Koala in pain for hours after dog attack

A koala was left lying in pain for five hours after being attacked by a dog north of Brisbane before finally being put out of its misery.

The koala, a young male coming into his first breeding season, was attacked about 2.30am on Tuesday at Petrie, but the dog's owners did not contact the RSPCA until 7.30am.

The animal had to be euthanased due to the severity of its injuries.

RSPCA Queensland's senior wildlife veterinarian Dr Rebecca Millers said the attack was sad as it was easily preventable and called on dog owners to keep their animals inside at night.

"We're urging everyone to keep their dogs inside at night time, particularly if they're in koala inhabited areas," she said.

RSPCA Queensland's Wildlife Hospital has taken in more than 170 of the vulnerable marsupials and a quarter have been victims of dog attacks.