Are turtles good pets? They can be, but they require special care and handling
By Kim Campbell Thornton
With their dark-green shells, green legs with yellow stripes and green heads with a red stripe behind the eye, red-eared sliders are popular pets for kids whose parents may not want to commit to a dog or cat and people interested in reptiles. Problem is, not everyone who gets them realizes that they need a large aquatic environment to thrive. They can also spread salmonella, especially to children, who aren't always careful about washing their hands after handling the shelled reptiles. Here's what you need to know about getting and living with one.
-- Turtles are interesting pets and can have different personalities, but as companions, they are more like fish than dogs. Be sure you or your child have a true interest in them before acquiring one. To learn about them, talk to a veterinarian who is familiar with reptiles or to a turtle rescue organization (an Internet search will turn up many).
-- Tiny turtles are illegal. The sale of turtles with a carapace -- the top of the shell -- smaller than four inches was banned in 1975 because the turtles shed salmonella bacteria. That's a problem when you think about the likelihood of young kids becoming infected after touching the turtles and then putting their fingers -- or even the turtles themselves -- into their mouths. You may see tiny turtles for sale at pet stores, flea markets, swap meets or even online, but always choose one that is legal size or larger.
-- Wait to get a turtle until your child is at least 5 years old. Young children are more susceptible to infection.
-- Turtles need an adequate water habitat. A real or artificial pond is best. You can start them out in a large indoor aquarium, but they need more space as they grow older and bigger.
"They need a place to get out of the water so they can get some sun and completely dry off if they want to, and they need deep enough water so they can swim around," says Scott H. Weldy, DVM, an exotic animal veterinarian at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest, California.
The pond or aquarium must have good filtration so waste products don't build up and make the turtle sick.
-- Females lay eggs with or without the presence of a male. They need to be able to get out of the water and go to an area with dirt or sand where they can dig a hole, lay the eggs and bury them to keep them safe from predators.
-- Unless they live indoors, turtles hibernate in winter. They burrow into the bottom of the pond and wait for spring.
-- Turtles eat a variety of foods. Water hyacinths and elodia are common water plants for ornamental ponds, and turtles are fond of them. They are carnivores, so they also eat worms, fish and crawfish. Avoid keeping your turtle in the same pond with your $300 koi, or you may find that his fins have been nipped or even that he has been eaten if he's on the small side. Commercial pellets are available, but Dr. Weldy recommends feeding a more natural diet and not relying solely on pellets.
-- Use common sense when handling turtles, and teach children how to handle them safely. Salmonella bacteria can live on surfaces for days, so even indirect contact can spread disease. The golden rule? Wash your hands before and after handling your turtle, after cleaning his tank or pond and after feeding him, and keep turtles away from areas where food is prepared.
Q&A
Managing a cat's
recurring UTIs
Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it's driving us both crazy. Help! -- via Facebook
A: Lower urinary tract infections are common in cats, and they can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Possible causes include inflammation, structural defects of the urinary tract and environmental stress.
A complete workup can help determine the best way to proceed. That includes a urinalysis and culture to check for the presence of bacteria, and X-rays to screen for bladder stones. If your cat is a senior with recurring bladder infections, a complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry profile can also be useful diagnostics.
When a cat has recurring cystitis not caused by an obstruction such as a bladder stone and not associated with bacterial infection, medications that may help are those that minimize inflammation and relieve pain, and relax or smooth out the muscle of the urinary tract to relieve frequent or painful urination. Nutraceuticals such as glycosaminoglycans or glucosamine and chondroitin may help as well.
It's also important for your cat to get plenty of water. He may be intrigued by a fountain that provides running water. Feeding canned food is another excellent way to get extra water into your cat. Your veterinarian may recommend a specific diet to help reduce inflammation.
Make environmental changes to reduce stress. Try adding a tall cat tree or window perch for outdoor viewing, build a "catio" so he can get some outdoor time, provide him with puzzle toys that will challenge his mind, and keep his litter box super clean. Give him his food and playtime on a regular schedule so he has something to look forward to. And make sure he's not having conflicts with other pets in the home. If this is a problem, antianxiety medications such as clomipramine may help.
Other strategies may be helpful for individual cats. It can't hurt to try pheromone sprays or diffusers in the home to reduce anxiety, or complementary therapies such as acupuncture provided by a veterinarian with training in that field. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Dog comforts mourners
at funeral home
-- Lulu the Labradoodle has an unusual but important job. She works at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, bringing comfort to mourners. Wearing a vest that identifies her as a therapy dog, she's available for petting or as a comforting presence to people who have lost a loved one. The funeral home already had an aviary. After seeing the sense of calm the presence of a dog brought to frustrated airport travelers, owner Matthew Fiorillo decided a dog might bring peace at a funeral home as well. He credits Lulu with an "uncanny knack" for spotting people who need her, AP reports.
-- Can you check out a cat at your office? You can if you work at Dona Ana County Government Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In cahoots with the Animal Service Center of Mesilla Valley, the county office set up a cat habitat. Adoptable cats lounge in the Kitty Kondo, as it's called, and employees can borrow them for an hour or so to hang out at their desks. The socialization benefits the cats, and so far more than 100 have been adopted. No word on whether fines are levied if cats are returned late.
-- In case you've been wondering, here are some ways you and your office mates can celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 26: raise awareness about health benefits of pets; hold a fundraiser and donate proceeds to a local shelter or rescue group; have a dog and owner lookalike contest; host a canine adopt-a-thon and bring in some shelter dogs to meet people; post adoptable pets on your company's website or social media sites; bring in one or more pet professionals to speak at your workplace; have a hotdog lunch for employees, with bone-shaped biscuits for their canine co-workers. -- Kim Campbell Thornton
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.
CAPTIONS AND CREDITS
Caption 01: With good care, red-eared sliders can live for 50 to 70 years and can grow to be 10 to 12 inches long. Position: Main Story
Caption 02: Take Your Dog to Work Day, created by Pet Sitters International in 1999, is a way for businesses to support pets in the community. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3