Time for some invertebrate insight from creep crawly vet, Agata Witkowska BVM BVS BVMedSci CertAVP(ZooMed) GPCert(Endo) MRCVS in conversation with our very own Robyn Lowe.

We discuss how over the past decade, knowledge about invertebrate husbandry and medical care as grown and its dissemination helped hugely by the internet. Yet the internet may be a double-edged sword with misinformation also circulating, making it very easy for owners to receive conflicting and incorrect information and for invertebrates to be bought at the click of a button without proper knowledge and understanding o heir husbandry needs and the cost and commitment of owning them responsibly.

Do we as veterinary professionals have a duty of care to direct our clients to good sources of knowledge, to educate ourselves on invertebrate first aid and euthanasia techniques?

Agata shares her passion for creepy crawlies and how special the animal human bond can be with them, despite sadly many people dismissing them as being non-sentient beings or disposable. She highlights the fear of judgement some keepers, or owners of invertebrates may feel in expressing this bond.

We talk about how many of us have fears surrounding handling these creatures, and how best to overcome these feelings, recognizing than some species may cause irritation when handling them and how exposure and knowledge about the species may be helpful to some.

Listen in to hear what common issues Agata encounters in her role and her recommendations for improving invertebrate veterinary care including Carpenters formulary and Invertebrate Medicine by Lewbart.