Media release

What to do with a shaky snake?  How to fix a crook croc and live to tell the tale? And what can be done for an itchy pig?

These questions and more will be answered when vets gather in Alice Springs to discuss how to treat some of Australia’s more colourful pets this weekend (7-9 October).

Treating snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice ferrets and even tarantulas will be discussed as part of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Unusual and Exotic Pet (UEP) special interest group conference.

Highlights of this year’s UEP conference include:

• Dr Cathy Shilton, a livewire veterinary pathologist from Darwin, is an expert in the pathology of cane toads and the work being done to halt their steady progress across the Top End of Australia.

• Dr Annabelle Olssonwill present a Crocodile Master Class where she will talk about how to treat crocs that eat the wrong thing (including everything from crab pots to barbed wire), and live to tell the tale.

• Dr Shane Simpsonwho will be talking about ‘shaky snake’ a neurological problem affecting a new breed of designer snake, the Jag carpet python, which is worth as much as $8,000.

• Dr Robert Doneley who will talk about ‘itchy pigs’ looking at how to treat mites in guineapigs.

“Unusual and exotic pets are the fastest growing area of pet ownership in Australia. As more and more people are living in apartments in big cities, exotic pets like snakes, turtles, mice and guinea pigs are becoming the new pet of choice,” said UEP group president, Dr Robert Johnson.

“Ownership of pet reptiles has increased hugely, and specialist collectors can have more than 150-200 animals in collections that are worth as much as $300,000.

“It’s great to talk about these things when we are here in the Northern Territory, as owning and caring for Australian native species as pets is a great way to gain respect and knowledge about the natural environment and bring a bit of the outback into your living room,” said Dr Johnson.