Health Checks
Even though it is not necessary to vaccinate your pet terrapins it is a good idea to schedule yearly routine health checks for your pet. Like many other ‘exotic’ pets your terrapin may only show obvious signs of illness when they become very ill, so by the time your pet looks sick the disease may be very advanced.
At a regular check our vet will discuss the general management, environment and diet of your pet as 90% of the problems a pet terrapin will develop are generally due to a problem in one of these categories. Infectious disease is quite rare in captive terrapins. In the wild a terrapin can generally move to the environment which suits it the most, but in captivity the owner must provide everything it needs in its enclosure.
The specific needs of your pet terrapin depend upon which species it is. Accurately identifying the species of your terrapin is very important. If you are unsure about the species you own please book an appointment and bring your pet for a health check.
During the consultation we may be able to identify your terrapin for you, but if not we will take photographs and send them to other experts who can provide further help with identification.
We would normally recommend yearly health checks for your terrapin in order to review the husbandry and management of your pet. Terrapins can often look ‘normal’ even when they are sick therefore out vets may also suggest further diagnostics like x-rays or blood testing if we suspect there is a problem, so that we can hopefully treat the problems before they become serious for your pet.
Once you have made the appointment please make sure that you, or whoever is bringing in the pet, has all the information as follows:
- What symptoms is it showing, if any
- What food your pet is fed on, including any snacks and supplements.
- Any medicines that may have been given to your pet (please bring in the packets or containers).
- What is the origin of your pet and what animals has it been in contact with.
- What the urine & faeces (poop) are both normally and presently like.
- What heating & lighting is being used.
That the owner or a decision maker will be available on the telephone if they cannot come in.
Older Terrapin Health Checks
If your animal is very old and becoming frail, or has specific healthcare needs, your vet may suggest more frequent checks.
We would normally recommend yearly health checks for your terrapins in order to review the husbandry and management of your pet. Terrapins can often look ‘normal’ even when they are sick therefore our vets may also suggest further diagnostics like x-rays or blood testing if we suspect your terrapin has a problem, so that we can hopefully treat the problems before they become serious for your pet.
As some species can live to be very old (for example over 50 years for diamondback terrapins) you should think carefully before taking one on!