One of the biggest, and scariest, blunder people make is getting a pet without being able to correctly identify it especially when it comes to Turtles & Tortoises 🐢

The number of times we have heard the horrifying tale of a tortoise that died due to drowning because it was mistaken for a turtle… sighs

So today, on #WorldSeaTurtleDay, we are sharing this lovely picture we got on WhatsApp to help everyone understand the difference 🙂

Do not forget to share this with and help save some lives.

Repost @thephoenixvets #thephoenixvets #turtle #turtles #turtlesofinstagram #turtle🐢 #turtlepower #tortoise #tortoisesofinstagram #tortoises #tortoiselife #tortoiseshell #reptilesofinstagram #reptiles #reptile #reptilelover #reptilelove #jasleenspetcare #exoticpetsofinstagram #exoticvetsofinstagram #exotics #exoticpets #exoticvetmed #exoticvet #exoticpetvet #exotic #exoticanimalmedicine #pets #repost #instagood https://www.instagram.com/p/CBf7Jy0gu5L/?igshid=1um17ar32mfl4

NEVER SHAVEDOWN YOUR HUSKY. 1. Double coat: A husky’s double coat acts as insulation from the cold and the heat. This is absolutely necessary for the husky to maintain proper insulation and body temperature. 2. Skin cancer: Dogs do not have skin pigmentation. Direct exposure of the husky’s skin to sunlight can lead to skin cancer. 3. Sweating: Dogs don’t sweat to lose heat. Shaving the husky’s hair will not help it maintain the body temperature. They lose heat through panting and losing heat through their paws. 4. Post Shavedown hair: Once you shave your husky’s hair, it will never regrow the same. The top and bottom coat will never look the same post a shavedown. 5. Hairfall and allergies: If you are worried about your husky shedding too much or being allergic to his hair, a shavedown WILL NOT HELP. The hairfall or the allergy (which is because of dander on hair and not the hair itself) is more because of underlying causes like a bad diet or an infection. Unless these are dealt with, no amount of shavedowns will help. Bottom line, DO NOT SHAVE YOUR HUSKY. . PC: @snow.blue.alpha (I mean just look at that royal pose 💙💙) @gkvarma . . #siberianhusky #siberianhuskiesofinstagram #siberian_husky_world_feature #siberianhuskypuppy #siberianhuskyworld #siberianhusky_feature #siberianhuskies #siberianhuskyofinstagram #siberianhuskylove #husky #huskies #huskiesofinstagram #huskypuppy #huskylove #huskylife #huskynation #huskylovers #jasleenspetcare #huskygram #huskyworld #huskyofinstagram #huskyphotography #huskypics #huskylover #huskypuppies #huskydog #huskypup #huskylover #huskyheaven #allvet (at Allvet Pet Clinic) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQpU_vgv40/?igshid=10jwaausl0mdq

🐾 In simple terms, NO. DON’T GIVE YOUR PET ALCOHOL. 🐾 This may sound like a pretty obvious answer but the number of times I’ve been asked this question made me realise I need to post about it. 🐾 It may sound tempting to give your pet a few sips of alcohol when you’re having a party at home and he is going around asking for treats. 🐾 Pets do not handle alcohol well. It doesn’t take much to cause toxicity in a small pet. 🐾 Hard liquors in particular can cause toxicity in small quantities too. 🐾 Most beers use something called hops. This is what causes more of an intoxication in pets. 🐾 Alcohol can affect the central nervous system of dogs, just like in humans. 🐾 It can cause vomitings, incoordination, drooling, panting, increased heart rate, hypoglycemia, etc. 🐾 It can also lead to organ failure if it crosses the tolerable levels. 🐾 Remember, it isn’t just the type of alcohol that matters. It is also your pet’s size and weight that plays a role. 🐾 If you want to give your pet something to drink, there are many alcohol free beers available for pets. 🐾 Do not give human alternatives as they may contain artificial sweeteners which can cause more harm. 🐾 If your pet drinks alcohol, contact your vet immediately. . The absolutely gorgeous lady with me in this pic is @kitakaturi who can outshine all of us on any day 🥰😍 . . #alcohol #alcoholic #alcoholfree #alcoholism #beer #beerlover #wine #winelover #liquor #booze #jasleenspetcare #petcare #vetmed #vet #vetlife #doglife🐾 #dogblogger #pets #petcare #petblogger #instagood #instacat #instadog #paws #pawsome #doglife #dogstagram #dogsofinstagram #dogsofinsta (at Allvet Pet Clinic) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGTOh3giUU/?igshid=10lman2oh0o09

