Veterinarian's Care of Lethargic Ring-Tailed Lemur Couldn't Be Sweeter
Visiting the veterinarian can be understandably stressful for four-legged patients, but fewer people talk about how stressful it can be for pet owners, too. We hand over all control of our pet's care to someone else while they're there, and it's only more emotional when your pet isn't feeling well. If only we could be with our fur babies at all times!
Whether you have a dog, a cat, or a less common pet like Exotic Vet Care's regular patients, it's reassuring to know that a veterinarian truly cares about the animals in their care. That's why TikTok viewers are loving the veterinarian's March 20 sneak peek video following a ring-tailed lemur's overnight stay. Check out this cutie's journey!
I can't speak for anyone else, but I would be equally thrilled and shocked to see an exotic pet like this lemur at the vet's office. Then again, anyone visiting this veterinarian's office has a less common pet, too! These vet techs don't even bat an eye when someone like this ring-tailed lemur comes in through the front door, but viewers want to know more, just like me.
Related: Smithsonian's National Zoo Gives Cool Insight Into How They Train Lemurs
"How long do these cute little babies live for?" asked @lifeofthre3. "16 years is amazing. I wish my doggies lived that long." A decade and a half is a great life for domestic pets! As for lemurs, it seems like this guy could live even longer. Ring-tailed lemurs are estimated to live about 16-19 years in the wild but can live to be over 30 years old in captivity!
Knowing this makes this lemur's recovery even more of a relief, even though it seems like his symptoms were never life-threatening. Even so, lethargy can be a sign of illness for most species of animals--including humans--so it was a smart move for this animal's owner to bring him to the vet.
Are Exotic Pets Ethical?
This is a question that plagues the minds of many animal owners, as well as those who have an interest in exotic animals. While you are the only one who can decide how you feel about the legality of exotic pets, you do have to follow certain rules if you decide to own a less common pet one day.
While not all states have legalized the ownership of exotic animals, those who have often require registration or licensing to ensure the animals are receiving proper care. In other areas, you have to be a certified zookeeper or wildlife rehabilitator in order to own these animals, so it's safe to say that research is a good idea. You may not be able to literally leap like a lemur, but you may have to leap through hoops in order to own one!
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