Loris case method: 50 questions

10 p.m. on a November night. A 6-year-old slow loris that would normally be climbing along the branches to the feeding spot by now stays curled up inside its nest box and does not come out. Last night's food was barely touched. Under the red light its eyes are open, but when called it only lifts its head and does not move. The room temperature was 23°C.

What is the most appropriate first action for the owner?

1. Weigh the animal, note what and how much it ate, and see a vet first thing in the morning
2. Assume it is just sleepy because it is nocturnal, and watch only how much food disappears for a few days
3. Turn on a white light, take it out of the nest box and let it play on the floor to perk it up
4. Put banana and honey inside the nest box and decide it is fine if it eats

AnswerA. Weigh the animal, note what and how much it ate, and see a vet first thing in the morning

ExplanationBeing inactive at night and staying curled up without moving is one of the most important warning signs in a loris; if it has not eaten for 24 hours, a same-day vet visit is the guideline. Diabetes, dental disease or hypothermia is often hidden behind it, and bringing a record of weight, what it ate and how much speeds up diagnosis. Watching for several days is often too late in a small nocturnal animal. Turning on a white light and forcing activity is severely stressful and worsens its condition. Sweet fruit or honey may be eaten briefly but does not solve the cause, and if diabetes is present it is counterproductive.

IssuesDaily food intake and weight were not being recorded, so the previous night's drop in appetite was missed. Room temperature was also near the lower limit of the proper range, so temperature management was inadequate. There was a knowledge gap in interpreting the abnormality as "just being nocturnal."

ImprovementCheck food intake and activity at every nightly feeding, and record weight once a week. Set a 5% weight loss in one week or 24 hours without eating as the threshold for a vet visit. In winter keep 24°C or above around the clock, and confirm in advance which hospital can see primates.

An 8-year-old pygmy slow loris. Over the past few days it has increasingly dropped hard insects from its mouth, and tonight its right cheek is puffed up and saliva is dripping from the corner of its mouth. Its breath smells strongly. This animal had its canines removed before it was rescued. The owner is trying to open its mouth to see what the swelling is.

What is the most appropriate response in this situation?

1. Press the swelling with a finger to squeeze out the pus, apply antiseptic and watch
2. Do not force the mouth open; switch to soft food and see a vet the same day
3. Assume it is a mouth ulcer and apply a human mouth-ulcer ointment inside the cheek
4. Watch for a week until the swelling goes down, since it often heals on its own

AnswerB. Do not force the mouth open; switch to soft food and see a vet the same day

ExplanationFacial swelling in a loris is usually a tooth-root abscess, and animals whose canines were removed in the illegal trade are especially prone to periodontal disease and dental infection. The rule is not to touch it or force the mouth open, to switch to soft food and to see a vet the same day. Squeezing out pus spreads the infection and risks a bite from pain. Human ointment has unknown ingredients and will be licked and swallowed, so it is dangerous. Leaving it for a week lets the abscess reach the bone or eye socket, and the animal stops eating and wastes away. Tell the vet about the diet and weight history too.

IssuesThe early sign of dropping food from the mouth was missed for several days. The owner did not know that animals with removed canines are prone to dental trouble, and no oral exam had been done.

ImprovementRemember that dropping food, avoiding hard food and bad breath are dental signs, and make them a same-day visit threshold. Have an annual oral exam and let hard insects and gum clean the teeth naturally. Stop the fruit-heavy diet and check around the mouth every night under the red light.

A 5-year-old slow loris. It loves fruit and banana, and the owner has given generous amounts every night. Recently the water bottle empties nearly twice as fast as before, and the urine stains on the pet sheets are larger. Its weight had gone up compared with six months ago, but this week's weigh-in was lower than last month. Its coat is also dull.

What is the most appropriate judgment and action?

1. It is just hot and thirsty, so give even more fruit to replace fluids
2. Since it urinates a lot, reduce the water to control how much it drinks and prevent dehydration
3. Suspect diabetes or kidney disease and see a vet within a few days with records of water intake and weight
4. Halve the food to put it on a diet and recheck weight in a month

AnswerC. Suspect diabetes or kidney disease and see a vet within a few days with records of water intake and weight

ExplanationExcessive drinking and urination combined with weight gain followed by loss and a dull coat is a classic sign of diabetes or kidney disease in a loris. A fruit-based diet is a main cause of diabetes. Bring records of water intake and weight and have a blood test within a few days; if the animal is listless, go the same day. Giving more fruit raises blood sugar and is the worst response. Restricting water worsens dehydration and kidney damage and must never be done. Halving food on your own judgment risks hypoglycemia and seizures; dietary restriction without a diagnosis is dangerous.

IssuesThe root problem was a dietary error of making sweet fruit the staple. Records of water intake and weight were only started after changes were noticed, so baseline values were unknown.

ImprovementSwitch the staple diet to acacia gum, insects and a species-specific pellet, with fruit only a few times a week in small amounts. Record weight weekly and check water intake visually every day. Have an annual blood test, and set excessive drinking and urination as a within-days visit threshold.

1 a.m. A 10-year-old slow loris suddenly stiffened on a branch, its limbs trembling, and fell onto the bedding. The trembling stopped within tens of seconds, but it is unsteady, cannot grip the branch, and its eyes are not focusing. This animal's appetite has recently declined, and it has eaten almost nothing tonight either.

What is the most appropriate first action?

1. If conscious, place a little sugar water at the corner of its mouth, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet immediately
2. The seizure has stopped, so return it to the cage and watch it until morning
3. Put a finger in its mouth so it does not bite its tongue, and rub its body vigorously to stimulate it
4. Keep filming the episode on your phone and search online for similar cases to find a treatment

AnswerA. If conscious, place a little sugar water at the corner of its mouth, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet immediately

ExplanationA seizure and unsteadiness in a loris with ongoing loss of appetite is very likely hypoglycemia. If it is conscious, place a little sugar water at the corner of the mouth (do not pour it in, to avoid aspiration), keep it warm in a dark, quiet box and see a vet immediately. Seizures and impaired consciousness are "see a vet now" items; waiting until morning risks another seizure or hypothermia and death. Putting a finger in the mouth risks a venomous bite, and strong stimulation causes stress and further seizures. A short video is useful, but do not keep filming and delay the response. A fracture from the fall is also possible, so do not stretch or over-handle the body.

IssuesThe drop in appetite over the preceding days was ignored, and no vet was seen until hypoglycemia developed. No after-hours hospital that treats primates had been identified, so the initial response was delayed.

ImprovementMake it a household rule to see a vet if the animal has not eaten for 24 hours. Keep ingredients for sugar water, a dark transport box and a cloth-wrapped hand warmer on hand. Post the contact details of an emergency (after-hours) animal hospital that sees primates on the fridge, and keep a weight log.

A 2-year-old pygmy slow loris. The owner feeds mainly fruit and jelly and has not installed a UVB lamp. For about a week it has been dragging a hind leg, its grip on branches is weak, and tonight it slipped off a mid-level branch. Its back also looks slightly hunched. No wounds or bleeding are visible.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Assume lack of exercise and let it out of the cage to walk on the floor more
2. Since there are no wounds, give extra calcium supplements and watch for two weeks
3. Assume a sprain, cool the area, bandage it firmly and keep it rested
4. Suspect metabolic bone disease, move branches lower to prevent falls and see a vet within a few days

AnswerD. Suspect metabolic bone disease, move branches lower to prevent falls and see a vet within a few days

ExplanationIn a young animal on a fruit-based diet without a UVB lamp, "limping, weak grip, curved back" is classic metabolic bone disease; the bones are brittle and break easily in a fall. First remove the high branches to reduce fall risk, then see a vet within a few days for X-rays and blood tests. If it falls and cannot move, go immediately. More exercise increases the fracture risk. Self-administered calcium supplements can damage the kidneys if the dose is wrong and do not fix the underlying diet. Bandaging compresses fragile bones and worsens things, and fixation is unnecessary for symptoms without a wound.

IssuesA high-sugar, calcium-poor diet of fruit and jelly had continued. A UVB lamp was never considered, and the owner did not know that even young animals can develop bone disease. The warning signs before the fall were missed for a week.

ImprovementChange the staple diet to tree gum, insects and a species-specific pellet, and supplement calcium under veterinary guidance. Consider installing a UVB lamp. Fix branches of varying thickness securely and lay thick bedding on the floor. Make weak grip or falls a within-days visit threshold.

A 4-year-old slow loris. Its stool has been soft since the day before yesterday, and tonight it has had watery diarrhea several times. The fur around its anus is soiled and it is scooting on the bedding. It still eats a little and drinks water, but its movements are sluggish. The owner has never had a fecal exam done since acquiring it.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Put stool in a sealed bag, photograph it, keep the animal warm and see a vet the same day
2. Give a small amount of a human anti-diarrheal and watch until the stool firms up
3. Withhold food and water for a full day to rest the gut, then resume
4. Replace all the bedding, disinfect and watch for a week, since that will cure it

AnswerA. Put stool in a sealed bag, photograph it, keep the animal warm and see a vet the same day

ExplanationWatery diarrhea lasting two days with sluggish movement is a same-day visit guideline. Parasites or Salmonella are suspected, and the stool itself is essential for diagnosis, so bag it, photograph it and bring it. A small loris dehydrates rapidly with diarrhea, so keep water available, keep it warm and go to the vet. Human anti-diarrheals are the wrong dose and, in infectious diarrhea, stop elimination and make things worse. Withholding food and water causes hypoglycemia and dehydration and is dangerous. Changing bedding alone does not resolve the cause inside the body, and a week's delay leads to deterioration. Zoonotic infection is possible, so always wash hands after care.

IssuesNo fecal exam had been done on arrival or routinely, so parasite status was unknown. No record or stool sample was kept on the first day of soft stool, and the visit threshold was not known.

ImprovementMake fecal exams routine on arrival and 1–2 times a year. Photograph stool from the first day a change is noticed, and set two days of diarrhea, bloody stool or listlessness as same-day visit triggers. Change bedding daily and wash hands with soap after care.

