exoticpets the basics - vetark for pet health & vitamin ... is an exotic pet?" pet...
TRANSCRIPT
11/01/2014
© VETARK PROFESSIONAL 2014 1
Exotic pets in practice: the basics"
Peter Sco: MSc.BVSc.FRCVS
The plan"• Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"
• Some rules"• Where do vets come in?"
– History taking"– Differences"– Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,
Analgesia"– Euthanasia"
• Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"
What is an exotic pet?" Pet numbers"
• Dogs & cats" " " 8 million each"• Fish " " " " 140 million"• Guinea pigs, hamsters
budgies, rabbits " " " 1.5 million each"• Reptiles " " " " 8 -12 million"• 2010 figures of about 26 million UK households
almost 1 in two (13 million) own a pet. 23% own a dog, >10% various fish, ~1-2% (0.25-0.5) owned a reptile "
"• Fish data based on OATA surveys done in 2006, others derived from various sources – import
data, feed data (ie. items of food sold), numbers actually sold"
Survey of pet ownership"• 16,445 emails sent out"• 2082 responses (12.7%)"• Majority of owned reptiles <1yr old, high
proportion > 5yr old"• 70% of reptile owners also own dogs, 49%
have cats, 45% have small furries, 25% have fish, 16% have birds"– (only 3% do not own another pet)"
• 52% own lizards, 25% chelonia, 23% snakes"
All their problems are man made!"
• At a recent BVA AWF meeting a proposal was roundly supported which quoted the old throwaway (no data) that 90% of the problems of reptiles were husbandry/environment issues caused by owners"– Logically true, since man provides their home and
environment and is responsible for determining their needs, providing them, cleaning, feeding and watering the animal etc."
– You could say the only reason its not 100% is that there is still ‘the wild element’ in the exotics because we haven’t messed them up yet – unlike the truly domestic pets where it is 100%"
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• ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF DOGS AND CATS ARE DUE TO BEING KEPT BY MAN"– Since man has domesticated dogs and keeps them it can
hardly be otherwise"– From hobbling dysplastic overfed labradors and gasping pugs
and bulldogs to screaming Cavaliers with syringomyelia"
• THIS ARGUMENT DOESN’T HELP US – its simply a truism. "
• At the end of the day, with easy availability of information the situation is no different between most exotics and the more familiar dogs & cats"
• Good welfare is simply about meeting an animals needs."
• Bearded dragons"
• Corn snakes"
• Leopard geckos"
• Crested geckos"
• Royal pythons"
• Tortoises (hermans
and horsefields)"
>70% of the reptiles sold"
Most are captive bred"• Lower incidence of parasites and general
pathogens"
High biosecurity, good nutriJon, space, groups, vet care, good welfare. Opportunity to control issues as they appear, new tests/potenJal pathogens etc can be incorporated into control systems
Captive care means complying with the Five needs/provisions"
Our concept of welfare is a combinaJon of five ‘needs’ The most controversial is the ability to express normal behaviour. Not least because we can’t always be clear about which behaviours are required and which are driven by food, escape etc.
The plan"• Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"
• Some rules"• Where do vets come in?"
– History taking"– Differences"– Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,
Analgesia"– Euthanasia"
• Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"
1st rule"• Ideally have receptionist request
details of the species, photos of the environment and feeding, weight and any sloughing records"
• This will give you the opportunity to look it up on the internet if necessary"– We have all done this, I have
virtually every book on exotic pet medicine for reference.!
– I bought them personally even when I was employed. !
– Use all the cases as learning opportunities!
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2nd rule"• Leave time for the consult. "– Think about doing them at the end of a
session so that you can use the case as a learning experience. "
– Talk to the owner, watch the animal quietly and relaxed, birds in particular will be conscious of being watched but will relax more when you are both speaking about the history, get all this done before you handle the animal."
3rd rule"• Never automatically
assume that because someone owns an animal that they know how to handle it safely."
4th rule"• Don’t halve consult fees because you don’t
know anything or because its only small."– Some clients will always look for someone cheaper,
and will always moan how little they pay. Let them find someone else"
– Your expertise is in history taking, and examination, collect and build knowledge as you go."
– Some practices that know what they are doing often charge 1.5-2 x dog consult fees because done properly exotics cases often take longer. Ops etc require specialist equipment or expertise."
