Wildlife Vet Answers Questions on Animal Behavior and Veterinary Practices
Summary
In this article, we explore the insights shared by wildlife vet, Romain Pets, during his Twitter Q&A session. Pets provides clarity on animal behavior and veterinary practices, including how vets diagnose animals, the use of darts instead of ropes and sponges to anesthetize animals, and the placebo effect on animals. Pets also shares interesting facts about animal anatomy, such as the number of neck bones in giraffes, the shedding and regrowth of crocodile teeth, and the unique communication methods of elephants.
Table of Contents:
- Hippos and their Vegetarian Diet
- Diagnosing Animals
- Anesthetizing Animals
- Placebo Effect on Animals
- Snake Surgery
- Giraffe Horns
- Elephant Memory and Communication
- Big Cats and Domestic Cats
- Pregnancy Tests for Animals
- Crocodile Teeth
- Quickness of Big Cat Attacks
- Fixing Broken Legs of Racehorses
- Safety during Surgeries on Wild Animals
- Conclusion
Hippos and their Vegetarian Diet:
Pets clarifies that hippos are vegetarian and will not eat people, but they can still cause fatal injuries. This is due to their size and strength, which can easily crush a human.
Diagnosing Animals:
Vets diagnose animals by observing their symptoms, even if they can’t talk. Sometimes, animals hide their symptoms to avoid being singled out by predators. Pets emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the behavior of animals to detect any changes that may indicate an underlying medical condition.
Anesthetizing Animals:
Anesthetizing animals has come a long way, and today, darts are used instead of ropes and sponges. This method is safer for both the animal and the vet.
Placebo Effect on Animals:
Pets explains that the placebo effect may work on animals indirectly through the person treating them. He shares how a study showed that dogs can respond to chemotherapeutic drugs, challenging the belief that the placebo effect only works on humans. The placebo effect was observed in animals, where the body reacted to a syrup without a drug in it.
Snake Surgery:
To determine the gender of a snake, sexing probes are used. This is a delicate procedure that requires expertise and precision.
Giraffe Horns:
Pets shares that the purpose of giraffe horns is not entirely known. However, they are believed to play a role in establishing dominance and attracting mates.
Elephant Memory and Communication:
Pets highlights the exceptional memory of elephants and how they use it to navigate their environment. He also shares that elephants from different parts of the world have different ways of communicating, including infrasound.
Big Cats and Domestic Cats:
Big cats have round pupils while normal cats have slit pupils, and the reason is not entirely known. Pets explains that big cats see domestic cats as either competition or prey.
Pregnancy Tests for Animals:
Vets use different methods to determine pregnancy in animals, such as urine tests for orangutans and chimpanzees, feces tests for elephants, and ultrasounds for some animals.
Crocodile Teeth:
Crocodiles have many teeth, which they continue to shed and regrow throughout their lives. This is an adaptation that allows them to replace damaged or worn out teeth.
Quickness of Big Cat Attacks:
Pets shares that big cats are incredibly quick and can attack their prey in a matter of seconds. This is why it’s important to exercise caution when working with these animals.
Fixing Broken Legs of Racehorses:
Fixing broken legs of racehorses is difficult due to the animal’s size and weight. Pets emphasizes the importance of safety during surgeries on wild animals.
Conclusion:
Pets’ Twitter Q&A session provides valuable insights into the complexity and uniqueness of the animal kingdom. From the vegetarian diet of hippos to the exceptional memory of elephants, there is much to learn about animal behavior and veterinary practices. By paying attention to the behavior of animals and using the latest technology and techniques, vets can provide the best possible care for their patients.