A 3-year-old slow loris. The family moved a month ago; the cage was placed by the living-room window, and household noise and the TV run all day. Recently it has been licking the same spot on its left forearm all night, the fur there has fallen out and the skin is red and raw. It is also seen circling the same corner of the cage.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Apply a human anti-itch cream to the spot so it cannot lick it, and watch
2. See a vet for treatment of the dermatitis, and at the same time move the cage to a dark, quiet room
3. It is just bored, so take it out of the cage during the day too and make time to play
4. Make a homemade Elizabethan collar and put it on; preventing licking will solve it

AnswerB. See a vet for treatment of the dermatitis, and at the same time move the cage to a dark, quiet room

ExplanationHair loss and dermatitis from constant licking of one spot plus stereotypic behavior are classic stress-related self-injury in a loris, and the window placement, noise and daytime brightness after the move are the likely cause. See a vet within a few days to treat the dermatitis, but unless the underlying environment is improved it will recur. Human anti-itch cream is dangerous because it is licked and swallowed. Taking a strictly nocturnal loris out to play in the daytime adds further stress. A homemade collar obstructs movement along branches, grooming and feeding, risks a panic fall, and does not address the cause. Abnormal fur on the arm can also indicate a venom-gland problem, so have a vet examine it.

IssuesThe environmental change after the move was underestimated, and the cage was placed in the worst possible spot for a loris: by a window, with noise and daytime light. The behavior change was dismissed as a "habit" and left for a month.

ImprovementMove the cage to a dark, quiet room and cover it completely with cloth during the day. Add hideouts and climbing branches, and create exploratory behavior at night with foraging puzzles. Make licking the same spot or hair loss a visit threshold, and watch behavior especially closely after any environmental change.

A 12-year-old senior slow loris. The owner weighs it every Sunday; this week it was down to 1,300 g from 1,400 g last week. It appears to be eating, but it drinks more often and its coat seems rougher. No vomiting has been seen so far. The owner wonders whether it is fine since it still has an appetite.

What is the most appropriate judgment?

1. This is more than 5% loss in one week, so see a vet within a few days with the records
2. If it has an appetite there is no problem; weigh it again next week and decide
3. It is natural loss due to age, so increase high-calorie fruit and honey
4. It lost weight from drinking too much, so remove the water bottle and leave only the dish

AnswerA. This is more than 5% loss in one week, so see a vet within a few days with the records

ExplanationWeight loss of 5% or more in one week is a key warning sign in a loris, and a vet visit within a few days is needed even if appetite is present. In a senior animal with excessive drinking and a rough coat, kidney disease or diabetes is suspected and can be caught early with a blood test. Waiting until next week means more loss, and the visit would come only after vomiting or total loss of appetite. Giving up because of age is a mistake, and more fruit and honey worsens diabetes. Reducing water is the most dangerous response in kidney disease, advancing dehydration and kidney failure. The weight log is extremely valuable at the vet.

IssuesThere was an assumption that appetite meant all was well, and the increased drinking and coat change were not connected. Despite the animal's age, no regular blood tests had been done.

ImprovementWrite down that 5% or more loss in one week means a vet visit. Senior animals should have a blood test at least once a year. Check water intake visually every day, and keep weight, water intake and stool records in one notebook to bring to the vet.

A 7-year-old pygmy slow loris. Since last week it has been biting into its favorite crickets and then dropping them, eating only soft fruit. On closer inspection it has bad breath and a little saliva at the corner of its mouth. There is no facial swelling yet. Its weight is down 30 g from last month. The owner thinks it has simply gone off crickets.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Assume its preferences have changed, make fruit and jelly the staple diet and watch
2. Suspect dental disease, switch to soft food and have an oral exam within a few days
3. Clean the teeth by rubbing them with a cotton swab to remove tartar and wait for improvement
4. Chop up the crickets and mix them into fruit; if it eats, consider the problem solved

AnswerB. Suspect dental disease, switch to soft food and have an oral exam within a few days

ExplanationAvoiding hard food and dropping it from the mouth, bad breath, drooling and weight loss are early signs of periodontal disease or dental infection in a loris. Switching to soft food and having an oral exam within a few days, before the face swells, allows treatment before an abscess or extraction becomes necessary. A fruit-based diet invites diabetes and makes periodontal disease worse. Rubbing the teeth with a swab risks a bite from pain, and periodontal disease cannot be treated at home. Mixing food to get it eaten does not solve the cause, and the weight loss continues. Oral problems must not be left alone.

IssuesThe change in eating was interpreted as a matter of preference and not linked to dental signs. The owner did not realize that in a small pygmy, even a 30 g loss is a large proportion.

ImprovementRemember that dropping food, avoiding hard food and bad breath are dental visit thresholds. Have an annual oral exam and let hard insects and gum clean the teeth naturally. Evaluate weekly weight as a percentage; in a pygmy, see a vet at a 5% (about 20 g) loss.

A 9-year-old slow loris. Focused on protein, the owner has fed large amounts of insects and boiled egg every night. Water intake has increased over the past two weeks; this week it has vomited twice and is eating almost nothing. Its body is thin and its coat rough, and tonight it did not come out of the nest box.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Vomiting is a sign of overeating, so reduce food and watch for a few days
2. Give a sports drink for hydration and observe until next week
3. Suspect kidney disease, keep it warm, and see a vet the same day with records of diet and water intake
4. Give a small amount of a human stomach medicine as an anti-nausea and skip the vet if appetite returns

AnswerC. Suspect kidney disease, keep it warm, and see a vet the same day with records of diet and water intake

ExplanationThe sequence of excessive drinking and urination, poor appetite, vomiting, weight loss and a rough coat is classic kidney disease in a loris, and a high-protein diet raises the risk. Not eating for 24 hours is a same-day visit guideline, and blood tests and fluids are needed before dehydration progresses. Reducing food and waiting only advances the decline. Sports drinks are high in sugar, strain the kidneys and blood sugar, and are no treatment. Human stomach medicine has unknown safety in small primates and masks symptoms, delaying the visit. Records of diet and water intake help diagnosis at the vet.

IssuesThe diet was skewed toward excess protein, and no vet was seen at the stage of increased drinking. Without annual blood tests, the change in kidney function was not caught early.

ImprovementBase the staple diet on a balance of acacia gum, insects and a species-specific pellet, avoiding excess protein. Provide fresh water at two spots at all times and check intake daily. Have an annual blood test, and set vomiting or 24 hours without eating as same-day visit triggers.

An 11-year-old slow loris. Its weight rose over the past few months and has recently started to fall. Tonight under the red light, the centers of both eyes look cloudy white, and it reaches out as if feeling for the feeding spot and misses the branch. It also drinks a lot. The owner is looking for over-the-counter eye drops, thinking they might cure it.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Try human eye drops several times a day for two weeks to see if the cloudiness clears
2. Cataracts are just aging, so do nothing, lower the feeding spot and watch
3. Wipe the eyes with lukewarm water every night to rinse them, and see a vet if the cloudiness worsens
4. Suspect a complication of diabetes and see a vet within a few days with records of weight and water intake

AnswerD. Suspect a complication of diabetes and see a vet within a few days with records of weight and water intake

ExplanationThe combination of weight gain followed by loss, excessive drinking and cataracts is the classic course of advancing diabetes in a loris. The underlying diabetes, more than the cataracts themselves, is life-threatening, so a blood test within a few days and treatment such as dietary therapy are needed. Human eye drops do not cure diabetic cataracts and some ingredients are harmful. Dismissing it as aging leads to poorly controlled blood sugar and decline. Wiping the eyes is ineffective and increases handling stress and bite risk. When vision is reduced, also arrange branches low and close together to prevent falls.

IssuesObesity was not addressed at the weight-gain stage, and a diet high in fruit and sugar continued. The eye problem was seen as local and not linked to a systemic disease.

ImprovementCut back sweet fruit and honey and base the diet on acacia gum, insects and vegetables. Record weight weekly and watch the trend. Make excessive drinking, cloudy eyes and missed grips a within-days visit threshold, and when vision declines, arrange branches low and dense to prepare for falls.

A 5-year-old slow loris adopted a year ago. It has become slightly thinner over the past two weeks, and tonight during cleaning the owner found thin white worms moving in its stool. The stool is soft and it scoots on its anus. There are no other pets, but a young child sometimes helps clean the cage.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Save the stool with worms in a sealed bag for the vet, and have the whole family wash hands with soap after cleaning
2. Give a dog dewormer dosed by body weight and continue until the worms disappear from the stool
3. The worms will pass naturally, so change bedding frequently and watch for a month
4. Wash the cage with bleach and bathe the animal to get rid of them

AnswerA. Save the stool with worms in a sealed bag for the vet, and have the whole family wash hands with soap after cleaning

ExplanationVisible worms in stool, weight loss and scooting are classic parasitic infection in a loris; put the stool in a sealed bag for the vet so the species can be identified, and deworm with a veterinary prescription. A visit within a few days is fine, but go the same day if there is bloody stool or listlessness. Some parasites spread to people, so everyone including the child who helps clean must wash hands with soap after care, and equipment must not be washed in the kitchen. Dog medication differs in type and dose and risks poisoning. Left alone, malnutrition progresses, and changing bedding does not remove worms inside the body. Bathing the animal causes severe stress and hypothermia and has no deworming effect.

IssuesNo fecal exam was done at adoption. The cause was not investigated when the animal began losing weight, and a young child was helping clean without hand-washing guidance.

ImprovementHave fecal exams on arrival and 1–2 times a year. Change bedding daily to keep things clean. Make hand-washing after care a family rule, and have an adult accompany young children during care. Make weight loss, soft stool and scooting visit thresholds.

2 a.m. Woken by a noise, the owner looks in with the red light and finds a 4-year-old slow loris curled up on the floor after falling from the 150 cm upper level. Its left hind leg is bent at an unnatural angle and it does not try to move it. There is no bleeding. The fixed branch had loosened and come off. The floor had only a single thin pet sheet.

What is the most appropriate first action?

