Many turtle owners are surprised when a veterinarian recommends a blood test for their pet: ‘A turtle has such a hard shell – can it really have a blood test?’ The answer is absolutely yes, and it is very important. Turtles are experts at hiding illness. By the time visible
If you notice that your tortoise or aquatic turtle has obvious swelling of the leg joints, stiff and abnormal walking, or even stops moving and eating because of severe pain, this may be a very painful reptile disease: gout. Similar to gout in humans, turtle gout is caused by abnormal
Whenever Hong Kong enters autumn and winter and the temperature drops, many turtle owners notice that their pets become less active, hide in corners for long periods, or even stop eating completely. Is reduced appetite in winter a normal natural response to low temperature, or does it indicate serious organ
Many owners of rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters have heard that these pets need to wear down their teeth. But do you know why their teeth grow throughout life? If insufficient tooth wear leads to overgrowth or malocclusion, how serious can the health consequences be? In fact, oral and dental
Many turtle owners often wonder, ‘Why do I rarely see my turtle actively drinking water?’ Some even worry that their turtles may become dehydrated. Whether aquatic turtles or tortoises, body water balance is essential for kidney function, waste metabolism and stone prevention. In common home-care environments in Hong Kong, dryness
Turtles, whether aquatic turtles or tortoises, are long-lived reptile pets, but their organs can still degenerate or become diseased with age, poor environment or inappropriate diet. Kidney disease in turtles, also called renal disease or kidney failure, is a common and hidden life-threatening condition in exotic pet practice. Because turtles
When keeping snakes, geckos, bearded dragons and other reptile pets, if you notice sudden refusal to eat, frequent open-mouth posture, redness and swelling along the lips, or yellow-white cheese-like discharge or pus, this may be a common reptile oral disease: infectious stomatitis, commonly known as mouth rot. Mouth rot causes
Bearded dragons are popular reptile pets in Hong Kong, but many owners may suddenly notice that the tip of the tail gradually darkens, turns black, becomes dry and brittle to the touch, and loses elasticity. This may be a serious reptile condition: tail rot. If tail rot is not treated
Owners of female guinea pigs may notice unusual body-shape changes in their pets, such as the sides of the abdomen gradually bulging into a pear shape, symmetrical hair loss along the flanks, or even unusually irritable behavior. This is not simply weight gain, but may be a very common endocrine
A normally bright and active parrot that suddenly becomes unsteady, squats with weak legs, vomits repeatedly or even develops full-body seizures may be facing one of the most common hidden household dangers for birds: heavy metal toxicity. Parrots are extremely curious and use their beaks to explore objects around them.
