Press info: Tiny 3oz Tortoise Loses A Stone!
Humphrey, a one year old Indian Star tortoise, weighing just 3oz, has lost a stone. The tiny tortoise from has just recovered from a major operation that involved sawing his shell open and removing a bladder stone occupying nearly a fifth of his body.
Staff at the Trinity Vet Centre in Maidstone, Kent, where he was admitted in January, are amazed by how well Humphrey is doing – especially as he is likely to be one of the smallest tortoises ever to undergone such a procedure.
The plucky little tortoise was brought to the Exotic Animal Referral Centre at Trinity Vets, because he had been straining excessively and was starting to appear unwell. Humphrey – who had been rescued by its new owners - underwent an x-ray which revealed the cause… a huge bladder stone.
Because the stone was far too large to be passed naturally, it was necessary to remove it surgically, which meant an hour and a half long operation.
Humphrey underwent an anaesthetic and had a large square hole sawed out of his shell to allow exotic vet Dr Mark Rowland to remove the stone. The piece of shell was then replaced and held in position with epoxy putty.
Commenting on the operation Dr Rowland said, “Although these stones can form and have been removed in larger tortoises, it is not common in these younger ones to see a stone of this size”.
Since the operation, Humphrey has been feeling much better and is returning to normal. The nurses at Trinity Vet Centre have commented on how fast Humphrey can now move without such an extra weight to carry around.
To read more about Humphrey, visit http://www.trinityvetcentre.co.uk/Trinity_Vet_Centre/This_Months_Case.html,
Images are available (see details below).
Ends
Available images:
Picture 1: The X-ray showing the large bladder stone
Picture 2: Humphrey enjoying some salad after his ordeal with the stone nearby
Contact:
Dr.Mark N Rowland, Trinity Vet Centre, on: 01622 726730, email: trinityvetcentre@gmail.com or visit: www.trinityvetcentre.co.uk
About Dr.Mark N Rowland BVSc CertZooMed MRCVS
Since qualifying from Liverpool University in July 1996 Mark has engaged in all aspects of veterinary medicine especially dog, cat and exotic practice including reptiles, birds and exotic mammals.
He has a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Zoological Medicine, making Mark one of the few veterinary surgeons in the UK with a Royal College qualification in this discipline and meaning he is highly qualified in dealing with even the smallest or most diverse species presented.
In 2007 Mark, together with his wife Lis, established the Trinity Vet Centre in Maidstone, Kent, seeing dogs, cats and exotics on a first opinion basis and also takes exotic animal referrals from all over Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
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