A kangaroo carrying a two-month-old joey has been found shot in the chest with an arrow in a case of animal cruelty labelled "horrifying" by the Melbourne veterinarian who saved its life.

The kangaroo was found by wildlife officers in Bundoora. ( Supplied: Lort Smith Animal Hospital )

The eastern grey kangaroo, dubbed River, was found by wildlife rescuers at University Hill in Bundoora in the city's north-east on Sunday.

It was taken to Lort Smith Animal Hospital in a critical condition for surgery.

"It's amazing that the arrow didn't puncture her heart or lungs, and I was able to remove it quite easily," Dr Tristan Rich said.

"This is the second case we've seen in the past six months and it's horrifying.

"Now we just have to hope that she's strong enough to survive the rehabilitation process and doesn't succumb to infection."

In September, a kangaroo was found shot with an arrow at Ashburton in central Victoria, while in October another was found dead after being shot with an arrow near a walking track in Warrandyte.

Dr Rich said while the kangaroo was in a stable condition, recovery was not certain, and there were also concerns for the joey, which weighed in at just 150 grams.

"There's a danger that she may pass away purely from the stress of being in captivity," he said.

"The joey is very young and now we're concerned for his life also."

Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact them.