1. Straighten the bent leg, splint it with chopsticks and wrap it in a bandage
2. Do not touch it; place it in a dark box, keep it warm, call the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital and transport it immediately
3. Return it to the cage and watch until morning to see if it can climb a branch on its own
4. Give a small dose of a human painkiller to relieve the pain and then see a vet

AnswerB. Do not touch it; place it in a dark box, keep it warm, call the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital and transport it immediately

ExplanationBeing unable to move after a fall, or a limb at an odd angle, is a "see a vet now" item. When a fracture is suspected in a loris there is no need to straighten or splint the limb; do not touch it, place it in a dark box lined with a towel, keep it warm and transport it without jolting. Forcing it straight can let bone fragments damage nerves and vessels, and risks a bite from pain. Returning it to the cage until morning risks death from shock or hypothermia. Human painkillers easily reach toxic doses in small primates and must never be given. Have the vet check whether underlying metabolic bone disease weakened the bones.

IssuesThe branch was poorly secured and there was no thick bedding or cushioning under the high level. No transport box or after-hours hospital contact had been prepared for a nighttime fall, so the first response was hesitant.

ImprovementFix branches of varying thickness securely and check for loosening monthly. Lay thick bedding and soft cushioning under any branch 1 m or higher. Keep a dark transport box, towel and cloth-wrapped hand warmer on hand, and confirm a hospital that sees primates at night.

Two weeks after starting pair housing on advice that the two got along. A loud cry at night; on checking, the 3-year-old female has a bite wound on her right arm with slight bleeding. An hour later, the area around the wound has started to redden and swell. The male has occupied the only hideout, and there is just one nest box.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. It is a minor wound, so apply antiseptic and watch for 2–3 days in the same cage
2. Separate the two into different cages, rinse the wound under running water, and see a vet the same day because of the swelling
3. Apply a human antibiotic ointment to the wound and watch until the swelling subsides
4. Chill the area hard to bring the swelling down and have it checked at next week's routine exam

AnswerB. Separate the two into different cages, rinse the wound under running water, and see a vet the same day because of the swelling

ExplanationLoris bites readily cause necrosis because of the venom (elbow gland secretion mixed with saliva), and swelling is a same-day visit guideline. First separate the two to prevent a repeat, rinse the wound under running water, and go immediately if the swelling spreads or bleeding continues. Antiseptic alone while continuing to cohabit leads to more bites, spreading swelling and tissue necrosis. Human antibiotic ointment used on your own judgment gets licked and swallowed and delays proper treatment. Hard chilling causes hypothermia in a small animal, and waiting a week lets necrosis and infection progress. Lorises should be kept singly as a rule, and even pairs need several hideouts.

IssuesA loris, which is solitary by nature, was paired without adequate compatibility checks. There was only one hideout, leaving no escape. The toxicity of the bite was underestimated.

ImprovementKeep singly as a rule; if pairing, provide several hideouts and nest boxes and observe compatibility for several weeks. After a bite, record the extent of swelling hour by hour and go immediately if it spreads. Place the cage where nighttime cries or fights can be noticed.

A December night. A 6-year-old pygmy slow loris reached from a branch to the uncovered heat bulb at the top of the cage, cried out and let go. Its right palm is red and the skin is starting to peel. It will not close the hand, struggles to grip branches and keeps licking it.

What is the most appropriate first aid?

1. Cool the area with a cold wet towel, apply no ointment and see a vet the same day
2. Apply a thick layer of human burn ointment, bandage it and wait for it to heal naturally
3. Press ice directly on it for 30 minutes and skip the vet if the pain subsides
4. Apply aloe or oil to the area and tie the hand in cloth so it cannot lick it

AnswerA. Cool the area with a cold wet towel, apply no ointment and see a vet the same day

ExplanationFor a heater burn in a loris, the rule is to cool the area with a cold wet towel, apply no ointment and see a vet the same day. A palm burn prevents gripping branches, leading to falls and difficulty feeding, so it cannot be taken lightly. Human ointment is dangerous because it is licked and swallowed, and a bandage hides the area so infection goes unnoticed. Direct ice contact causes frostbite and hypothermia in a small body. Aloe and oil are folk remedies that promote infection, and tying the hand prevents grooming and movement, causing stress and secondary injury.

IssuesThe heat bulb had no cover and was installed within reach of a branch. There was no thermostat control, and the risk of a loris touching the heat source out of curiosity or cold was not anticipated.

ImprovementAlways use a covered heat bulb and move it out of reach of branches. Maintain 24–28°C with a panel heater and thermostat, and check the thermometer in the cage every night. Make palm injuries a same-day visit, since they directly affect grip.

A cloth hammock was put in a 5-year-old slow loris's cage a month ago. At night a cry comes from the cage; frayed threads are wound many times around a finger of its left hand, and the fingertip is swollen purple. The loris struggles to pull free, and the threads only tighten further.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Try to unwind the threads by pulling with your fingers, and if that fails, yank the finger out hard
2. Cut the fabric away with scissors to free it, check the finger's swelling and movement, and see a vet if it is swollen
3. Wait for it to stop struggling and then wait until morning for the threads to come off by themselves
4. Burn through the threads with a lighter to cut it free

AnswerB. Cut the fabric away with scissors to free it, check the finger's swelling and movement, and see a vet if it is swollen

ExplanationThe rule for an entangled finger is not to pull but to cut the fabric away. A finger constricted by thread loses blood flow and becomes necrotic, so a purple, swollen fingertip needs a same-day vet visit even after it is freed. Pulling makes the thread cut in and can sever skin or tendons. Waiting until morning means losing the finger from blocked circulation. A lighter risks burns and fire and is out of the question. There is a bite risk during the work, so cover its face with a thick towel to darken it and, if possible, work with two people. After freeing it, see a vet if the finger cannot move or the swelling does not subside.

IssuesA cloth hammock and fray-prone fabric had been placed in the cage. The owner did not know that lorises easily get their fingers entangled, and daily checks missed the fraying.

ImprovementDo not use cloth hammocks or frayed fabric, and check nets and ropes for fine gaps. Inspect the cage daily for cloth and loose threads. Keep scissors and a thick towel near the cage so it can be freed safely, and make finger swelling a same-day visit.

At night, the owner put a bare hand into the cage to change an 8-year-old slow loris's food dish. The loris raised its arms and licked its elbows, then immediately bit deep into the owner's thumb and will not let go. In severe pain, the owner is about to yank the hand back reflexively.

What is the most appropriate action at this moment?

1. Endure the pain, pull the hand out forcefully and squeeze the wound to expel the venom
2. Stay still and calm, drape a thick towel over its face with the other hand to darken it, and wait for it to release
3. Shout loudly and hit its nose to startle it into opening its mouth
4. Splash water on it to make breathing difficult so it lets go

AnswerB. Stay still and calm, drape a thick towel over its face with the other hand to darken it, and wait for it to release

ExplanationRaising the arms and licking the elbows is the loris's threat behavior of taking venom into its mouth, and the bite that follows carries venom. If bitten, do not pull away; stay still and cover its face with a thick towel to darken it, which makes it release more easily. Once released, return the animal to the cage, rinse the wound under running water for 15+ minutes and watch for swelling. Pulling the hand tears the wound deeper. Hitting or shouting leads to more venomous bites and can cause a panic fall or fracture. Splashing water is dangerous for the animal and barely effective. Shortness of breath, a full-body rash or severe swelling may be anaphylaxis and requires calling emergency services.

IssuesA bare hand was put in the cage, and the work continued despite the threat display. The owner did not understand that lorises are defensive during nighttime feeding time. No tools such as a towel were at hand.

ImprovementWear thick gloves for care and choose times when the loris is in its nest box. If it raises its arms and licks its elbows, stop the work before withdrawing the hand. Keep a thick towel beside the cage and share the bite procedure with the family. Always seek medical care after a bite.

11 p.m. The owner, bitten on the hand by a loris, rinsed the wound under running water. But 20 minutes later the bitten hand is swollen up to the elbow, a red rash is spreading over the neck and chest, and a tightening sensation in the throat and shortness of breath have begun. Only the owner and an elderly mother are at home, and the owner's voice is becoming hoarse.

What is the most appropriate immediate action for the owner?

1. It is swelling from the wound, so cool it, lie down and see a dermatologist first thing in the morning
2. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine, wait an hour, and go to a hospital if there is no improvement
3. Suspect anaphylaxis, call emergency services immediately, and tell them the animal that bit was a loris
4. Drive yourself to the after-hours animal hospital and ask about loris venom

AnswerC. Suspect anaphylaxis, call emergency services immediately, and tell them the animal that bit was a loris

ExplanationAnaphylaxis from loris bite venom has been reported, and a full-body rash, rapidly spreading swelling and shortness of breath after a bite are classic signs. It worsens by the minute and can be fatal through airway obstruction or a drop in blood pressure, so call emergency services immediately and say you were bitten by a loris. Waiting until morning or watching for an hour with over-the-counter medicine is a fatal delay. Driving yourself risks losing consciousness on the way, and an animal hospital cannot provide human emergency care. While waiting for the ambulance, lie down, tell your family what is happening and, if possible, unlock the front door.

IssuesThe owner did not know that loris venom can cause anaphylaxis and did not know what to watch for after a bite. The assumption was that a bite would not require a human hospital.

ImprovementAfter a bite, rinse under running water for 15+ minutes and always see a human medical provider. Share with the family that shortness of breath, a full-body rash or severe swelling means calling emergency services. Tell your doctor that you keep a loris, and record any bite history to bring along.

A 7-year-old pygmy slow loris. At night, while climbing the side of its wire cage, a hind-foot nail caught in the mesh, and when it was forced free the nail tore off at the base. Blood keeps oozing from the toe tip and the loris is licking the foot. The owner is panicking because the bleeding will not stop.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Press with clean gauze for 5+ minutes, and see a vet the same day if it does not stop
2. Dab on flour to clot the blood, return it to the cage and watch
3. Tie a rubber band tightly around the base of the toe to stop the bleeding and observe until the next day
4. The bleeding will stop soon, so let the loris lick it and wait for it to heal naturally

AnswerA. Press with clean gauze for 5+ minutes, and see a vet the same day if it does not stop

ExplanationThe basic treatment for bleeding from a torn nail is to press with clean gauze for 5+ minutes without lifting it to check. On a limb, pressing gently on the side nearer the heart helps. If it does not stop or the bleeding is heavy, see a vet the same day. In a small loris even a little blood loss matters; flour is a source of infection and barely stops bleeding. A tight rubber band cuts off blood flow and causes necrosis of the toe. Licking alone contaminates the wound with saliva and leads to infection and self-injury. Cover its face with a thick towel during the work to avoid a bite. Damage to the nail base affects regrowth, so have a vet examine it.