🐾 Raw diets are something which are very well marketed. Almost all raw diet companies try and point out that dogs are descendants of wolves and need raw diets as normal diet 🐾 What you should remember is, wolves are not domesticated. Dogs are. And generations of breeding has led to genetic adaptations to diets having meat and starch. 🐾 Dogs need a well balanced diet which the pet food industry meets. This is based on a lot of scientific research and backing. 🐾 While raw diets are becoming popularity in the recent times, there isn’t enough scientific and long term data to back it up. 🐾 Raw food diets not only fail to meet the nutrient requirements of pets (calcium, phosphorus and essential vitamins); they also lead to high chances of bacterial infections like salmonellosis. 🐾 Salmonella is zoonotic and can affect humans who handle raw food too. 🐾 Recent studies have shown that most of the salmonella infections caused through raw diets are resistant to most antibiotics. 🐾 Along with this, raw diets may also include bobes which can cause internal injuries and obstruction. 🐾 If you still want to feed your pet raw diets (NOT RECOMMENDED), freeze the meat and thaw it in a microwave when you’re feeding it to your pet. This may not kill all the bacteria, but it may still help. . . Post reference from @hillspet @hills.pets . Special thanks to @gkvarma for the topic suggestion and to @snow.blue.alpha for the amazing picture . . #nutrition #raw #rawfood #rawfeddog #rawfooddiet #rawfeeding #rawfoods #rawfed #pets #petblogger #nutritionist #nutritiontips #nutritional #nutritionfacts #dogs #dogs_of_instagram #jasleenspetcare #husky #huskypuppy #huskiesofinstagram #huskies #foodstagram #foodies #foodie #food #foodforthought #eatright #eathealthy #myths (at Allvet Pet Clinic) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5Vhw_gyjn/?igshid=1hsbmxoqkyw9

Cat Nutrition Part 2: 🐾 There are many options available for cats- dry food, wet/gravy options and can food. 🐾 Coming to raw food. Many people believe raw food in itself is enough for cats. While that may be true for wild cats and felines, it is not true for domestic cats. 🐾 When owners talk about raw food, they only mean raw meat. While this may meat the protein requirements of the cat, it will not meet the calcium requirements. When cats hunt and eat their prey in the wild, they eat the entire animal, including the bones. They are used to a different kind of diet and lifestyle. This is not possible for domesticated cats. In addition to this, the raw food can also lead to a number of diseases and infections like toxoplasmosis, salmonellosis, e.coli, etc. 🐾 Dry food is most economical for pet owners and is also easily available and easy to give. Most cats will eat dry fruit without a fuss if they have been used to it since the kitten stage. Dry food however can have a very high carbohydrate content and a very low (5-10%) water content. This can be problematic in cats which have kidney problems or urinary infections as they already drink less water than needed. The high carbohydrate is another thing which is bad for their health. It is important to check the ingredients of the dry food carefully before buying the pack. 🐾 Most cat food companies emphasize on chicken, tuna, salmon, etc (meat source). But they don’t talk about the actual protein, fat or carbohydrate content. Or about the nutrient value and availability. Cheaper cat food brands usually have a higher carbohydrate content and added flavours which aren’t the best for cats. 🐾 Wet or gravy food is higher in water content as compared to dry food. But the gravy has added fats (mostly unwanted fats) to get the texture and thickness. 🐾 Can food is the most expensive option but it is also the best. It has the highest water content and the lowest carbohydrate content. It is a good source of protein and fat. 🐾 Ideally, if your cat is on a balanced diet, he/she will not need any added supplements. 🐾 Remember to keep a source of fresh water for your cat at all times. (at Allvet Pet Clinic) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAFZsOqguE0/?igshid=ebrixpkngau7

