Stress in chelonians (tortoises, terrapins and turtles)
Jane Williams
Friday, June 2, 2017
Chelonians are not commonly seen in general veterinary practice. Stress, distress and pain can be very difficult to observe or measure in this group of reptiles. As ectotherms they are totally reliant on the captive environment for provision of suitable conditions to maintain good health and wellbeing. This is essential to avoid environmental stress in chelonians. Stress in captivity is likely to be chronic, and is often due to poor husbandry or environmental conditions. Transportation, treatment and handling could also lead to acute stress episodes. Any treatment, extended stay or handling at the veterinary practice requires provision of suitable accommodation, which is often not available.


Subscribe to get full access to The Veterinary Nurse
Thank you for vising The Veterinary nurse and reading our archive of expert clinical content. If you would like to read more from the leading peer-reviewed journal for veterinary nurses, you can start your subscription today for just £26.
Subscribing will enable you to:
- Stay up-to-date with current thinking and best practice in veterinary medicine
- Enhance your knowledge and understanding of all key clinical topics
- Achieve the mandatory requirement of 45 hours' documented CPD over a three-year period