Sample fees CONSULTATIONS First ConsultaJon – Dog/Cat/Small Mammal/ ExoJc £28.58 Repeat ConsultaJon – all species -‐ short £11.57 Repeat consultaJon -‐ small mammal/ exoJcs – long £18.90 Repeat consultaJon -‐ dogs/cats – long £20.41 ExoJc referral/ second opinion consultaJon £88.20 ExoJcs beak / nail/ wing trim £17.77 Bird beak correcJon with GA £48.96 Nurse ConsultaJon FREE
MICROCHIPS Cat/Dog/ small mammal Microchip £22.06 Cat/Dog/ small mammal Microchip with other procedure £19.44 Bird/ repJle microchip £39.20 DENTAL Dog/ cat dental prices on applica?on dependent on ?me and extent of procedure
Rabbit/ rodent dental (incl GA and criJcal care sachet) £115.50 Rabbit/ rodent dental (incl GA and xray and criJcal care sachet) £157.50
5th rule • Many clients move around to find a vet they trust with their exoJc pet.
• If a case has been seen elsewhere treat it the same way that you would a referral.
• Get the other pracJces history and phone for details (clients someJmes lie or forget things)
• Aeerwards let the original pracJce know the outcome. They may refer to you in future.
• Recognise mutual freedom of choice, don’t tolerate PIA clients
final rule"• Build a network"• Join specialist societies, they are
full of knowledgeable enthusiasts"• BVZS, AAV, EAAV, ARAV,
AEMV,FVS"
• DON’T JUST TELL A NURSE TO PHONE SUCH AND SUCH FOR ADVICE. COURTESY WHEN ASKING FOR ADVICE REQUIRES THAT YOU MAKE THE CALL"
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• There is considerable worldwide interest in exotic animal medicine and surgery, but its still one the areas where you can get involved and actually do quite advanced work"
• Its enjoyable to be working in an area where you can still make a contribution rather than automatic referral"
• Needs commitment, its not a hobby but it is rewarding for those of who don’t get out much"
Join…..
• h:p://www.bvzs.org
• h:p://www.aemv.org
• h:p://www.arav.org
• h:p://www.aav.org
• h:p://www.fishvetsociety.org.uk
Equipment / toys"• Microscope"
– Slides, slips"• Blood tubes"• Rigid endoscope 1.9 & 2.7mm very handy, even better if fitted with
camera attachments"• Fine ophthalmic-type instruments"• Lonestar retractor, clear drapes"• Radiosurgery -Ellman surgitron, with bipolar forceps "• Surgical loupes 1.5-3.5 is adequate"• Hemoclips very popular for speed"• Monofilament absorbable polyglyconate suture material (often
reactions to catgut)"– Subcuticular closure plus tissue adhesive"
• A quiet kennel area, away from barking dogs, range of heat sources or hot room"
Downsides"• There will be disappointments and a
higher failure rate"– A lot of the species are prey species and they
mask signs till its too late, they give up, the handling or nursing potentially mimic predators ‘playing’ with them"
• There isn’t a return from vaccines, support products and prescription foods"
• Higher incidence of zoonoses"
The plan"• Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"
• Some rules"• Where do vets come in?"
– History taking"– Differences"– Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,
Analgesia"– Euthanasia"
• Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"
History taking
• Done properly these can take Jme, I would normally recommend allowing up to 20-‐30 minutes so do them at the end of a session.
• They are very important and you will oeen learn things
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General Exotics history 1 • Get the history while you are quietly watching the animal from a distance.
• Birds will hide signs but usually only for a short Jme.
• Don’t dive in to handle animals too quickly.
