Tamandua

Nutritional metabolic disease

SignsWeight loss, rough coat, deformed claws or bones, lethargy, pale gums from anemia

PreventionPrepare a fresh batch every day of a liquid diet designed with your vet. Do not rely on canned cat food alone

Digestive disorders / constipation

SignsNo stool or hard stool, bloated belly, vomiting, reduced appetite, hunching, diarrhea

PreventionAdd dietary fiber (a substitute for ant-hill material) and do not change the recipe suddenly. Provide plenty of fluids

Hypothermia

SignsNot moving, cold body, curled up with slow breathing, not eating, comes down to the floor and huddles

PreventionNever let the room drop below 22°C. It regulates body temperature poorly, so use a heat lamp and panel heater year-round

Respiratory infection

SignsRunny nose, sneezing, open-mouth breathing, wheezing, dirty area around the nose

PreventionKeep temperature and humidity stable and avoid drafts and direct air-conditioner airflow. Wipe the long snout clean daily

Dermatitis / claw infection

SignsHair loss, scabs, swelling at the claw base, foul odor, constant licking, dragging a claw

PreventionKeep perches and bedding clean. Avoid wire mesh that catches claws and check the claw bases once a month

Obesity / liver disease

SignsWeight gain, sagging belly, sluggish movement, poor appetite, jaundice, vomiting

PreventionLimit fat and sugar in the liquid diet and weigh monthly. Set feeding amounts with your vet

Fracture from a fall

PreventionUse thick, firmly fixed perches and lay thick mats on the floor. Lower the height for elderly or overweight animals

First aidDo not move it; wrap in a blanket and place in a box without touching the injured area. Keep it calm so it does not injure itself with its claws, and see a vet the same day

Broken or torn claw

PreventionAvoid fine wire mesh and carpet; let it use its claws naturally on thick branches and wooden boards

First aidPress the bleeding area with clean gauze. A claw torn out at the base gets infected easily, so see a vet the same day

Tongue injury

PreventionRemove gaps that can trap the long tongue (bowl rims, doors) and never use cracked containers. Avoid glass bowls

First aidDo not force the mouth open; stop the liquid diet and watch for bleeding. If the tongue stays out and cannot be retracted, or bleeding continues, see a vet immediately

Burns (heating equipment)

PreventionFit covers on heat lamps and heaters and place them out of reach. Always use a thermostat

First aidCool the area under running water for 10 minutes and cover with clean gauze. Blisters or raw skin need a vet the same day

Salmonellosis

RouteHands that touched feces, contaminated bowls or bedding

PreventionWash hands with soap after care. Wash its bowls separately from human dishes

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

RouteContact with fur or skin

PreventionSee a vet if there is hair loss. Wash hands after handling and do not share bedding

Bacterial infection (scratches)

RouteDeep lacerations from the claws

PreventionWash wounds under running water; see a doctor for swelling or fever

Mites / external parasites

RouteBody contact, shared bedding

PreventionCheck the coat regularly; see a dermatologist if a person develops a rash

Food

• It has no teeth, so feed a vet-designed liquid diet (meat, insects, fiber)
• Make and give it fresh 2–3 times a day, from evening onward
• Refrigerated batches keep for 1 day at most; warm to lukewarm before feeding

Water

• Keep water available at all times in a shallow, heavy bowl and change it twice a day
• It gets water from the liquid diet, but reduced drinking is a sign of illness

Toys & play

• Thick logs, ropes and hammocks for climbing
• A container with holes filled with liquid diet (mimics foraging)
• A box of soil and leaf litter for digging (claw use)

Nest, bed & hideout

• A wooden nest box fixed up high, lined with a blanket
• Also provide a covered hide at ground level

Bedding & litter

• Combine thick bark chips, straw and blankets
• It toilets in a fixed spot, so place a tray underneath
• Remove droppings daily and replace all bedding once a week

Cage / housing material

Heavy metal frame with wooden perches; avoid fine wire mesh

Size & space

A dedicated space of at least 2 m wide x 2 m deep x 2 m high

Layout

• Fix thick branches and perches at varying heights
• Nest box and heat lamp at the top, water and feeding station at the bottom
• Provide a digging box and several hides

Placement notes

• Place thermometers and hygrometers in 2 spots and log readings daily
• Avoid direct sunlight, drafts and direct air-conditioner airflow

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• No walks needed. Give daily climbing and digging exercise inside the enclosure
• It is nocturnal, so schedule activity and feeding from evening onward
• When holding it, keep its front legs away from your body and wear gloves against the claws

Temperature & humidity

Temperature24–28°C (avoid below 22°C and above 30°C)

Humidity60–80% (maintain with a humidifier to prevent dryness)

Summer & winter

• In summer keep below 30°C with air conditioning and block direct sunlight
• In winter run heating and the heat lamp 24 hours a day; use hot-water bottles during a power outage

Nail trimming

Claws are essential for climbing and digging; do not trim them. Consult your vet about overgrown or cracked claws

Brushing, skin & coat care

Only for habituated animals during molting, with a soft brush. Hair loss or dandruff suggests skin disease

Other care

Wipe the snout and around the eyes daily with a warm cloth. Annual checkup with weight and blood tests

Protection from predators

• Do not keep it in the same room as dogs or cats (it fights back with its claws and both get hurt)
• Use screens and insect netting against mosquitoes and ticks
• Never take it outdoors because of crows and wild animals

Foreign-body ingestion

Its long tongue picks up and swallows small objects and loose threads. Keep the floor clear. If there is no stool or it vomits, suspect ingestion and see a vet the same day

Being stepped on

It sometimes sleeps on the floor and can be stepped on in a dark room. Turn on lights at night and watch your feet. If it limps after being stepped on, see a vet the same day

Getting pinched

Claws, tail and the long tongue are easily caught in doors. Check its position before opening or closing and close slowly. Swelling or deformity suggests a fracture; see a vet

Falls

A loose perch can cause a fall and fracture. Inspect fixing hardware monthly and lay thick mats on the floor. If it moves sluggishly after a fall, see a vet

Escape

Double-lock doors and fit mesh over vents. If it escapes, do not chase it; lure it with its favorite liquid diet. At night search in trees, search quickly to prevent hypothermia, and notify the municipal office

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving; if you are holding it, keep supporting its body and stay still
2. Drape a thick blanket over its head to block its view
3. Offer a perch or blanket so it switches its grip
4. The moment the claws or mouth loosen, quietly withdraw your hand and close the door

After the release

Rinse the wound under running water for 5 minutes and apply pressure. Claw lacerations are deep and infect easily, so see a doctor the same day

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Bring its weight, age, liquid-diet recipe, temperature and humidity log and a photo of its stool. Transport in a warmed carrier and phone ahead to confirm the clinic can see it

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Check for a response to your voice and to pinching the claw base
• Count breaths by watching the chest (15–30 per minute at rest)
• Check the pulse on the inner thigh of a hind leg (80–140 per minute)

Stopping bleeding

• Keep pressing with clean gauze for at least 5 minutes
• For a bleeding claw, press at the base and keep any torn-off claw
• If bleeding does not stop or the laceration is deep, see a vet immediately

Transport

• Wrap in a blanket and transport in a box with a hot-water bottle placed through the blanket
• Keep the car at about 26°C, minimize jolting and keep quiet