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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difficulties/abnormalities to a moderate <strong>and</strong> even severe degree, to return to a very significantly<br />
healthier or completely healthy state. Appropriate l<strong>and</strong> to water area ratios (this is esp. critical<br />
in enclosures around or below 240m² [2,583 ft²]) <strong>and</strong> sufficient digging areas are necessary as<br />
well. “Intervertebral disc disease is … [a] common entity reported in …otters, <strong>and</strong> other<br />
mustelids. Exhibit space, housing, h<strong>and</strong>ling procedures <strong>and</strong> activity can predispose animals to<br />
vertebral problems...” (Petrini 2001).<br />
Health problems with pads, webbing, <strong>and</strong> skin on feet/toes:<br />
Are pink foot/toe pads healthy?<br />
This species has sensitive delicate feet. Healthy pads, skin, <strong>and</strong> webbing on giant otters’ feet<br />
<strong>and</strong> toes are entirely brown, not pink, in color <strong>and</strong> supple, smooth, <strong>and</strong> soft in condition. The<br />
otter has unhealthy damaged feet when any part of the foot appears differently <strong>and</strong> inappropriate<br />
enclosure conditions (aside from any obvious accidental injury) are responsible for this health<br />
problem. Captive giant otters are often observed or reported to have pink color foot/toe pads.<br />
When foot/toe pads are pink in color they are irritated <strong>and</strong> damaged. This occurs most often<br />
because otters are kept on hard surfaces <strong>and</strong> soft natural substrates are not covering nearly the<br />
entire enclosure l<strong>and</strong>/floor areas. (If hard surfaces are not responsible for this problem then<br />
other inappropriate surface conditions, such as continually very damp/wet substrates (whether<br />
soft or loose or not) or other inappropriate substrates, are responsible.) Even when the greater<br />
portion of enclosures are covered with soft natural substrates, continual exposure to just those<br />
lesser areas with hard surfaces causes pink foot/toe pads. The longer the otter has been exposed<br />
to hard surfaces or/<strong>and</strong> the greater the percentage of enclosure area covered with such, the<br />
greater the resulting health problems.<br />
It is not uncommon that pink foot/toe pads develop into a more unhealthy state. Cracks, cuts,<br />
small red sores, rawness, or dried out appearance on pads <strong>and</strong> webbing, moderate to dark pink<br />
or worse red color pads, pink/red on the edges of webbing or in worse cases on the larger area of<br />
skin between the toes, etc. are not that uncommon of an occurrence. The darker the pink color<br />
(whether on the pads or webbing) the more unhealthy the feet are. This is because pink foot/toe<br />
pads can quickly <strong>and</strong> easily develop into a more unhealthy state when l<strong>and</strong>/floor<br />
substrates/surfaces remain very damp or wet or other inappropriate provisions exist. Continual<br />
exposure to rough, coarse, abrasive, all hard, wet or very damp, slow drying or poor draining<br />
enclosure substrates/surfaces results in very unhealthy feet. E.g. pebbles, gravel, <strong>and</strong> small<br />
rocks (whether smooth, rounded, or not) are coarse <strong>and</strong> hard <strong>and</strong> when they are provided alone<br />
or they are mixed throughout soil or s<strong>and</strong> they will damage the otters feet <strong>and</strong> they are not<br />
comfortable for otters to use. See above for the inappropriate substrate types, depths, <strong>and</strong><br />
qualities, l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area locations <strong>and</strong> designs, <strong>and</strong> locations for nestboxes, dens <strong>and</strong> areas<br />
for natural underground dens which cause l<strong>and</strong> areas (including sleeping areas) to remain very<br />
damp/wet. An infection could result if foot <strong>and</strong>/or enclosure conditions continue to decline.<br />
All indoor <strong>and</strong> outdoor enclosure l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor surfaces must be nearly entirely covered with<br />
soft s<strong>and</strong>, mulch, or/<strong>and</strong> soil, as recommended (with appropriate substrate depths, types, <strong>and</strong><br />
qualities), to prevent foot <strong>and</strong> toe pads from becoming pink. Additionally, unhealthy feet can<br />
not fully recover until this provision is offered. It has recently been discovered that this is the<br />
most important husb<strong>and</strong>ry method needed to maintain healthy natural foot condition, prevent<br />
foot problems, <strong>and</strong> improve unhealthy feet. This type of husb<strong>and</strong>ry practice alone can help<br />
unhealthy feet, affected by continual exposure to inappropriate surfaces, recover to a very<br />
significantly healthier state or a completely healthy natural state. Appropriate l<strong>and</strong> to water area<br />
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