General Exotics history 2"
– Gauge experience – "• How long has the owner kept them, "• how long have they had this animal, "• Where did they get it"
– How many other animals in their collection"– What has the client done, treatments? "– What food is used, when last fed/ate"– Last defaecation/urination "– Cleaning frequency, what do they use"
Reptile history"• Housing"– What temperature range/gradient is provided"– Humidity (most like 50-70%) but desert or
rainforest species may differ. Do they measure it?"– What substrate is used"– How are heat and light provided"
• What type of bulbs, for how long?"– If aquatic how is water quality maintained"– Use of supplements, gut loading or insects?"– Reptiles - Live or dead vertebrate prey used"
Birds history
• Details of cage/aviary – size, substrate cleaning
• Where is the cage, any changes eg pictures on wall, ornaments
• Company, radios, TV • What type of interacJons with family
Some vets have clients fill in a quesJonaire covering all of this first, but handwriJng can test the system! You can use one in surgery as an aide memoire to take you through
initial examination"§ Visual exam - CCTV is very
useful!"§ Try to have everything you will
need to hand"§ Catch and carry out a thorough
physical exam"§ Palpate bones, check orifices"§ Assess nutritional status and
condition "§ Assess breathing after release"
What can vets do
• Provide scienJfic support • Access to labs – blood work, microbiology etc
• Vet equipment – Rads, CT, ultrasound
• Drugs • Surgery – key to this is anaesthesia
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Blood sampling"• Blood tesJng
• Ventral tail vein in lizards and snakes
Blood sample birds Brachial vein isn’t good, its quite mobile and needs the bird rock steady
Right jugular is excellent, with a good featherless tract over it and oeen the bird can be held in one hand and bled with the other
Toe nail clips can be used for DNA tests
Blood sampling fish Veterinary Diagnostic techniques"
• Radiography • CT • Ultrasound
Bird rads Fish rads
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Shark spine invesJgaJon Aeer taking the history
• Need to think about species/genus specific info – Clinical anatomy – generally similar but different enough to merit checking!
– Relevant physiology – reproducJve especially – Temperature requirements
Anatomy & Physiology
• There is bewildering variaJon, don’t assume too much
• Unless you actually keep them, rely on general biology, veterinary background and research.
• Use books • Use the Internet
Clinical anatomy
One way lizard breath
• The upper image is a colorized CT scan showing different airways in the lung of a monitor lizard. The bo:om image shows how air flows in a mostly one-‐way loop through the lizard's lung, as measured by sensors implanted as part of a University of Utah study. Note how the air flows through adjacent lateral airways (blue and purple) by moving through perforaJons in the airways' walls.
• it is possible that one-‐way airflow evolved independently about 30 million years ago in the ancestors of monitor lizards and about 250 million years ago in the archosaurs, the group that gave rise to alligators, dinosaurs and birds.
• More lizard species, such as geckos and iguanas need to be examined in the same way
Cardiac flow • Three chambered heart, allows selecJve flow around the pulmonary circuit. The pulmonary flow increases with sympatheJc sJmulaJon
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ReproducJon Basics • Egg layers & live bearing – Oviparous, ovo-‐viviparous, and viviparous – Egg laying is usually late spring early summer, with hatchlings appearing mid-‐late summer
– There are some which simply retain eggs and hatch them internally. • Pythons lay eggs, and boas produce live young • Montaine species of chameleons produce live young • There are known to be a small number of snakes which swap between laying eggs or internal incubaJon depending on climate
temperatures"• preferred optimal temperature zone (POTZ)
for reptiles is generally considered to be 20°C to 25°C in temperate and aquatic species, and 25°C to 35°C in tropical species"
• Generally vivaria are set up to provide a range, "
• Appropriate Temperature Range (ATR)"– Most bask to achieve this"– In the region 20-32oC"– Inactive below 15oC"– Hibernate if maintained at 5-10oC"
Sloughing Cycle of Reptiles"
This process is very prone to ‘disturbance’ due to diet or environment"
AcJvely growing younger snakes shed every 2-‐3 months, mature adults it is 1-‐2 Jmes a year
Reptile anaesthesia • Ideally anaestheJse at the opJmal metabolically acJve temperature.