IssuesThe mesh size of the cage was unsuitable and caught the nail. When it caught, it was forced free, tearing the nail. No gauze was on hand for bleeding.

ImprovementUse a fine metal mesh cage and avoid mesh sizes or frayed materials that catch nails. When something is caught, do not pull; cut the cloth or mesh to free it. Keep clean gauze and a thick towel on hand, and make bleeding that does not stop after 5 minutes of pressure a same-day visit.

A 5-year-old slow loris fell from a branch about 1 m to the floor. It returned to the nest box right away but keeps its right arm tucked against its body, moving on three limbs only. No swelling is visible and there is no bleeding. The owner wonders whether it is fine since it can move, and is considering waiting until morning.

What is the most appropriate judgment?

1. It can move, so it is not broken. Watch for a week and it is fine if it uses the arm
2. Stretch out the arm and feel it; if it does not react in pain, judge there is no problem
3. An unused arm may be fractured or dislocated, so do not touch it, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet the same day
4. Place food high on a branch to make it climb and use the arm as rehabilitation

AnswerC. An unused arm may be fractured or dislocated, so do not touch it, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet the same day

ExplanationNot using one arm after a fall may mean a fracture, dislocation or nerve injury even without visible swelling. Lorises hide pain and freeze, so being able to move is no proof of being unhurt. Do not touch it; place it in a dark box, keep it warm and see a vet the same day for X-rays. Watching for a week lets the bone set out of position, and it may never grip branches again. Stretching and feeling the arm worsens a fracture and invites a bite from pain. Placing food high to force climbing risks another fall, since it cannot climb one-armed. If metabolic bone disease is behind it, the diet also needs review.

IssuesThere was a misconception that "if it can move, it is fine." There was no thick cushioning under the 1 m branch, so the environment was not prepared for falls. The habit of hiding pain was also unknown.

ImprovementMake a same-day vet visit the standard after any fall, even if the animal can move. Lay thick bedding and cushioning under branches 1 m or higher and check branch fixings regularly. Keep a dark transport box on hand, and remember that not using an arm or a weak grip is a visit sign.

At night, the moment the owner shut the cage door after putting in food, a 4-year-old slow loris had its hand on the door edge and a finger of its right hand was pinched. It cried out and pulled the hand back immediately, and has been licking the finger ever since. The finger is red and swollen but not bleeding. Whether it can use the finger to climb is not yet clear.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Pull the finger and move the joint to check it bends, and leave it if there is no problem
2. Soak the finger in ice water for 30 minutes until the swelling goes down, then return it to the cage
3. There is no bleeding, so do nothing and watch until next week's checkup
4. Do not touch it; keep things quiet and observe the swelling and finger movement, and see a vet if it swells or cannot move

AnswerD. Do not touch it; keep things quiet and observe the swelling and finger movement, and see a vet if it swells or cannot move

ExplanationA finger pinched in a door may be fractured or dislocated if it swells, cannot move or is not used, and a vet visit is needed. First, without touching it, observe in a dark, quiet setting, and go the same day if the swelling increases or the finger is not used. If the swelling is mild and the finger is in use within a few hours, observation is acceptable. Pulling and moving the finger spreads the damage and risks a bite. Soaking in ice water for 30 minutes causes hypothermia and frostbite in a small body. Leaving it until next week lets the bone set out of position. Lorises move by gripping with their fingers, so a finger injury directly affects daily life.

IssuesThe loris's position was not checked when opening and closing the door. The owner did not anticipate that it is active at nighttime feeding and comes to the door, and had little awareness that finger injuries directly affect movement.

ImprovementAlways check the loris's position when opening or closing the cage door, and wait if it is near the door. Feed while it is in the nest box or use a dedicated feeding hatch. After a pinch, observe how it uses the finger, and make swelling or inability to move a same-day visit.

A 6-year-old male bitten by a cage mate a week ago, during the few days before the owner finally separated them. The wound was small, and the owner only applied antiseptic. Tonight, the skin on the bitten left arm has turned black and smells foul. He lets the arm hang unused, and his appetite is dropping.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Cut away the black part yourself, disinfect it and apply antibiotic ointment
2. Suspect venom-induced necrosis and infection, keep him warm in a dark box and see a vet the same day
3. The foul smell shows it is drying out, so watch for another week
4. Warm the arm to improve circulation and massage it to promote recovery

AnswerB. Suspect venom-induced necrosis and infection, keep him warm in a dark box and see a vet the same day

ExplanationLoris bites readily cause necrosis from the venom; blackened skin, a foul smell, not using the arm and loss of appetite are signs that necrosis and infection are advancing and nearly systemic. A same-day vet visit for surgical treatment and antibiotics is needed. Cutting it yourself causes severe pain, bleeding and spread of infection, with a high risk of being bitten. A foul smell is a sign of decay; left alone, sepsis will be fatal. Warming and massage spread the infection and have no effect on necrotic tissue. Even a small-looking bite should have been seen by a vet the same day.

IssuesThe toxicity of the bite and the risk of necrosis were underestimated, and a small wound was treated with antiseptic only. Separation was delayed, allowing repeated bites. Follow-up of the wound was also inadequate.

ImprovementEven small bites from a cage mate should be rinsed under running water, with a same-day visit if swelling appears. Separate immediately if there is any fighting. Check wounds every night under the red light, and make discoloration, foul smell or not using the limb a same-day visit. Keep singly as a rule.

11 p.m. A 5-year-old slow loris was out in the bedroom with the lights dimmed. The owner looked away for about 10 minutes and it vanished. The window was closed, but the door to the hallway was slightly open. The household has a cat, which is asleep in the living room.

What is the most appropriate first action?

1. Turn on the lights in every room and search every corner while calling its name loudly
2. Shut the cat in another room, close doors and windows, darken the room, and lure it with food, focusing on high places
3. Leave the cage door open and go to sleep, waiting for it to come back on its own
4. Startle it with the noise of a vacuum cleaner so it is easier to catch, and grab it when it bolts out

AnswerB. Shut the cat in another room, close doors and windows, darken the room, and lure it with food, focusing on high places

ExplanationLorises escape quietly and tend to hide in dark high places. First isolate the cat, close off routes to other rooms to limit the search area, darken the room, and search high spots (curtain rails, tops of shelves) while luring with food. A cat is a predator to a loris, and sharing a space leads to bites and venom injuries on both sides. Bright light and loud voices make a loris freeze and hide, making it harder to find. Sleeping with the door open risks escape outdoors or being stepped on. Loud noises such as a vacuum cleaner cause panic falls or escape through a window.

IssuesIn a home with a cat, the door was open during free-roaming and the owner looked away. The risk of living with a predator and the loris's habit of escaping quietly were underestimated.

ImprovementWhen letting it out, fix the door closed, check windows and screens, and isolate cats or dogs in another room. Do not look away, and tidy furniture it could climb in advance. Padlock the cage and share the escape search procedure with the family.

At night, a 3-year-old pygmy slow loris was walking on the floor during free-roaming. A family member getting up to use the bathroom did not notice it in the dark and stepped on it, lifting the foot in a hurry on hearing the cry. The loris stayed curled up on the spot, breathing fast with its mouth slightly open. It does not try to move.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. No wounds are visible, so pick it up, stroke it to calm it and return it to the cage
2. Move each limb one at a time to see how it reacts and gauge the extent of injury
3. Do not touch it; place it in a dark box lined with a towel and transport it immediately to the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital without jolting
4. Assume it is just shock, give sugar water and let it sleep in the nest box until morning

AnswerC. Do not touch it; place it in a dark box lined with a towel and transport it immediately to the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital without jolting

ExplanationWhen a pygmy weighing a few hundred grams is stepped on, internal organ damage, rib fractures or pneumothorax are common even without visible wounds. Open-mouth and rapid breathing are "see a vet now" signs; do not touch it, place it in a dark box lined with a towel and transport it without jolting. Picking it up and stroking it worsens fractures and internal injuries and risks a bite. Moving the limbs to check does the same; diagnosis is by X-ray. Sugar water causes aspiration in an animal struggling to breathe, and waiting until morning risks death from internal bleeding. Keep the car interior at 24°C or above.

IssuesOther family members were not told the loris was out, and the possibility of it walking in a dark hallway or room was not anticipated. There was no rule about checking underfoot.

ImprovementTell the whole family when it is let out and restrict people coming and going. Check underfoot with a red light in dark rooms, and return it to the cage when visitors or family members move about. Keep a transport box on hand, and set open-mouth breathing or immobility as immediate visit triggers.

During nighttime free-roaming, a 6-year-old slow loris was found collapsed beside the extension cord behind the TV. The cord's insulation has bite marks, and the fur around its mouth smells singed. Its body is somewhat rigid and it is still touching the cord. The owner is about to pick it up with bare hands.

What is the most appropriate first action?

1. Pick it up bare-handed right away, move it away from the cord and check inside its mouth
2. First turn off the breaker or pull the plug to cut the power, then check breathing and heartbeat
3. Splash water on it to cool the body and wait for it to regain consciousness
4. Film its condition, look up how to handle electric shock online, and then act

AnswerB. First turn off the breaker or pull the plug to cut the power, then check breathing and heartbeat

ExplanationWhen electric shock is suspected, the top priority is to cut the power (pull the plug or turn off the breaker); touching it bare-handed while live electrocutes the rescuer too. Once safe, check for a response, breathing by chest movement and heartbeat; if it is not breathing, perform CPR while calling the hospital. Even if conscious, burns inside the mouth or pulmonary edema hours later can occur, so see a vet immediately. Splashing water worsens the shock and causes hypothermia. Spending time on video or searches loses the chance to save it. Lorises chew cords at night, so always put them away before free-roaming.

