Otter visits the VET

Veterinary Care

The photo above shows our veterinary team at work examining a six-month old otter cub with a suspected broken hind leg.

In this case, the diagnosis, following careful examination and X-rays, was one of badly torn ligaments that would require rest and time to heal. This was fortunate because although broken bones can be screwed and plated, problems with the wound becoming infected can arise during convalescence. While this otter was under sedation its teeth received a thorough clean, because remarkably, in only six months a build up of scale had arisen. This clean up will benefit the otter greatly in later life when poor teeth can be a factor in malnutrition.

Otter killed on the road

In this country today one of the biggest threats to otters is death on our roads, as is the case with so much of our wildlife. With otter hunting being outlawed it would appear that our otters are far less nocturnal than in the past since they are no longer persecuted.

Young Otter being checked over by the vet
Otter having it's teeth checked by a vet
Young Otter Cub

We share our knowledge and expertise and work with other agencies and organisations around the world and much of what has been learned with captive otters is now being applied to those living in the wild.