Our hibernation service means you don’t have to worry about your tortoise during the dark winter days.
Despite being a less common choice, tortoises can make great pets. However, just like all animals, if they are not cared for properly they can fall ill. At Witten Lodge we see and treat many ill and injured tortoises. Another aspect of tortoise keeping that can be difficult for owners is hibernation, and this is something else we can help with.
At our East the Water branch surgery we have been providing a hibernation service for our hard-shelled friends since 2010. It is imperative that your companion’s temperature does not fluctuate during hibernation, so we will do all the hard work for you.
Before your companion begins its hibernation, one of our vets will thoroughly examine it to ensure it is in good health. We check for worm eggs and take an x-ray. It will then be placed in a box with bedding before being carefully stored in our dedicated refrigerator which is maintained at a temperature of 5-8degrees – the perfect climate for tortoises. The refrigerator is checked regularly and all the tortoises are checked and weighed each week.
At the end of the hibernation they woken up, bathed and will usually be eating by the time they go home.