IssuesCords were not put away before free-roaming, and the cord behind the TV was exposed. The risk of a loris chewing cords, given its habit of gnawing wood, was not anticipated. The procedure for electric shock was also unknown.

ImprovementBefore letting it out, cover cords or remove them, and avoid rooms with appliances. Share the order for electric shock with the family: cut power, check breathing and heartbeat, then see a vet. Print the CPR steps and keep them beside the cage, and note the after-hours hospital's contact details.

During nighttime free-roaming, the wind moved the bedroom door and a 4-year-old slow loris's left hand was caught in the gap between the door and the frame. The loris is crying out and pulling its body back without freeing the hand. There is bleeding at the base of the fingers, and the hand below the wrist looks bent in the wrong direction.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Pull the loris's body to get the hand out, and return it to the cage as soon as it is free
2. Repeatedly open and close the door to widen the gap and try to slide the hand out without catching it
3. Slowly move the door to widen the gap and fix it, free the hand, then keep it warm in a dark box without touching and see a vet immediately
4. Once the hand is free, apply antiseptic and a bandage and let it rest in the nest box until a morning vet visit

AnswerC. Slowly move the door to widen the gap and fix it, free the hand, then keep it warm in a dark box without touching and see a vet immediately

ExplanationFor a hand caught in a door, first move the door slowly to widen the gap, fix it, and free the hand without pulling. A hand bent at a wrong angle below the wrist with bleeding is very likely fractured, and like "cannot move after a fall, limb at an odd angle" it is a see-a-vet-now case. Press the bleeding with clean gauze, but do not touch the injured area; place it in a dark box lined with a towel, keep it warm and transport without jolting. Pulling the body worsens the fracture and tears the skin. Moving the door repeatedly catches it again. Bandaging and waiting until morning lets the bone shift and infection progress, and the hand loses function. Cover its face with a thick towel during the work to prevent bites.

IssuesThe door was not fixed during free-roaming and could move in the wind. The owner did not know that lorises easily catch their fingers in door gaps, and looked away.

ImprovementWhen letting it out, fix doors with a doorstop and close windows so nothing moves in the wind. Exclude door areas from its range. Keep a transport box, gauze and a thick towel on hand, and set any injury with limb deformity or bleeding as an immediate visit.

A winter night. The bathroom door was open during free-roaming, and a 5-year-old pygmy slow loris fell into the bathtub, which still held leftover bathwater. The owner heard the splash and pulled it out; it is soaked through and cold, its breathing shallow and weak but the chest is moving. It spat up a little water.

What is the most appropriate first action?

1. Blast it dry with a hair dryer at close range and return it straight to the cage
2. Towel off the water, warm it gradually with a cloth-wrapped hand warmer and see a vet immediately
3. Hold it upside down and slap its back hard to expel water, continuing until it stops bringing up water
4. Return it to the nest box to warm up on its own and watch until morning

AnswerB. Towel off the water, warm it gradually with a cloth-wrapped hand warmer and see a vet immediately

ExplanationA near-drowned loris is at high risk of hypothermia and aspiration pneumonia. If it is breathing, first towel off the water, warm it gradually with a cloth-wrapped hand warmer, place it in a dark box and see a vet immediately. Pneumonia from aspirated water worsens within hours to the next day, so a same-day visit is needed even if it looks well. Hot air from a dryer at close range causes burns and a sudden temperature swing. Holding it upside down and slapping causes fractures and aspiration of vomit, and is dangerous in a small primate. Returning it wet to the nest box amounts to sub-20°C hypothermia and can be fatal. If it is not breathing, clear the mouth and nose and perform CPR.

IssuesThe bathroom door was open during free-roaming and the tub held leftover water. The risk of water sources within the loris's range was not anticipated. A winter night added conditions prone to hypothermia.

ImprovementBefore letting it out, close the bathroom and washroom doors, and drain or cover the tub. Limit its range to one room. Keep towels and a cloth-wrapped hand warmer on hand, and set wet or cold as a trigger to warm it and see a vet the same day.

There was a gap at the joint of a homemade wire panel the owner added, and late at night a 3-year-old slow loris pushed its head into it and cannot get out. Its neck is constricted, it is breathing fast, and it is thrashing and kicking the mesh with its hind legs. The owner is trying to push the head back.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Push the head back through, and if that fails, pull the body from behind
2. Wait for it to tire out and slip free on its own, filming it in the meantime
3. Apply soapy water to the neck and yank it out in one go
4. Cut the mesh with pliers or wire cutters to widen the gap, then check breathing once free and see a vet

AnswerD. Cut the mesh with pliers or wire cutters to widen the gap, then check breathing once free and see a vet

ExplanationWhen the head is stuck, the safe approach is not to pull the body but to cut the mesh itself to widen the gap. A constricted neck with rapid breathing risks suffocation, so act without delay. Once free, check breathing and consciousness, and see a vet the same day to check for neck or facial swelling and any breathing abnormality. Pushing the head back or pulling the body risks cervical spine injury and suffocation, and a panic bite. Waiting for it to slip free or filming leaves it to suffocate or fracture. Soapy water and yanking also compress the neck and worsen the injury even if it works. Covering its eyes with a thick towel during the work helps calm it.

IssuesThe joint of the homemade panel had a gap big enough for the head, and the loris's habit of poking its head into small holes was not anticipated. No tool for cutting mesh was kept nearby.

ImprovementUse a commercially made fine metal mesh cage as a rule, and run a finger along any added sections to check for gaps at joints. Keep wire cutters, scissors and a thick towel beside the cage. Share with the family: in an entrapment, do not pull; break the equipment instead.

A summer morning. The owner wakes to find the cage door of a 6-year-old slow loris open and the animal gone. The padlock was forgotten last night. The windows had only screens, and the living-room patio door was open 10 cm for ventilation. Outside is a residential area where crows can be heard.

What is the most appropriate first action?

1. Assume it went outside and run around the neighborhood searching while calling its name
2. Post photos on social media and go to work while waiting for sightings
3. First search dark high places indoors (above curtains, behind shelves, closets), close the windows, darken the room and lure it with food
4. Startle it with a loud voice before a predator gets it, and grab it when it bolts out

AnswerC. First search dark high places indoors (above curtains, behind shelves, closets), close the windows, darken the room and lure it with food

ExplanationLorises escape quietly at night and curl up to sleep in a dark high place once it gets light. First close the windows to cut off escape routes, then search dark high places indoors (tops of curtain rails, behind shelves, closets, near the ceiling), darken the room and lure it with food. Most are hiding indoors. Searching outside first gives an indoor animal the chance to leave through a window. Social media posts can wait until after the indoor search, and leaving for work lets it weaken from heatstroke and dehydration. A loud voice makes it freeze and hide, and can cause a fall or a dash out of a window. If it did get outside, crows, cats and heat are life-threatening, so search high in nearby trees intensively until evening.

IssuesThe padlock was forgotten and windows were left open. Summer ventilation left screens and window gaps, the worst possible conditions for an escape. There was no bedtime check routine.

ImprovementMake a habit of pointing and confirming the door padlock and window locks before bed. Do not ventilate with screens alone; manage temperature with air conditioning. Write out the escape procedure (close windows, darken, high places, lure with food), post it and share it with the family.

In the evening, while it was still light, the owner cleaning the cage moved an 8-year-old slow loris temporarily into a cardboard box placed on a desk. The lid was left open, and the loris crawled out and fell from the desk to the floor. The floor is hardwood, and the loris is curled up and motionless.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Assume it is just startled, pick it up right away, return it to the cage and check by offering food
2. Put it back in the box to see how it fell and watch its movements
3. If there is no swelling it is fine, so consider a vet visit from the next day onward
4. Without touching it, move it to a dark, lidded box, keep it warm, and see a vet immediately if it does not move or its breathing is abnormal

AnswerD. Without touching it, move it to a dark, lidded box, keep it warm, and see a vet immediately if it does not move or its breathing is abnormal

ExplanationA fall from desk height onto hardwood is high enough to cause fractures or head and internal organ injuries in a loris. Not moving after a fall is an immediate visit case; without touching it, move it to a dark, lidded box, keep it warm and transport it while watching its breathing. Picking it up and checking with food worsens fractures and internal bleeding and risks a bite from pain. Putting it back in the box to watch invites a second accident. Fractures and organ damage without visible swelling are common, and waiting until the next day can be too late. Daytime is its sleeping time, and working in the light is itself a cause of stress and panic.

IssuesThe work was done during daylight hours, and a lidless box was placed up high. The owner underestimated that a loris, though slow, can crawl out. No safe container for temporary holding had been prepared.

ImprovementClean during its active nighttime hours or, if in the daytime, move it inside its dark nest box into a lidded box placed on the floor. Prepare a small lockable carrier for temporary holding. Set immobility after a fall as an immediate visit, and keep a transport box and towel on hand.

During nighttime free-roaming, a 5-year-old slow loris was found chewing a leaf of the pothos in the living room. It was stopped at once, but a few minutes later it began rubbing its mouth constantly, drooling heavily, with the inside of its mouth red and swollen. The owner knows the name of the plant.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Flush the mouth forcefully with water and pull out any remaining leaf with a finger
2. Give milk to dilute the toxin, and skip the vet if it settles
3. Note the plant name, wipe leaf fragments from around the mouth, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet the same day
4. Give salt water to induce vomiting, and relax and watch if it vomits

AnswerC. Note the plant name, wipe leaf fragments from around the mouth, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet the same day

ExplanationPothos and other arum-family plants contain calcium oxalate, causing intense oral pain, drooling and swelling. Note the plant name, wipe leaf fragments from around the mouth with a cloth, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet the same day. Severe oral swelling can cause breathing difficulty, so open-mouth breathing means an immediate visit. Forcefully flushing the mouth or inserting a finger risks a bite and aspiration, and invites a venomous loris bite. Milk is a dairy product that causes diarrhea and does not neutralize the toxin. Inducing vomiting with salt water causes salt poisoning and aspiration and must never be done.

