All part of a day at the office for the vet

ROGER MORONEY
Napier veterinarian Michael Lintott has occasionally been waist-deep in his work.
Aquatic animals tend to spend a lot of time in the water and would rather ``house calls' be made in their territory. Today is World Veterinary Day and Mr Lintott is a typical example of today's animal doctor ... in fact he fits the bill for a day the New Zealand Veterinary Association is using to expose vets' ``wild' side.
``When people think of veterinarians they often picture them working in clinics for domestic animals, or on farms,' association chief executive Julie Hood said.
``In actual fact they can be found in research, teaching institutions and the pharmaceutical industry.'
And, in Mr Lintott's case, marine zoological centres. He is one of many veterinarians throughout New Zealand who have close working affiliations with zoos and wildlife parks.
``I set up my practice in Napier 20 years ago and have been the consulting vet for Marineland since then,' he said.
And that meant various callouts away from the traditional injuries or illnesses to cats and dogs. Like a leopard seal (a cantankerous species) which came ashore at Waimarama Beach a few years back.
``It was slight in body weight and was very weak. He also had evidence of a respiratory condition and was a lot further south than he should have been ... it was likely he got caught in a storm and swept this way.'
With Mr Lintott's skills and care from the Marineland staff, the seal gained weight, built up his strength, and was successfully released back into the wild.
He has tended to blue penguins and on one occasion, a Fiordland Crested penguin which was way off course. During the gannet season he can be called in to look at injured or juvenile birds several times a week.
``We've also had kingfishers and hawks.'
Getting what is essentially a wild animal back on its feet and back to the wild was especially satisfying, and added to the uniqueness of dealing with animals from the other side of the domestic fence, Mr Lintott said.
It was also satisfying to save, and secure an animal which otherwise would perish ... like a seal now at home at Marineland after being found with a severe eye injury.
``With only one eye it would have been unable to hunt and feed or fend for himself.'
His work typified what Ms Hood described as ``important and varied work' members of the fraternity were doing to protect wildlife in New Zealand.'
The theme for the day is apt - ``The diversity of the veterinary profession.'