Building up the menagerie…
Vet Laura Frost takes a look at some more unusual pets, how best to care for them and common problems. This month, the bearded dragon and the bunny...
Bearded dragons
Bearded dragons are now the most common reptiles to be seen in my practice. They grow up to 60cm in length and can live 7-12 years in captivity. Just like all unusual pets, having the correct diet and habitat is crucial to their health. Unfortunately a lot of people buy them with little knowledge of their needs. Here are my top tips for a healthy dragon!
■ Solitary living – In the wild they live alone, so if possible they should not be kept in groups to avoid dominance issues and fighting.
■ Enclosure size – A vivarium must be AT LEAST 4ft x 2ft x 2ft to allow your bearded friend to have an active lifestyle.
■ Temperature gradient – The enclosure should have both basking and cooling areas to help your dragon to regulate his/her body temperature. Heat pads and spotlights will help to provide a basking spot (although they shouldn’t be in a position to allow direct contact with the scales or your dragon might get burnt). Thermometers are useful to check that a correct temperature gradient in maintained.
■ Light – A light providing UVB is needed for healthy growth. It should be less than 30cm above the animal and switched on for 8-12 hours per day to mimic a normal day/night cycle.
■ Water – This is needed for drinking AND bathing so provide multiple sources (this can include water dropped on suitable plants as this mimics the way they drink in the wild).
■ Habitat – Sand should be used with caution as it can cause gut impaction if your dragon eats it. Logs and rocks are great for them to climb upon and also to wear down their claws.
■ Food – A mixed diet is best. If feeding live insects choose small ones so that they do not attack and hurt the bearded dragon. Dark leafy salad and chopped plant material (dandelions, spring greens and flowers) should make to a large proportion of an adults diet. Juveniles need a higher proportion of insects to provide protein as they grow. Things to watch for A healthy dragon should be alert, bright eyed and not appear thin at the tail base. There should be no faeces around their vent (excretory opening). The ribs and pelvis should not be noticeably sticking out. If there are patches of unshed skin for several days the lizard’s home may not have high enough humidity.
The most common health problems are: ■ Metabolic bone disease ■ Dehydration ■ Parasites ■ Burns from heat source It is worth asking which vet is most familiar with your exotic pet as most practices will have someone particularly fond (and knowledgeable) about each species.
Rabbits
The most important thing to remember when feeding your rabbit is: RABBITS EAT GRASS (hay counts as grass). Rabbits have a very complicated digestive system when compared to the cat and dog. Feeding an appropriate diet is important for both digestive health and dental health. Fibre is the most important component of a rabbit’s diet. The high quality fibre in products such as alfalfa, timothy hay and fresh grass drive the gut, preventing gut stasis. If your rabbit stops passing faeces and seems uncomfortable in its stomach, this may indicate that the gut is bloated or static and requires prompt veterinary treatment. Hay and grass also allow correct wear of their teeth that grow continuously throughout life. Incorrect wear can lead to long teeth that ulcerate the mouth. This is difficult to correct. Prevention is better than cure. In addition to this a rabbit may have a small amount of concentrated food. Try to feed a complete kibble rather than a mixed muesli type food. Rabbits fed on a muesli have a tendency to eat only the tastiest bits (usually the most calorific), which can lead to obesity and incorrect balance of minerals such as calcium and phosphorous. Fresh vegetable and man-made treats should only be given as treats. The best vegetables to feed are broccoli, cabbage, kale, carrot tops and celery. Fruit and sugary treats are only to be given occasionally.
Laura Frost MRCVS MA VetMB is a vet at local veterinary practice Pengelly and Mizen
Pengelly and Mizen Veterinary Surgeons 89-93 Park Road, Peterborough PE1 2TR T: 01733 554953 Emergencies only: 01733 896000 www.pengellyandmizen.co.uk
