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Sea otter shoots hoops
Image: Eddie
Basketball eases arthritic pain for talented otter

A fifteen-year-old sea otter has been taught to play basketball to help ease arthritis in his elbows.

Eddie, the grey-haired otter, underwent an x-ray at Oregon Zoo in the US last year, where he has lived since he was abandoned in the wild as a pup.

The x-ray found that Eddie was suffering with arthritis in his elbows, so staff decided to teach him basketball in order to help improve his joint function.

Now an expert at "shooting hoops", Eddie has become an internet sensation. His video on YouTube named "Sea Otter Hoop Dreams" has received over 700,000 views.

He almost never misses and, if he does, he keeps going till he gets it in.

Zoo leader Jenny DeGroot explained: "There aren't many natural opportunities for Eddie to work those arthritic elbow joints because sea otters don't use their front limbs to swim - they swim by moving their back legs and flippers.

"Sea otters have incredible dexterity, so it makes sense Eddie would have this hidden talent. They're famous for using rocks as tools to crack open clams."

The zoo allows each animal to exercise in a way that's specifically beneficial to them. In this case, basketball is a creative workout that also relieves Eddie's joints.

Unfortunately, zoo visitors will not be able to see Eddie's skills first hand, as his hoop is set up in his private training pool.

However, click here to watch the zoo's video of him in action.

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RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Dechra launches checklist for veterinary sustainability

Global animal health specialist Dechra has announced the world's first Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC) to help make surgery more sustainable.

Endorsed by leading veterinary organisations, including the BEVA, BVNA and RCVS Knowledge, the checklist is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of veterinary care, while supporting better animal health outcomes.

The checklist was launched at the World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Paris and will be followed by an internal training and awareness campaign. For more information, visit dechra.com