Cat nutrition Part 1: 🐾 Cats are complicated animals when it comes to food and nutrition. 🐾 Cats are carnivores and need a meat based diet to get essential nutrients like taurine, arachidonic acid, etc which are important and essential for their normal growth and functioning. 🐾 IT IS IMPORTANT THAT CATS ARE NOT MAINTAINED ON A VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN DIET. 🐾 It can be tricky and time consuming to formulate a balanced diet for cats at home. It is better to opt for a commercially available diet as it provides all the essential amino acids, trace minerals and nutrients required. 🐾 Cats rely on raw food for their main water source. They rarely ever drink water. But it is still important to provide them with fresh water at all times. 🐾 While dry food does not meet the water requirements of the cat, it also doesn’t make the cat more thirsty than normal. This can make the cat get dehydrated easily and can also lead to a concentrated urine which in-turn leads to urinary tract infections. 🐾 As mentioned, cats rely on raw food for their source of water. But raw diet isn’t ideal for them as it increases chances of toxoplasmosis and infections which can be fatal. 🐾 Cats need a high protein, moderate fats and low to no carbohydrate diet. 🐾 The main source of the proteins and fats should be from meat. Vegetarian sources are not well digested by cats and they can’t absorb or convert the nutrients from vegetarian sources. 🐾 A low carbohydrate diet is essential for cats as carbohydrates get converted to sugars which are not required by the body. 🐾 Milk is another thing that should be avoided. Most cats are lactose intolerant and develop gastric issues when given milk. . . @sophietheprincess178 @nehajacob18 @gaurikava @seema_mohanchandran @remgnair @sujsplint #catlover #cats_of_day #catblogger #catsofinstagram #catfood #cat #catstagram #catblog #catsofinstagram #catlove #catsogram #cats_of_instagram #catlovers #cats #catlife #catworld #cats_of_instworld #caturday #kittens #jasleenspetcare #kittensofinstagram #kitty #kitten #kittens #kittycat #kittylove #kittenlove #kittygram #kitties https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9s3GBAIzJ/?igshid=1qbnjdfyzj1nk

Jsyk, they say the second wave in the US is going to hit between September and November, most likely. Stay safe and keep washing your friggin’ hands!

Remember to stay aware of your local safety measures, which can be found on the official government sites for your states, provinces, or territories.

Some interesting facts:

Moral of the story: even if your state “opens up”, stay home if you are able. If not, wear a mask, wash your hands, and practice social distancing.

Articles like this are what cause panic amongst the general public. Despite throwing in statements about how panicked owners are killing their pets out of fear of the virus spreading from animals, they still thought this headline was appropriate.

This is the dog that tested “weak positive” to the virus, starting the idea that pets could potentially act as a fomite (a physical vector for a disease to be carried around and spread) for COVID-19. The dog was non-symptomatic. The owner, however, was tested positive. It is thought that the dog likely picked up contaminants from the environment in the home, hence the weak positive.

This article repeatedly subtly insinuates that the virus killed the dog... despite multiple medical bodies stating over and over that there is no evidence that cats and dogs can catch this strain of corona virus.

The dog was 17 and likely had other co-morbidities. It’s infinitely more likely that one of those caused it to pass away, than COVID-19.

Infuriating.

Dash x-rays

Dash has elbow dysplasia. :( Poor guy. We discussed surgery as a possible option or physical therapy and medical management. I think we are going to do medical management first and see how that goes. We got Deramaxx (12.5mg/day) and Flexadin and some information for management. Overall not fabulous but definitely a manageable condition.

