International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
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worldwide openly share these records. Many other h<strong>and</strong>rearing records are also needed to<br />
increase overall knowledge. See Chapter 1 Sections 4-5 for more details <strong>and</strong> where to submit<br />
your documentation.<br />
Consistent cub care should be provided by the coordination of h<strong>and</strong>rearer methods <strong>and</strong><br />
communications among h<strong>and</strong>rearers. The number of involved h<strong>and</strong>rearers should be kept to a<br />
minimum.<br />
Section 2<br />
Electrolyte/Glucose Solutions (For health problems & for diet changes during health<br />
problems); Emergency Medical Care & Abnormal Body Temperatures<br />
Electrolyte solutions, for general use, can help rehydrate <strong>and</strong> provide quick temporary energy to<br />
cubs in need (Merck 1986). (Some electrolyte solutions are specialized for specific health<br />
problems <strong>and</strong> these are inappropriate/dangerous to use, except for what they are directly<br />
intended for.) A veterinarian should examine unhealthy cubs to determine what course of<br />
treatment is appropriate for the cubs. Dependent on the existence of other health complications,<br />
electrolyte solutions (for general use) can sometimes be given when cubs have diarrhea (esp.<br />
when severe) <strong>and</strong> when cubs are dehydrated, very sick or weak, underweight, emaciated, or are<br />
too sick/refuse to eat formula foods. In the aforementioned cases, electrolyte solutions for<br />
general use can also be provided when cubs are switched from mother’s milk to an artificial<br />
milk replacer or are switched from one artificial milk replacer to another. Replacer formulas<br />
can be diluted with it or/<strong>and</strong> it can be offered in its full capacity in-between total diet switchovers.<br />
(Healthy cubs should be introduced to new formulas by offering only water or 5%<br />
glucose in water for the first feed <strong>and</strong> then by offering new formulas diluted with straight water<br />
for at least the next several feeds. See Section 7.) Electrolyte solutions are only to be used as a<br />
temporary supplement/medical treatment <strong>and</strong> depending on the situation, can be administered<br />
alone or in addition to formula foods. The water used for feeding should be boiled <strong>and</strong> cooled<br />
to very warm/hot before mixing electrolyte powders/liquids in. These formulas should be kept<br />
refrigerated <strong>and</strong> solutions (i.e. only the portion that is to be fed/injected) should be warmed to<br />
blood heat before administration.<br />
Critical: cubs must be conscious, responsive, well hydrated, not be actively vomiting <strong>and</strong><br />
have normal body temperatures before formula/foods are fed (see below <strong>and</strong> Section 3).<br />
Some electrolyte solutions can be administered orally (bottle or tube fed) <strong>and</strong> some can only be<br />
injected subcutaneously or intravenously. As well, in some health conditions electrolytes can<br />
only be administered by injection (see below). When cubs are too weak or sick to nurse or<br />
swallow <strong>and</strong> they have a normal body temperature, some electrolyte solutions for general use<br />
can be tube feed, only when cubs are fully conscious, or injected by vets or experienced<br />
h<strong>and</strong>rearers.<br />
A commercially prepared balanced electrolyte solution for oral administration for animals can<br />
be purchased at vet hospitals or at some pet stores. It should contain a well-balanced mixture of<br />
electrolytes, amino acids, <strong>and</strong> glucose <strong>and</strong> be able to be used for general use. Some<br />
electrolytes/rehydrating formulas that are commercially prepared for human babies <strong>and</strong> that<br />
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