IssuesThere were houseplants within the free-roaming area, and the loris's habit of chewing plants in search of sap was not anticipated. Knowledge of toxic plants was also lacking.

ImprovementRemove all houseplants from the room where it is let out. List the names and toxicity of plants in the house so you can consult the animal hospital. Make a habit of noting the plant name, amount chewed and time before the visit, and set drooling or oral swelling as a same-day visit.

A 4-year-old pygmy slow loris with an old towel lining its cage. The frayed threads have been diminishing; it has left food for two days and tonight vomited white foam. It has not passed stool since yesterday and curls up, resisting having its belly touched. The owner thinks it is constipation and is about to give olive oil.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. It is constipation, so give olive oil and check for stool the next day
2. Suspect intestinal obstruction, remove the towel from the cage and see a vet the same day with a record of what it ate
3. Massage the belly to push the threads through, and skip the vet if stool passes
4. Feed lots of vegetables so the fiber wraps the threads and they pass naturally

AnswerB. Suspect intestinal obstruction, remove the towel from the cage and see a vet the same day with a record of what it ate

ExplanationLoss of appetite, vomiting, no stool and abdominal pain after swallowing cloth threads are classic thread-induced intestinal obstruction; left alone it kills through intestinal necrosis or perforation. See a vet the same day for X-rays or ultrasound and treatment, which may include surgery. Remove the towel that caused it, and report the color and amount of thread and when it began to diminish. Oil does not dissolve thread and risks aspiration. Massage can let thread tangled in the gut tear it. Vegetables cannot be expected to wrap and pass it, and a delayed visit is fatal in obstruction. Lorises readily swallow loose threads and small toy fragments.

IssuesA frayed old towel was lining the cage. The owner did not know that lorises swallow bedding and cloth threads, and did not notice the threads diminishing.

ImprovementUse thick pet sheets or hardwood chips on the floor and keep fraying cloth out. Inspect the cage daily for loose threads or fragments. Set vomiting, loss of appetite or no stool as same-day visit triggers, and record what and how much it eats every day.

A guest left a chocolate bar on the table, and during nighttime free-roaming a 6-year-old slow loris ate nearly half of it. Thirty minutes later it is restless, moving back and forth along the branches, breathing fast, its body trembling slightly. The owner was told "it likes sweets, so it will be fine" and is unsure.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. It likes sweets, so there is no problem; give plenty of water and watch until morning
2. Put a finger down its throat to force vomiting and relax once it vomits
3. See a vet immediately with the amount eaten, the time and the wrapper, transporting it in a calm, dark box
4. Give a small dose of a human sleeping pill to calm it down and make it sleep

AnswerC. See a vet immediately with the amount eaten, the time and the wrapper, transporting it in a calm, dark box

ExplanationThe theobromine and caffeine in chocolate cause agitation, rapid heartbeat, tremors and seizures even in small amounts in a small loris and can be fatal. See a vet immediately with the amount eaten, the time and the wrapper (which shows the cocoa content) for fluids and detoxification. Human sweets are a food that must never be given to a loris. "It likes sweets" is no basis for safety, and waiting until morning leads to seizures or cardiac arrest. Forcing vomiting with a finger risks a bite and aspiration and provokes a venomous bite. Human sleeping pills cause severe poisoning and dangerously mask symptoms. Keep it dark and quiet during transport and avoid stimulation.

IssuesFree-roaming continued while guests were present, and food on the table was not cleared. The knowledge that human sweets are dangerous to a loris had not been shared with family or guests.

ImprovementReturn the loris to its cage when guests are present and keep food off the table. Tell family and guests that human sweets, honey and dairy must not be given. For poisoning, set a rule to record what, how much and when and see a vet immediately, and note the after-hours hospital's contact details.

In winter, the owner let a loris free-roam at night in a tatami room used for clothing storage. The closet held many mothball packets. The following night, a 7-year-old slow loris vomited, became unsteady and slipped off a branch. One of the mothball packets in the closet was torn and some pellets were missing.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Note the product name and ingredients of the mothballs, keep it warm in a dark box, see a vet immediately and bring the vomit
2. The vomiting is from the smell of the mothballs, so ventilate the room and watch until the next day
3. Give milk to protect the stomach, and see a vet a few days later if symptoms continue
4. Give lots of water to dilute the toxin and have it lick salt to induce vomiting

AnswerA. Note the product name and ingredients of the mothballs, keep it warm in a dark box, see a vet immediately and bring the vomit

ExplanationMothball agents such as naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene cause vomiting, unsteadiness, seizures, hemolysis and liver damage in small animals even in small amounts. Note the product name and ingredients, put the vomit in a sealed bag, keep it warm in a dark box and see a vet immediately. Unsteadiness and a fall also fall under "seizure or unsteadiness means an immediate visit." Dismissing it as nausea from the smell and waiting until the next day lets hemolysis and liver damage progress beyond help. Milk causes diarrhea and may increase absorption of fat-soluble ingredients. Inducing vomiting with salt risks salt poisoning and aspiration and must never be done. Also tell the vet the possible time of ingestion.

IssuesThe free-roaming area had storage containing mothballs and chemicals, and the loris's habit of entering dark places such as closets was not considered. It took a day to notice the ingestion.

ImprovementLimit free-roaming to rooms without chemicals, mothballs or detergents, and keep closets and cupboards closed and secured. Inspect its range after free-roaming so abnormalities are noticed early. Set vomiting or unsteadiness as an immediate visit and be ready to give the product name.

Having heard that "lorises love sweets," the owner has fed a 2-year-old pygmy slow loris banana, grapes and honey as its staple diet every night. It has gained 100 g in a year, has recently become sluggish and has developed bad breath. The owner believes it is still healthy.

What is the most appropriate judgment?

1. It is a bit overweight, so stop only the honey and give as much fruit as it likes
2. There is no problem while it is lively; consider a vet visit if it starts losing weight
3. The risk of diabetes and periodontal disease from excess sugar is high, so switch the diet to tree gum, insects and pellets and have a checkup within a few days
4. Put it on a crash diet by fasting for two days, then go back to fruit only

AnswerC. The risk of diabetes and periodontal disease from excess sugar is high, so switch the diet to tree gum, insects and pellets and have a checkup within a few days

ExplanationLarge amounts of sweet fruit such as banana and grapes, and honey, are foods a loris must not be given. Excess sugar leads from obesity to diabetes, periodontal disease and metabolic bone disease, and the weight gain and bad breath are already signs. Switch the staple diet to acacia gum, insects and a species-specific pellet, limit fruit to small amounts a few times a week, and have blood sugar and dental condition checked within a few days. Stopping only the honey while feeding unlimited fruit leaves sugar excessive. By the time weight starts to fall, diabetes is already advanced. A two-day fast causes hypoglycemia and seizures in a small loris and is dangerous. Change the diet gradually in consultation with the vet.

IssuesBased on the folk belief that "it likes sweets," fruit and honey were made the staple without nutritional knowledge. Weight gain was mistaken for health, and bad breath was not linked to dental signs.

ImprovementMake acacia gum, insects and a species-specific pellet the staple, with fruit in small amounts a few times a week, and never give honey, human sweets or dairy. Record weight weekly and set a 5% change as a visit threshold. Have annual blood and oral exams, and ensure exercise with nighttime foraging puzzles.

Early afternoon in August. Lightning caused a power outage and the air conditioning stopped. The closed room rose to 32°C within an hour, and a 5-year-old slow loris has come out of its nest box, lying flat on the floor, mouth open and breathing fast. There is no word on when power will return, and it is 35°C in the blazing sun outside.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Immerse its body in ice water to cool it rapidly and continue until it shivers
2. Place towel-wrapped frozen water bottles, wipe its body lightly with a damp towel and fan it, and see a vet if it does not improve
3. It is nocturnal and therefore heat-tolerant, so darken the room and wait for power to return
4. Keep blowing a fan hard directly onto its body and force it to drink water

AnswerB. Place towel-wrapped frozen water bottles, wipe its body lightly with a damp towel and fan it, and see a vet if it does not improve

ExplanationA loris's proper temperature is 24–28°C, and open-mouth, rapid breathing in a closed 32°C room is a sign of heatstroke. First move it to a cooler room or shade, place towel-wrapped ice packs or frozen water bottles in the cage, wipe its body lightly with a damp towel and fan it. If open-mouth breathing continues or the listlessness does not improve, see a vet immediately. Immersion in ice water causes shock from a sudden drop in body temperature and is dangerous. Nocturnal animals are still vulnerable to heat, and leaving it is life-threatening. Blowing a strong fan continuously or forcing water causes stress and aspiration; treat dehydration with fluids at the vet. In an outage, using the car's air conditioning for transport is one option.

IssuesNo cooling measures for an outage (ice packs, frozen bottles, a place to evacuate to) had been prepared. In the summer heat the air conditioner was the only means of temperature control, with no backup.

ImprovementKeep frozen water bottles and ice packs in the freezer and decide a cooling procedure for outages. Check the thermometer daily and act when it exceeds 28°C. Identify a place to evacuate to during a prolonged outage (a relative's home, the animal hospital) and have a transport box ready.

Late at night in January, heavy snow caused a power outage and the panel heater and air conditioning stopped. Three hours later the room is down to 18°C, and a 7-year-old pygmy slow loris is curled up shivering in its nest box, responding sluggishly when called. Its body feels cold to the touch. Power is not expected back until morning.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Place cloth-wrapped hand warmers or a hot-water bottle beside the nest box, cover the cage with a blanket to warm it gradually, and see a vet if it does not respond
2. Blow hot air from a hair dryer directly on its body to warm it quickly
3. It has just gone into hibernation, so leave it quiet until morning
4. Press a container of hot water directly against its body and warm it until the shivering stops

AnswerA. Place cloth-wrapped hand warmers or a hot-water bottle beside the nest box, cover the cage with a blanket to warm it gradually, and see a vet if it does not respond

ExplanationLorises are considered at risk below 20°C, and shivering with sluggish responses at 18°C shows progressing hypothermia. Place cloth-wrapped hand warmers or a hot-water bottle beside the nest box, cover the cage with a blanket to retain heat, and warm it gradually. Hand warmers cause low-temperature burns on direct contact, so always wrap them in cloth and leave room for the loris to move away. If it does not respond, has seizures or breathes abnormally, see a vet immediately. Hot air from a dryer causes burns and sudden temperature change. Lorises do not hibernate, and leaving it is life-threatening. A hot container pressed directly on the body causes burns. Transport using the car's heating is also an option in an outage.