Sam x-rays

Turned out just to be scar tissue on Sam. His increase in activities could have caused the tenderness. X-rays look okay to me but I'm no radiologist. Nothing blatant for sure. (To me)

Pet euthansia without the owners

So our hospital (and many many others) are now not letting clients into the practice due to COVID19 and lockdown in the UK. This means non essential travel and physical distancing measures are strictly in place with police patrols.

So that means clients must not enter the building at all... Even for euthanasias. Which means they have to say goodbye to their friend at home and in the car, and then we have to take them inside.

We know this is awful, we’ve all said we couldn’t even think about it if that’s how we’d have to euthanase one of our own pets. But it’s way above our heads and those are the rules that have been set 😣 No one is okay with it but times are strange and awful at the moment.

But, and there have been atleast 10+ euthanasias in the last week, what it does mean is that someone gets to be designated cuddler and lots of other free vets/nurses become distracters or head rubbers or chin scratchers because it’s the least we can do.

I had a labrador on my lap on Thursday and another nurse fed him the biggest bowl of food (because even when critically ill, this lab still was a lab at heart and food was the best thing in the world!) whilst the vet gave the injection.

Every place I’ve worked, if we hear that a pet is being put to sleep without an owner present, there is ALWAYS someone who volunteers to be mum/dad in those moments, to give all the cuddles and love and food (sometimes our lunch, sometimes the cheese from the fridge) and to make sure that pet knows they are loved. Even if it’s horribly sad for us too.

So I’m not sure what the point of this post was but maybe just to say that if this has to happen with your pet, and you can’t be there, they are not alone, and we try our best to make them comfortable and happy in those last moments.

And that we’re really, really sorry.

Feather destructive behaviour in parrots

(I’m sure everyone on birblr knows all about FDB, but I wrote this up for one of my vet med school assignments and thought I’d share since I haven’t posted in a while because of finals!)

Feather destructive behaviour, also known as “feather-plucking” or “feather-picking”, is a common problem in which captive parrots chew on, damage, and/or pull out their own feathers. Affected areas usually include the neck and breast regions, but can involve feathers on any body part that the parrot can reach with its beak. If left unchecked, parrots may also progress to mutilating their skin. This compromises the ability of a parrot to regulate their body temperature, which can lead to skin infections or other severe secondary problems.

Feather destructive behaviour is generally caused by medical or behavioural factors. Medical causes are most often related to skin and feather health, but can include other physical illnesses related to an inappropriate diet, poisoning, or infection. To rule out any of these causes, veterinarians perform comprehensive physical examinations and laboratory diagnostics to test the parrot’s blood and droppings. If the results of the exam and testing are unable to suggest a clear medical cause, then behavioural causes must be considered. With behavioural causes, stress often lies at the root of feather destructive behaviour, and can be caused by boredom, sleep deprivation, sexual frustration, or anything else in the environment that the parrot perceives to be persistently distressing.

Boredom, or a lack of physical and mental stimulation, can be attributed to a lack in number or variety of appropriate toys that encourage natural parrot behaviours. It is ideal to provide multiple toys within the cage and to rotate them on a weekly basis to ensure that a parrot stays interested and does not get tired of them. Alternatively, removing a toy that the parrot is especially attached to can also be stressful. Toys that encourage foraging behaviour (i.e., hiding pellets or treats) allow the parrot to work for its food and keep it occupied for longer periods. Foraging decreases the chances that a parrot will spend its spare time biting and chewing at its feathers. Owners can even opt to slowly switch from feeding their parrot all of its daily food in a bowl to hiding it inside foraging toys. Another form of mental stimulation for parrots includes training. Parrots are very intelligent and can be taught many different “tricks” and behaviours. Training sessions are another opportunity for a parrot to keep itself busy and figure out alternative ways of obtaining food.