• Sick ones are oeen dehydrated, rehydrate a bit if possible prior to anaesthesia. – s/c space is limited but can be used. AbsorpJon is slow (hyaluronidase 1500 IU/l helps)
– Intra-‐coelomic is usable, and absorbed quicker • REMEMBER repJles have no diaphragm so don’t put too much in
– Epicoelomic route in chelonia – between pectoral muscles and plastron
Reptile anaesthesia"
Chelonia -‐ Jugular vein, sub carapacial (easiest, using a 27G needle) and dorsal tail vein
• Larger Lizards, snakes and all chelonians"– Propofol i/v 10 mg/kg"– Alfaxalone i/v 5-10mg/kg""
Lizards & snakes ventral tail vein
Injectable is oeen easier and smoother In small individuals i/v can be very difficult • General use i/m"
– Medetomidine & ketamine"• 0.2 + 10mg /kg given i/m"
– Some just use 30-60mg/kg ketamine then add gaseous if it’s a long op or deeper plane required"
Avoid the historical doses of 100mg/kg ketamine in snakes – they can sleep for days"
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Anaesthesia
• A safe anaestheJc is the key to invesJgaJng or solving many issues
• Oeen it is useful to do this early in a case before the animal becomes sicker – To get bloods – Radiographs – biopsies
Reptile anaesthesia • RepJles have a tolerance to anaerobic condiJons, low metabolic rate ie. – can breath hold prodigiously! Especially aquaJc species
• So – masking or anaestheJc chambers work on snakes and lizards – albeit slowly (10-‐20 min), but not chelonia
• When using gas to induce a flow isn’t needed. Fill the container (5% iso, or 8% sevo) and observe.
• Can assess righJng and pinch reflexes. If using ziplock bags for small lizards etc can do this through the bag.
• Can then intubate when anaestheJsed – range of modified catheters and et tubes (Cook) Tracheal rings may be complete (chelonia & crocs) or incomplete (snakes & lizards) – its not consistent – DON’T USE CUFFED TUBES.
• Snakes are easier than lizards to tube • Lidocaine on glovs helps • Chelonia have a proximal tracheal bifurcaJon so you cannot use a long tube
• PosiJve pressure venJlaJon is needed since they lose voluntary acJvity. They have no diaphragm so no movement of skeletal muscles = no respiratory movement
• Connect to a T-‐piece and use manual IPPV, VERY gently. Or use a Vetronics VenJlator. – With tortoises look for movement of the front legs as an indicator.
• Work on about 5-‐6 breaths per minute iniJally Jll depth is OK, then can reduce to 2-‐3.
• About 3% isoflurane is usually fine • Because of pulmonary bypass, for prolonged anaestheJcs
some prefer to use injectables but maintain on IPPV oxyge
• ConJnuous monitoring of cloacal temperature is useful • Pinch reflexes on toes and tail are OK, snakes recover from
tail forwards! • Corneal reflex is no use. Generally it remains throughout • 8MHz doppler probe over the heart is the most useful
monitor, ECG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry and capnography aren’t useful – too variable
Stolen from Aidan Raeery, showing the Vetronic venJlator
Surgical Jps • Use paramedian approach – there is a big vein median
• Catgut is non absorbable for repJles, use vicryl • Scales won’t heal, evert skin
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levels of dehydration"
Maintenance rates average at 50ml/kg/day ie. 5ml per 100g"When rehydrating estimate the deficit and on day one give 50% + maintenance requirement and repeat on day two"
At about 10% start to think i/v!
Recovery
• RepJles can do death impressions, leave then 24hrs at least.
• Recover at 24-‐26 oC, most prefer a warm room to sivng them on pads (water recirculaJng heat mats are OK)
• The CO2 in a warm room will help, most get over venJlated and somewhat respiratory suppressed due to high oxygen. Mouth-‐to-‐mouth isn’t recommended!
• Maintain at 26-‐28oC for a while as thermoregulaJon is oeen compromised for a while
Reptile analgesia"• Clinical signs of pain can be difficult to interpret.
• RepJles do possess an opioid system but responses vary from those of mammals.
• Acute pain oeen causes vigorous acJvity at the Jme – eg. Escape from injecJon
• Chronic pain tends to lead to immobility
RepJle analgesia
• Non-‐steroidals (NSAIDS) – by injecJon – 0.2mg /kg meloxicam every 24-‐48hrs – Or – 2mg/kg ketoprofen every 24-‐48hrs
• NSAIDS – by mouth – 5 days meloxicam at 0.2mg/kg then reduce to every other day (one study in ball pythons at 0.3mg/kg showed poor results)
RepJle analgesia
• Used frequently – Butorphanol 0.5-‐1mg/kg • Variable depending on receptor type Mu or kappa, varies between Families and even genera – Values recorded 0.4-‐28mg/kg in a range of species – One study showed effects at 1.5 or 8mg/kg
Avian anaesthesia • My personal preference is masking with isoflurane about 3%
• Get everything ready first • Get on with it • Watch the recovery from handling
• I suspect that birds have died whilst vets set up monitoring equipment.
