Working with animals on a day-to-day basis has shown us a lot of useful tips and tricks, along with some crucial information that might not be known by most people. As a way of helping people and spreading awareness we have posted this information below.
Anti-Freeze Has Been Responsible for Several Illnesses in Cats
A little known fact is that this is LETHAL to cats in very small doses, only a few laps and it is sweet and palatable to them!
It has already killed many this year. There seem to be little hope after they have drunk.
It appears that last winter many people put this into the pumps operating in their garden ponds. If you did please flush them through with fresh water and dispose safely of the waste. Don't kill the many cats now looking for fresh water during the heat of the day.
Be sensible please.
Tortoises Liable to Suffer
Several people we know have tortoises and they have noticed that although the creatures are in good condition at the end of the summer, they have not put on any weight. This could mean they have a problem to survive the winter in hibernation.
Have you had yours wormed and checked over by the vet yet? Have you worked out what you are going to do if there is a problem. You need to have a plan of action agreed with your vet else you may not see yours wake up next year.
There was a similar problem a few years ago but then we were unprepared for it. It seems that tortoise owners are much more aware of such problems.
For instance, did you know that they need to be wormed directly into the stomach by a vet and that before it hibernates it needs to be starved for three weeks otherwise the food goes rotten in its stomach? Or that if microchipped it must be done by a vet in a leg and then sealed with superglue. Did you know they should be bathed in warm water to assist them to absorb sufficient water? All new to many of us!
We currently have a small Hermans tortoise, only 90 grams, in care and that will have to be kept awake all through the winter in a vivarium with heat and light.
There's more to a tortoise than you would think! They might be slow but that means they are slow to get ill, slow to get better and worse still, slow to die.
Don't let yours suffer, act now. There are people out there who really do know a lot, we don't, our knowledge is only the tip of the iceberg!
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