A lack of social interaction, either with the parrot’s favourite human(s) or another bird, can also be a contributing factor in feather destructive behaviour. If a parrot must be left alone in its cage for hours at a time (i.e., while the owner is away at work), leaving the television or radio on at a quiet volume may help keep it stimulated and entertained. For parrots that are especially bonded to their owners, voice recordings or video clips may be helpful. Giving the parrot a view by putting its cage by a window may also provide some stimulation, as long as it is placed in a low-traffic area (salespeople knocking on doors, squirrels climbing onto windowsills, etc. can spook some birds). Other sources of stress include other pets, especially those that parrots may perceive as predator animals (i.e., cats and dogs), excessive noise, seasonal changes, sudden changes within the home, unwanted attention from strangers and/or children, and jealousy due to the owner giving more attention to a partner, family member, etc.

Sometimes, owners may sexually frustrate their parrots without realizing it. Mirrors are not an appropriate toy for birds, as some may not be able to understand that their reflection is not real and will try to obsessively court and mate with it, which can result in the bird becoming frustrated when the reflection does not reciprocate. Owners should also be mindful when petting or scratching their parrots, as doing so in certain spots can be sexually stimulating to a bird. In the wild, most parrots will groom or preen the head and neck feathers of their friends only – touching below the neck only occurs between mated pairs. A parrot with an owner who pets it on its back, belly, and wings will become confused, think that the owner wants to become its mate, and become sexually frustrated. This can result in feather destructive behaviour, and altered hormone levels can also predispose to illnesses and infections.

As a last resort, a veterinarian can prescribe behaviour-modifying drugs to try and reduce feather destructive behaviour. However, drug therapy will work best when combined with the behavioural and environmental modification plans described above. Drug therapy used alone is often not a cure. The same goes for devices such as collars, which can temporarily prevent a parrot from being able to reach its feathers with its beak. Although these collars will not get rid of the underlying cause, they can be helpful especially in severe cases in which parrots regularly damage their own skin. If feather destructive behaviour persists despite every treatment attempt, a parrot can live with having a collar on permanently, although the owner will then need to monitor closely to make sure that it is still able to move and eat normally.

Prognosis depends on how much time and effort the owner is able to commit to mitigating stress, how long the parrot has been engaging in feather destructive behaviour, and how severe the damage is. Sometimes, due to permanent damage to the feather follicles, feathers may never grow back even if the parrot stops picking its feathers. However, if the behaviour does not stop completely, even a minor decrease and some feather re-growth can be considered a success.

References:

Costa, P., Macchi, E., Tomassone, L., Ricceri, F., Bollo, E., Scaglione, F. E., Tarantola, M., De Marco, M., Prola, L., Bergero, D. and Schiavone, A. 2016. Feather picking in pet parrots: sensitive species, risk factor and ethological evidence. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 15(3): 473-480. Doi: 10.1080/1828051X.2016.1195711

Gaskins, L. A. and Hungerford, L. 2014. Nonmedical factors associated with feather picking in pet psittacine birds. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 28(2): 109-117. Doi: 10.1647/2012/073r

Jenkins, J. 2001. Feather picking and self-mutilation in psittacine birds. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 4(3): 651-667. Doi: 10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30029-4

Rubinstein, J. and Lightfoot, T. 2014. Feather loss and feather destructive behavior in pet birds. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 17(1): 77-101. Doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2013.10.002

Van Zeeland, Y. R. A. and Schoemaker, N.J. 2014. Plumage disorders in psittacine birds – part 2: feather damaging behaviour. European Journal of Companion Animal Practice, 24(2): 24-36.

Van Zeeland, Y. R. A., Spruit, B. M., Rodenburg, T. B., Riedstra, B., Van Hierden, Y. M., Buitenhuis, B., Korte, S. M. and Lumeij, J. T. 2009. Feather damaging behaviour in parrots: a review with consideration of comparative aspects. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 121(2): 75-95. Doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2009.09.006

Jsyk, they say the second wave in the US is going to hit between September and November, most likely. Stay safe and keep washing your friggin’ hands!

Remember to stay aware of your local safety measures, which can be found on the official government sites for your states, provinces, or territories.

Some interesting facts:

Moral of the story: even if your state “opens up”, stay home if you are able. If not, wear a mask, wash your hands, and practice social distancing.