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Avian lung Avian analgesia
A lot of variaJon between birds • Butorphanol at 1-‐2mg/kg i/m appears useful where severe pain is considered -‐ although depression is reported in various raptors eg gyrfalcons and owls.
• meloxicam is the NSAID of choice. – 0.3-‐0.5mg/kg i/m, i/v PO twice a day
Fish anaesthesia
60-‐ 80 µg/kg medetomidine combined with 5-‐10 mg/kg ketamine
Veterinary Support techniques"• Nursing
Tubing repJles
• Easier than birds since you can see the larynx easily • With snakes go slowly and keep the first third of the body verJcal for a minute or so aeerwards.
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Tubing birds"• Easy for right handers"• Bird facing you"• Go from birds left (your right)"• Across and down towards
your left hip"• See the tip of the tube in
place"• Have someone check for
TWO tubes ie. trachea and feeding tube"
From Ritchie et al
Tube feeding
Gently express the dose"Gently and slowly remove the tube"Keep the bird upright for a few moments for swallowing reflexes to operate"
passerines"
• Passerines have a small/absent crop to small amounts often are the rule"
• Rubber tubes work well"
• Have swabs etc available to clean up if they regurgitate"
calorific support"• Fluids ""
– Maintenance: 50 ml/kg/day"– Replace the deficit over 2-4 days."– May be split between oral and parenteral
routes."• Calories"
– Metabolic Energy re (MER"– 1.5 x k x (BW in kg)0.75"
• K= 78 for parrots etc"• k-= 129 for passerines"
• 200 kcal/kg/day is a useful rule of thumb while you find a 12 year old with a calculator"
• Increase for small birds and decrease for big ones"• Frequency: depends on crop size (3 -5% BW v/w)
and patient tolerance; may feed up to 8 x/day"
volume"Generally the oral route is
preferred, bolus dosing at 25ml/kg per feed rough rule of thumb"
"Alternatively:" budgies 0.5-1 ml" cockatiel 2.5ml-5ml " African grey 8-10ml " macaw 10-15ml "
Euthanasia
• RepJles – Take them away from the owner for collecJon another day
– Sedate using gas or ketamine, then i/v pentobarb – Doppler useful to confirm that the heart has stopped.
– Pith via the foramen magnum, nostril or roof of the mouth – oeen unsightly haemorrhage
– Keep warm 24hrs to allow drugs to work then consider freezing
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Euthanasia
• Birds – i/v pentobarb
• Fish – AquaSed – i/v pentobarb for big koi or larger
The plan"• Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"
• Some rules"• Where do vets come in?"
– History taking"– Differences"– Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,
Analgesia"– Euthanasia"
• Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"
Feeding"
Feeding snakes
• Hatchlings start on fluffy mice, one every 5-‐6 days and graduate up to an adult mouse every 7-‐10 days as they grow. Very large snakes may require 2 adult mice per feed or even the introducJon of larger prey items such as rats, Guinea Pigs and small rabbits. You may also feed a mature Royal Python on day old chicks to provide a variaJon in diet.
• Do not feed the snake with live food, even a small mouse may bite or injure the snake. Shop brought frozen rodents are available from most pet shops or bought over the internet; these can be thawed to room temperature and make an excellent all round food for your snake. Wild rodents carry parasites and should be avoided at all Jmes.
• Never handle a snake straight aeer a feed, as it will regurgitate its meal. It is recommend to leave your Royal at least 48 hours aeer feeding before handling. Snakes that are preparing to shed their skin, rarely feed unJl aeer they have shed.
Leopard gecko feeding"
Remember"• No UV, rely on dietary vitamin D3"• Active forager, nocturnal"
• Dusted crickets are the staple, (juveniles about 5 a day), adults will take 9-10 three times a week. "
• Mealworms, waxworms etc even pinkies provide some variety but are high fat "
Bearded dragon feeding "
Wild dragons look for higher protein and so are mainly insectivorous but as they grow their needs change and they start taking leafy material, fruits and even flowers. ""Eventually as adults they are up to 90% herbivores"• Juveniles - crickets 2-3 times a day, also offer chopped
vegetables & fruit"• Adults - dark green leafy vegetables eg. lettuce, collard,
endive, spinach plus carrots, fruit"• Complete diets not more than 50% of daily ration "
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Tortoise feeding
A balanced (not necessarily natural) diet for tortoises (particularly Testudo spp.) • Leafy weeds and grasses eg. Dandelion, clover,
plantain, cress, watercress, coriander, pea leaves and pods, timothy grass, alfalfa"
• Salad leaves tend to have higher water content so weight for weight contribute less nutrients, but otherwise they are fine"
• Small amounts of fruit"• Calcium - cuttlebone, crushed egg shell and
NUTROBAL. The calcium content of many vegetables can be increased by liming the vegetable patch prior to, and during growth."
