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Cracking the carapace – the challenges of tortoise medicine and surgery

Press release issued: 7 October 2013

A talk on Wednesday 9 October, organised by the Small Animal Practice at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, will provide owners with essential information about how to care for their tortoise properly to keep it in good health.

Cracking the carapace – the challenges of tortoise medicine and surgery will explore health problems and how owners can prevent their pet getting ill.   The talk, organised by the Small Animal Practice at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, will take place on Wednesday 9 October at 7 pm in the Hodgkin Lecture Theatre, Pearson Building, Langford.

Colin Blakey, a vet who heads up the exotic pet service in the Small Animal Practice, who will be giving the talk, said: “The shell of tortoises offers particular difficulties when it comes to working out what is going on inside but with the use of advanced imaging technologies we can now look inside these mysterious creatures to find out what is wrong.”

Colin’s talk will discuss the challenges of investigating a sick tortoise and what can be done to pick up problems early or prevent them in the first place.

Admission is free for Langford Veterinary Services (LVS) clients or £5 for non-clients.  To book a place at the talk, contact the Small Animal Practice on tel 01934 852422 or book online at www.langfordvets.co.uk/tortoise_event

The Small Animal Practice is run by Langford Veterinary Services, a totally owned subsidiary of the University of Bristol.

 

Further information

About Colin Blakey

Colin Blakey, Clinical Associate in First Opinion Practice at the Langford Veterinary Services, has been working in general small animal practice for 15 years with a special interest in exotic animal medicine. He qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1993, having spent the last part of his course studying with the veterinary department at London Zoo. He then spent four years working in a mixed animal practice in Essex, gaining general experience but also building up expertise with the more exotic species whenever the opportunity arose. This was followed by time working for an avian and exotic veterinary centre in Berkshire before moving to Nailsea where he established an exotic clinic alongside his other clinical work.

Colin moved to the Small Animal Practice at Langford in July 2006 to expand the exotic caseload to expose the students to the more unusual species that are becoming increasingly common.

About the Small Animal Practice

The Small Animal Practice at Langford is a first opinion veterinary practice serving the local community. The practice provides an up-to-date veterinary service for dogs, cats, rabbits, small pets and exotic species (e.g. birds, reptiles and fish).

About Langford Veterinary Services

Langford Veterinary Services is a customer focussed veterinary business providing an extensive range of specialist capabilities and a superior quality of care. All clinics are supported by highly specialised clinicians, diagnostic imagers, anaesthetists, nurses and other support staff.

Langford Veterinary Services is a totally owned subsidiary of the University of Bristol.

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