celebrates their small victories and is grateful for the opportunity to help these beautiful animals.

Overall, Hoofin' It is an engaging and informative episode that showcases the dedication and expertise of the team at Taronga Zoo Sydney. The episode sheds light on the challenges involved in treating animals with hooves and the importance of proper care and attention when dealing with injuries. It is a must-watch for animal lovers and anyone interested in behind-the-scenes stories of animal care.