We are pleased to announce that Kevin Eatwell (BVSc (hons) DZooMed (Reptilian) MRCVS RCVS recognised specialist in zoo and wild animal medicine) of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is to act as the Tortoise Protection Group’s veterinary adviser. If there are any questions regarding health issues, please feel free to post them on the forum and we will flag these for Kevin. May I take this opportunity to welcome and thank Kevin for acting in this capacity for the Tortoise Protection Group.

Kevin graduated from Bristol University Veterinary School in 1995 and started off in mixed practice whilst developing clientele with exotic pets. He obtained his certificate in zoological medicine in 2001. Subsequently time was spent working as a locum for wildlife hospitals, a zoological garden and exotic pet practices seeing patients both as a first opinion and on a referral basis. The next five years was spent in a five vet practice with an 80% exotic animal caseload, including first opinion and referral work with seven premises with zoo licenses. The practice also provides a clinical pathology service for two independent laboratories and for a wildlife hospital receiving 5000 admissions per annum. Kevin became the veterinary liaison officer for the BCG in 2005. He obtained his diploma in zoological medicine in 2006 taking reptilian species as his specialist paper. His dissertation was on calcium metabolism in chelonians. He became an RCVS recognised specialist in zoo and wildlife medicine in 2007. He has lectured internationally about reptiles and exotic animals, has published widely in peer reviewed journals, textbooks and magazines. Kevin joined the exotic animal and wildlife service at the University of Edinburgh in 2008 as the clinical manager and lecturer in exotic animal and wildlife medicine. The service runs a first opinion and referral exotic animal service including providing services for a number of zoological collections. Chelonians are still at his heart with a number of ongoing research interests and a slowly growing collection at home.

Hi
That's brilliant news. Well done TPG for giving us first class advice
Jane

That's great news!  I'm sure we'll have some questions for Kevin in the future.