medicinal leech use

Re: medicinal leech use

bongo — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:38:06 GMT

dont get attached and name them, thats what we did and then were told there was no point in keeping them because they wouldn't by hungry for ages. We just used to order in a new batch when we needed them and then they would be euthanased humanely. I used to find them pretty gross to be fair especially when one escaped!!

However for the polycytaemic cat they were the mutts nuts and saved a lot of stress of having to have lots of blood drawn.

Re: medicinal leech use

Laura Webb DipAVN (small animal) RVN A1 — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:36:33 GMT

Thanks!

Have had some conflicting adice form leech farm but think sorted now.

We currently have the fed ones in a jar of distilled water with some of the transport medium as directed so hoping they will last a while!

Nursing team are currently thinking of names for the new in-patients!

Re: medicinal leech use

sarahjune84 — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:47:55 GMT

If your ordering them from a medical leech farm, they come with instuctions. They need spring water to swim in. They advise euthansia after one has been used, as you cant use in on another patiant and they wont eat again for months. But we kept ours in a fish tank with rocks so they could get out the water if they wanted, with swabs over the top, there VERY good at escaping! We had six when my cat was dx with polycythemia. They lived longer then my cat : ( but they were very interesting as practise pets!! hehe!