From SCMP Post aboutPets 22/4/2012 Jade Lee-Duffy
Turtles can be fascinating for people looking for a pet other than a cute cuddly cat or canine.
    While owning a cold-blooded creature may not require as much hands-on time as a furry animal, turtles require owners to pay careful attention to their living conditions and diet.
    Veterinarian Gillian Hung, at Happy Pets Veterinary Centre in Tai Hang, identifies some common problems to ensure your turtle lives a long and healthy life.
    In Hong Kong, the most common turtles are red-eared sliders and Chinese striped-neck turtles.  These breeds are semi-aquatic and can vary in size.  Some hatchlings are only four to five centimetres long, but as they get older they can grow larger than the size of your hand.
    ''In the right conditions and given the correct diet, they can easily live to 30 years old,'' Hung says.  ''They aren't difficult to keep if you get the initial set-up right.  But if you don't get the right equipment like a UV [ultraviolet] light you can get problems.  Some people just put their turtle by the window, but you can't get UV light through glass.''
    In setting up the tank, water quality is important.  ''How often you chagne the water depends on how big the tank is and how many turtles there are,'' Hung says.  ''In general, change the water every two to three days.''
    Regulate the water temperature from 25 to 35 degress Celsius.  If it's not warm enough, install a heater or place a heat lamp next to the UV light.
    Hung recommends semi-aquatic turtles should have living quarters comprising 30 per cent land and 70 per cent water, with a basking area and a covered space.
    If you want to keep you tank cleaner for longer, Hung suggests owners feed their turtle outside in a separate tub of water.
    ''If you put the food directly in the water, it can spoil the water,'' she says.  ''Then, usually within 20 minutes, your turtle will poo.''
    If turtles are fed outside their tank they can be put back about 30 mintues after feeding time.
    With an abundant range of commercial diets onthe markte, Hung says: ''It's not difficult to source a diet, but they should get some variety.''
    Owners can throw in some cooked chicken or shrimp,  but as a turtle gets older, it becomes less carnivorous and more vegetarian, so more vegetables are recommended.
    Food, amounting to the size of the head and neck, should be given daily to hatchlings until they are about a year old.  After that, they should be fed every other day.
    One of the main health problems is a deficiency in calcium and vitamins D and A.
    ''Even if you are giving your turtle a good commercial diet, owners can buy supplements in pet shops.  It's a powder and you can sprinkle it on the food once a week,'' she says.  However, if turtles are kept outside and receive sunlight, then only give calcium supplements.
    For signs of a sick turtle, it will most likely stop eating and infections on the shell are ''quite common''.  From lack of vitamine A, turtles can develop swollen eyelids.
    ''This shows an problem with husbandry.  Turtles are quite hardy, so they can usually make it throught,'' Hung says.  ''But if husbandry has been wrong for a long time, improvement may take a while.''
    If you notice bubbles coming out of your pet's nose, or it is swimming lopsided a respiratory disease may be the cause.  Hung warns: "If you notice that, you need to take your turtle [to a vet], there could be a problem with the lungs.''
    Box turtles, known for their large domed shell, are also popular pets in Hong Kong.  While this species is actually a tortoise that mostly lives on land, the depth of the water in the tank shouldn't be deeper than their head, as they cannot swim.  When it's feeding time, Hung says the box turtle is similar to the red-eared slider.  A commercial diet is sufficient, or a diet should be made up of 50 per cent high protein food, such as crickets and earthworms, along with 50 per cent vegetables, including peas and any leafy greens, from spinach to lettuce.
    If you are undecided about what kind of turtle to care for, the vet advises semi-aquatic ones are easier to keep.
    ''Box turtles can be a bit more picky.  You don't have to worry about semi-aquatic environments as much, whilc a box turtle's living conditions need to be just right - their humidity and optimal temperature,'' she says.
    All box turtle species are slightly different, so owners need to do their research to find out what their preferred temperature is.
    ''People think turtles are very easy to keep, but they don't find out about their habitat.  They don't get sick that often, but if they do it's mostly related to poor husbandry.''

From SCMP Post aboutPets 17/2/2013 Felix Paige
    Potential owners looking for a pet that is cute, fluffy, and friendly, and which does not require a large space or regular walks, might well consider a rabbit.  "Rabbits are popular; not only are they cute and affectionate, they are also clean and quiet,'' says veterinarian Dr Gillian Hung.  The breeds of choice include the dwarf, angora and lop, largely due to their smaller size and docile nature.
    "My key advice for people considering getting a rabbit is they need to understand that it is a long-term commitment, as rabbits live for around seven to 10 years,'' Hung Says.  ''Rabbits also need daily care, so potential owners must have time to dedicate to their pets, enough space for housing, and finances for daily necessities and veterinary care.''
    Another consideration is whether there are other pets in the home.  ''Potential owners need to assess if the rabbit will get along with other pets,'' Hung says.  ''Rabbits can be very timid, and are unlikely to be happy [if they are] being chased around by a barking dog.''
    Rabbits need a cage large enough for a sleeping area, and for activity.  It is important to ensure good ventilation and that the space does not get too warm.  ''Rabbits do not cope well with temperatures over 28 degrees Celsius,'' Hung says.  If the rabbit is allowed free range, make sure to rabbit-proof the space, which includes leaving no electric cords to chew and no toxic plants.  For bedding, use wood or paper shreds, and provide a litter tray, water bottle and food bowl - all of which have to be changed and /or washed daily.
    Rabbits should be fed a diet of 80 per cent Timothy Hay to which they should have access at all times.  Additionally they should be provided with one small bowl of fresh, dark leafy greens each day.
    "Commericial pellets can be given, but no more than a teaspoon per day as they tend to be high in calories and easily lead to obesity,'' Hung says.
    Fruit treats can be given in small doses.  ''High fat and sugary treats should be avoided, as well as toxic foods such as chocolate, garlic and onions,'' Hung says.  It should be noted that coprophagia (eating dung) is a normal behaviour in rabbits, and the droppings, as any gardener will tell you, are high in nutrients.
    Rabbits can become bored, so provide the animal with something to play with, such as a sturdy plastic toy, cardboard tubes or boxes.  ''Also give them space to roam around and exercise,'' Hung says.  She suggests bonding with the rabbit by brushing its fur, something that long-haried breeds require daily.  Additionally, ensure the rabbit has enough hay to chew on.  Rabbits often have dental problems, however.  ''They have teeth that continually grow, and a high-fibre diet - for example, hay - is essential to help keep the teeth short,'' Hung says.  ''Overgrown teeth can lead to abscesses, fragile jawbones and tear-duct infections.''  Other health problems include upper-respiratory infections, the symptoms of which inclue sneezing, nasal and eye discharge.
    Treatment can be frustrating because symptoms can recur, Hung says.  Other problems can be a result of poor hygiene and husbandry, which can lead to skin irritations, such as urine scald and hock sores.  Neutering rabbits reduces the risk of reproductive cancers and infections.
    ''Rabbits are fun pets to have, but they are not low maintenance,'' Hung says.  ''If there is any sign of disease, rabbits should be taken to the vet as soon as possible, because ill rabbits can deteriorate very quickly.''
    Potential owners can pick up a rabbit from one of the several pet-adoption centres in Hong Kong, Hung says.  ''[It is] always a better option [than] buying them in a pet store,'' she says.