IssuesNo warming measures for a winter outage (hand warmers, hot-water bottle, blankets) had been prepared, and the temperature drop went unnoticed for three hours. There was no thermometer alarm or outage preparation.

ImprovementKeep disposable hand warmers, a hot-water bottle, blankets and insulating sheets near the cage through winter. Write down the warming procedure for outages and share it with the family. Install a thermometer that warns when the temperature drops, and act before it falls below 20°C.

Late at night, a major earthquake (Japanese intensity 6) toppled a 150 cm tall cage, scattering branches and the nest box. A 4-year-old slow loris is curled in a corner of the fallen cage; it is moving but dragging its right leg. Aftershocks continue, the house has lost power, and an evacuation order has been issued for the area.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Stand the cage back up as it was, leave the loris at home and evacuate
2. Carry the loris in your arms to the shelter because the aftershocks are frightening
3. Without holding it, place it in a dark transport box lined with a towel, keep it warm with a cloth-wrapped hand warmer, take it along with the CITES registration certificate, and see a vet after evacuating
4. Splint the dragging leg and then move the whole large cage by car

AnswerC. Without holding it, place it in a dark transport box lined with a towel, keep it warm with a cloth-wrapped hand warmer, take it along with the CITES registration certificate, and see a vet after evacuating

ExplanationLeft at home, the loris would die from the cage toppling again in an aftershock or from hypothermia in the outage. Without holding it, place it in a dark transport box lined with a towel, keep it warm with a cloth-wrapped hand warmer and carry it out without jolting. The CITES registration certificate proves the animal's legality and is needed at the shelter and the vet. Since it is dragging a leg, see a vet once things settle to check for a fracture. Carrying it in your arms risks a bite, venom anaphylaxis and escape. A splint is unnecessary, and a large cage hinders evacuation. Shelters accept animals only to a limited extent, so a pet-friendly shelter or a relative's home must be decided in advance.

IssuesThe tall cage was not secured to the wall and there was no anti-tipping measure. No transport box, warming supplies or CITES certificate were ready to grab in an evacuation, and no evacuation destination had been decided.

ImprovementSecure the cage to the wall or floor and fasten branches and the nest box firmly. Pack a transport box, towel, hand warmers, several days' food and a copy of the CITES certificate in an emergency bag. Confirm in advance a place where you can evacuate with the pet and a hospital that sees primates, and share the evacuation procedure with the family.

In June, the hygrometer has read 85% for days, and black mold has grown on the wooden nest box and hardwood chip bedding in a 6-year-old slow loris's cage. The loris is sneezing repeatedly and has eye discharge. The owner is thinking of spraying mold remover inside the cage.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Move the loris to another container, replace the nest box and bedding, adjust to 50–70% with a dehumidifier, and see a vet if the sneezing continues
2. Spray mold remover inside the cage with the loris still in it and wipe it off
3. Humidity is a natural phenomenon, so open the windows for airflow and watch
4. Scrape off only the moldy parts and put them back, and place the cage by the window in the daytime to dry it in the sun

AnswerA. Move the loris to another container, replace the nest box and bedding, adjust to 50–70% with a dehumidifier, and see a vet if the sneezing continues

ExplanationThe proper humidity for a loris is 50–70%; at a sustained 85% mold grows, causing respiratory and eye symptoms such as sneezing and discharge. After moving the loris to another container, replace the moldy wooden nest box and bedding and adjust to the proper humidity with a dehumidifier. If sneezing or discharge continues or appetite falls, see a vet within a few days. Mold remover gives off chlorine and other vapors and causes poisoning or respiratory damage if used with the loris present. Opening windows alone does not lower rainy-season humidity and adds mosquito and escape risks. Placing the cage by the window in the daytime exposes a nocturnal loris to direct sunlight and light stress and does not solve the mold.

IssuesHumidity was not being managed and there was no dehumidification for the rainy season. The wooden nest box and bedding were checked infrequently, so the mold was noticed late.

ImprovementInstall a thermo-hygrometer in the cage and keep humidity at 50–70% with a dehumidifier or air conditioning. Change bedding daily and inspect and dry the nest box monthly. Handle mold and chemicals with the animal out of the cage, and make sneezing or eye discharge a visit threshold.

Demolition work has begun next door, with heavy-machinery noise and vibration from morning to evening. On day three, a 5-year-old slow loris is not sleeping in the daytime either, circling the cage and bumping into the walls, and does not eat even at night. The owner has draped a cloth over the cage, but it does not block the noise.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Make it put up with it until it gets used to it, and watch until the work is finished
2. Turn the TV up loud in the daytime to mask the noise and play with the loris
3. Give a small dose of a human tranquilizer to make it sleep during the day
4. Temporarily move the cage to the quietest, darkest room in the house or to a relative's home, and see a vet if it goes 24 hours without eating

AnswerD. Temporarily move the cage to the quietest, darkest room in the house or to a relative's home, and see a vet if it goes 24 hours without eating

ExplanationDaytime noise and vibration are severely stressful to a loris, causing inability to sleep by day, stereotypic behavior, self-injury and total loss of appetite. The fundamental remedy is to move it to the quietest, darkest room or temporarily relocate it somewhere quiet, such as a relative's home, for the duration of the work. If it still does not eat for 24 hours after the move, see a vet the same day. Waiting for it to adjust lets self-injury and weight loss progress, inviting hypoglycemia and illness from lowered immunity. A loud TV or daytime play adds more noise and wakefulness and worsens the stress. Human tranquilizers have unknown doses in small primates and cause serious side effects such as respiratory depression. It is important to know about construction schedules in advance.

IssuesThe start of the work was not known in advance, and for three days of noise the only measure was a cloth cover. There was insufficient understanding of how vital daytime quiet is to a loris.

ImprovementCheck neighborhood construction schedules and decide on a quiet room or alternative location before work starts. Keep the cage in the quietest, darkest room in the house and use a cloth cover that makes it fully dark by day. Make 24 hours without eating or stereotypic behavior a visit threshold, and record weight weekly.

A 10-year-old slow loris has had a dry cough at night for two weeks and is losing weight. The owner who lives with it has also had a low-grade fever and cough recently. The owner handles it bare-handed and washes the cage-cleaning equipment in the kitchen. A child studying for exams lives in the house.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Assume a seasonal cold, give the loris a small dose of human cold medicine and watch
2. Take the loris to a vet the same day for testing for tuberculosis and other zoonoses, and have the owner see a doctor too, mentioning that they keep a primate
3. The loris's cough is from dry air, so set up a humidifier, and the owner takes over-the-counter medicine
4. Put the loris out on the balcony for fear of infection, and have the owner keep a distance and watch

AnswerB. Take the loris to a vet the same day for testing for tuberculosis and other zoonoses, and have the owner see a doctor too, mentioning that they keep a primate

ExplanationMonkeys are susceptible to tuberculosis, and coughing with weight loss is an immediate visit item. Since the owner also has a persistent cough and low-grade fever, keep zoonotic infection in mind: take the loris to a vet the same day, and the owner should see a doctor and mention keeping a primate. Until a diagnosis is made, limit care to one person, wear gloves and a mask, do not wash equipment in the kitchen, and wash hands with soap after care. Human cold medicine is dangerous for small primates and delays diagnosis. Humidifying alone lets the infection spread to the family. The balcony is dangerous for temperature, predators and escape; isolate in a separate room indoors.

IssuesHygiene was inadequate, with bare-handed care and equipment washed in the kitchen, and there was no awareness of zoonoses. No vet was seen until the cough and weight loss had lasted two weeks. The owner had not had health checkups either.

ImprovementWear gloves for care, wash equipment in a place reserved for the animal, and wash hands with soap afterward. Remember that coughing or weight loss means an immediate visit, and have keepers get an annual health checkup. Tell your doctor that you keep a primate, and do the same whenever a family member is unwell.

Two days after a 4-year-old slow loris had diarrhea, the elementary-school child who helped clean the cage complained of fever, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. The loris had been fed raw chicken. The sponge used for cleaning was shared with the kitchen dish sponge, and the child had eaten without washing hands.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Take the child to a pediatrician and mention the contact with the loris and the animal's diarrhea; take the loris to a vet with a stool sample; stop feeding raw meat and separate and disinfect equipment
2. Assume the child's symptoms are something going around at school and watch with over-the-counter anti-diarrheals
3. Give the loris human antibiotics and the child a probiotic, and watch
4. Prepare to give up the loris, and wash the cage in the bathroom until then

AnswerA. Take the child to a pediatrician and mention the contact with the loris and the animal's diarrhea; take the loris to a vet with a stool sample; stop feeding raw meat and separate and disinfect equipment

ExplanationFever, abdominal pain and diarrhea in a child who had contact after raw meat or egg feeding and animal diarrhea is the classic course of a zoonosis such as salmonellosis. Take the child to a pediatrician and mention the contact with the loris and its diarrhea, and take the loris to a vet with stool in a sealed bag. Stop feeding raw meat and raw eggs, keep equipment separate from the kitchen, and wash hands with soap after care. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheals stop elimination in infectious diarrhea and make it worse. Self-administering human antibiotics is dangerous and prevents identifying the cause. Giving up the animal solves nothing, and washing in the bathroom spreads infection to the family. Hygiene is especially important in homes with young children or elderly people.

IssuesRaw chicken, a forbidden food, was fed; cleaning tools were shared with the kitchen; and there was no hand-washing habit. Hygiene guidance for the child helping with care was lacking.

ImprovementNever feed raw meat or raw eggs. Keep cage equipment dedicated and never wash it in the kitchen. Have the whole family wash hands with soap after care and have an adult accompany children. When the loris has diarrhea, watch the family's health too and tell the doctor about animal contact.