Feeding"• Don’t just chuck it a bowl of
seed because it might be a parrot!"
• Find out what it is and what it eats"
• Try to get the receptionist to find out the species first. Then check it when you see it, eg Amazon grey, and African green parrots"
Cage bird diets"
Seedeaters"(grit)"
softbills"
budgie"canary" parrots"
insectivores"nectar feeders"
Millet"+ "
canary seed"
oily seeds, canary seed, millet"
Sunflower, milo, fruit,
bread, milk, honey, meat!"
Nectars, bovril,
complan "
Mealworms, fruit,special mixes, egg"
Identify the bird, look at beak shape for clues!
Beak shapes"
• This is a quickie guide, not cast in stone. "
• Birds will die if you don’t find the right food"
• Identify the bird and use the internet"
Sunflower seed"
High fat"Low in everything else – especially when stored
State flower of Kansas"Huge amount grown in Russia etc
Vine House grow their own here ie. they are fresher and better
Seeds - what’s missing?"• Protein (amino acids)
lysine, methionine"• Vitamins
A, D3, riboflavin, B12, E, K, pantothenic acid, niacin, biotin, choline"
• Mineralscalcium, sodium"
• Trace elementsiron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, selenium"
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Metabolic bone disease"Iguana iguana"Naturally herbivorous as adult, but omnivore when young"
Metabolic bone disease"Soft shell"Lumpy shell"
Complex inter-relationship between protein intake/calcium/phosphorus/growth rate and humidity"
Calcium issues"
Failure to mineralise bones properly"African greys especially:"
" rickets & folding fractures"
Tetany especially around the time of laying," convulsions etc. especially African greys"
Metabolic bone disease"
Avoid metabolic bone disease"
Juveniles" Adults"
Calcium : Phosphorus ratios""FOOD " "Calcium% "Phosphorus % " "Ca:P ratio""Mealworms " "0.0008 " "0.0112 " " " 0.07:1""Locusts " " "0.001 " "0.0075 " " " 0.13:1""Earthworms " "0.95" " "0.95" " " " "1:1""""Whole Sardines "0.15" " "0.975 " " " 0.02:1""Horse meat " "0.01" " "0.24" " " " 0.04:1""Beef muscle " "0.011 " "0.188 " " " 0.06:1""Chicken muscle "0.012 " "0.201 " " " 0.06:1""Beef liver" " "0.008 " "0.352 " " " 0.02:1""White fish fillet" "0.0022"
""Oranges " " " " " " " " " " 1.74 :1""Grapes " " " " " " " " " " 0.50 :1""Bananas " " " " " " " " " " 0.24 :1""Lettuce " " " " " " " " " " 0.86 :1""Iceberg lettuce " " " " " " " " 1.30 :1""Carrots " " " " " " " " " " 1.50 :1""Tomato " " " " " " " " " " 0.62 :1!
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Misconceptions"• A day old chick was part of an egg
yesterday and doesn’t equate nutritionally with a whole bird carcase"
• A lab rodent doesn’t equate to a wild rodent"
• Mealworms and crickets do not equate with‘wild’insects"
• Animals don’t have a balanced diet on a daily basis"
Ultra-violet light"
Some commercial full spectrum bulbs have been linked with cataract formation"
If bulbs with a good UV component are used then full spectrum multivits may only be needed 3 x a week, and a simple calcium source on the others."Otherwise use them daily. "
h:p://www.uvguide.co.uk
Vetark Products to be aware of"
CCF & Reptoboost are used nursing sick reptiles or tortoises which have not started eating after hibernation"
Ark-Klens for cleaning vivaria"
Final take home messages DO NOT SUPPLY IVOMEC FOR TORTOISES OF
ANY SPECIES
DON’T USE CLIPPERS ON PARROT BEAKS