A 2-year-old slow loris adopted from a rescue group was placed in a cage next to the resident 6-year-old in the same room. Three days later the newcomer has soft stool and is scooting on its anus. The owner uses the same tweezers and food dishes for both and cleans with the same tools.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Keep them in the same room and consider it enough to swap the two food dishes daily
2. Isolate the newcomer in a separate room and have a fecal exam; care for the resident first, and keep equipment separate and disinfected
3. The soft stool is stress from the change of environment, so put the newcomer in the resident's cage to reassure it
4. Give the resident a preventive dewormer too and watch them in the same room

AnswerB. Isolate the newcomer in a separate room and have a fecal exam; care for the resident first, and keep equipment separate and disinfected

ExplanationA newly acquired animal may bring in parasites or infectious disease, so a fecal exam on arrival and a quarantine period in a separate room are basic. Soft stool and scooting are signs of parasites; see a vet with a stool sample within a few days. Care for the resident first, keep equipment separate per animal and disinfected, and wash hands thoroughly. Swapping food dishes alone does not break the transmission route. Assuming stress and putting them in the same cage risks both bites between solitary lorises and infection. Deworming without a diagnosis is often ineffective and can itself cause ill health. Do not forget that lorises are kept singly as a rule.

IssuesNo quarantine or fecal exam was done on arrival, and the newcomer and resident were placed in the same room. Equipment was shared, and the infection risk to the resident was not considered.

ImprovementQuarantine new animals in a separate room for at least 2–4 weeks and have a fecal exam and health check on arrival. Care for healthy animals first and keep equipment separate per animal and disinfected. Even with several animals, house each singly, and continue fecal exams 1–2 times a year.

At night, while cleaning the cage, an 8-year-old slow loris scratched the back of the owner's hand, leaving a shallow wound. The owner only rinsed it lightly with water and left it. Two days later the area around the wound is red, swollen and hot, and the armpit hurts. The loris is often seen licking its wounds.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. It is a minor wound, so treat it with over-the-counter antiseptic and a bandage and watch until it heals
2. The swelling is just your constitution, so cool it and take an over-the-counter antihistamine
3. Suspect infection from a monkey scratch, see a human medical provider the same day, and report that a loris scratched you and saliva may have been involved
4. Giving the loris antibiotics will remove the source of infection, so see only the animal hospital

AnswerC. Suspect infection from a monkey scratch, see a human medical provider the same day, and report that a loris scratched you and saliva may have been involved

ExplanationScratches and bites from monkeys are a route for bacterial infection via saliva and zoonoses such as B virus. Lorises lick saliva and gland secretions onto their wounds, and swelling, heat and painful lymph nodes show the infection is progressing. See a human medical provider the same day and report the loris scratch to receive proper treatment. Over-the-counter antiseptic and a bandage cannot stop an advanced infection, and it is dangerous once it reaches the lymph nodes. Antihistamines have no effect on infection. Giving the loris antibiotics is pointless; treating the person comes first. The wound should have been rinsed under running water for 15+ minutes immediately.

IssuesThe infection risk of a monkey-inflicted wound was underestimated, the initial rinse was inadequate, and it was left for two days. Cleaning bare-handed led to the scratch, and a human doctor's visit was never considered.

ImprovementWear thick gloves for care; rinse scratches and bites under running water for 15+ minutes immediately and see a human medical provider the same day. Tell your doctor that you keep a primate, and make swelling, heat or painful lymph nodes a same-day visit. Keepers should have an annual health checkup.

Late at night, an 11-year-old slow loris is found lying on the bedding. It does not respond to its name and no chest movement can be seen. A fragment of food is visible in its mouth. The body is still warm. The owner has the contact details of an after-hours hospital that sees primates.

What is the most appropriate first action?

1. Conclude it has died, leave it untouched and contact the hospital the next morning
2. Clear the mouth and nose of foreign material, pinch the left side of the chest between thumb and index finger and compress 100 times per minute, giving a small breath into the nose every 5 compressions while calling the hospital
3. Shake its body hard to wake it and splash water on it to stimulate it
4. Slap its back hard to restore breathing and strike the heart with a fist

AnswerB. Clear the mouth and nose of foreign material, pinch the left side of the chest between thumb and index finger and compress 100 times per minute, giving a small breath into the nose every 5 compressions while calling the hospital

ExplanationWith no response and no chest movement, a still-warm body is a candidate for CPR. First check the mouth and nose and remove foreign material such as the food fragment, pinch the left side of the chest between thumb and index finger and compress 100 times per minute, giving a small breath into the nose after every 5 compressions. At the same time call the hospital and follow instructions. The resting heart rate is 100–200 and breathing 20–40 per minute; if it recovers, transport immediately. Waiting until morning abandons the chance of saving it. Shaking and splashing water are ineffective and cause hypothermia. Striking with a fist or slapping the back hard causes fractures and internal injuries in a small body. Remove foreign material only within sight, without pushing a finger in deep.

IssuesIt may have choked on a food fragment, pointing to a problem with food size or how it was offered. The change in the senior animal was noticed late, and the CPR procedure had not been practiced in advance.

ImprovementCut food to sizes that cannot lodge in the throat and make time to watch nighttime feeding. Print the CPR steps (clear foreign material, 100 compressions per minute, a breath every 5) and post them beside the cage. Check senior animals more often at night, and share the after-hours hospital's contact details with the family.

10 p.m. A 6-year-old pygmy slow loris is on a branch with its mouth open, chest heaving, breathing fast. Counted, it is over 60 breaths per minute. Its neck is stretched out, it does not move, and a little foam is coming from its nose. The room is 26°C with nothing abnormal, and it has not touched its food.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Assume it is out of breath after exercise, keep things quiet and watch for 30 minutes
2. Open-mouth breathing is an emergency sign, so place it in a dark, quiet box and transport it immediately to the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital without jolting
3. Put a finger in its mouth to open the airway and ease its breathing
4. Assume it lacks oxygen and keep a fan blowing on its face

AnswerB. Open-mouth breathing is an emergency sign, so place it in a dark, quiet box and transport it immediately to the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital without jolting

ExplanationA loris's normal breathing rate is about 20–40 per minute; open-mouth breathing, a stretched neck and foam from the nose are signs of severe respiratory distress such as pulmonary edema, heart failure or pneumonia. "Open-mouth or rapid breathing" is a see-a-vet-now item: place it in a dark, quiet box, keep stimulation to a minimum and transport immediately without jolting. Watching for 30 minutes leads to suffocation or cardiac arrest. A finger in the mouth risks a bite and worsens things by irritating the airway. A fan does not add oxygen and causes chilling and stress. Do not tilt the box during transport and keep the car at 24°C or above. Call the hospital before arrival and ask them to prepare oxygen.

IssuesThere was a knowledge gap in interpreting abnormal breathing as being "out of breath." The normal resting breathing rate was not known, so urgency was hard to judge, and transport was not prepared.

ImprovementCount and record the resting breathing rate (20–40) and heart rate while healthy. Remember that open-mouth breathing or a stretched neck means an immediate visit. Keep a transport box on hand, and share the after-hours hospital's contact details and the procedure for calling ahead with the family.

Late at night, two lorises being trialed together fought, and blood is dripping from the forearm of the 3-year-old. They were separated into different cages, but five minutes on, the wound keeps oozing and the bedding is stained red. The loris clings weakly to a branch and its body is getting cold.

What is the most appropriate response?

1. Keep pressing the wound with clean gauze for 5+ minutes, press gently on the side nearer the heart, keep it warm and see a vet immediately
2. Sprinkle flour on it as a makeshift hemostatic, return it to the cage and watch
3. Remove the gauze repeatedly to check the wound while pressing, watching the bleeding
4. Tie a cord tightly around the top of the arm to stop the blood and see a vet in the morning

AnswerA. Keep pressing the wound with clean gauze for 5+ minutes, press gently on the side nearer the heart, keep it warm and see a vet immediately

ExplanationPress bleeding with clean gauze for 5+ minutes without lifting it. On a limb, gentle pressure on the side nearer the heart helps stop bleeding. A small loris goes into shock from even a little blood loss, and a cooling body is a danger sign: keep it warm with a cloth-wrapped hand warmer and see a vet immediately. Bites also cause venom necrosis, so same-day treatment is needed even after bleeding stops. Flour is a source of infection and barely stops bleeding. Removing the gauze repeatedly tears off the forming clot and the bleeding continues. A tight cord causes necrosis of the arm, and waiting until morning risks death from blood loss and shock. Cover its face with a thick towel during the work to prevent bites.

IssuesCohabitation of solitary lorises was attempted and the nighttime fight could not be stopped. Gauze and warming supplies were not ready, delaying the response to bleeding.

ImprovementKeep lorises singly as a rule; if trying cohabitation, provide several hideouts and observe constantly. Keep clean gauze, a thick towel, hand warmers and a transport box as an emergency kit. Set bleeding that does not stop after 5 minutes of pressure, or a cold body, as an immediate visit.

11 p.m. on a Saturday. A 5-year-old slow loris has not eaten since evening and is sitting still in its nest box. Breathing is normal, there is no diarrhea or vomiting, and it responds to touch. The regular vet is closed, and the after-hours hospital that sees primates is an hour away by car. The owner is unsure whether to go tonight or wait until morning.

What is the most appropriate judgment?

1. It is only not eating, so wait until the regular vet opens on Monday
2. Call the after-hours hospital, describe the situation and ask for instructions; keep it warm and observe tonight, and transport immediately if it reaches 24 hours without eating or breathing or consciousness changes
3. If in doubt it should be fed, so push honey into its mouth
4. Self-diagnose from online information and treat with human medicine in the house

AnswerB. Call the after-hours hospital, describe the situation and ask for instructions; keep it warm and observe tonight, and transport immediately if it reaches 24 hours without eating or breathing or consciousness changes

ExplanationWith normal breathing and consciousness and only reduced appetite, "has not eaten for 24 hours" is the same-day visit guideline. First call the after-hours hospital, describe the situation and ask for the vet's instructions. Tonight, keep it warm and observe in a dark setting, and transport immediately if it goes 24 hours without eating or shows changes in breathing, seizures or reduced responsiveness. Hypoglycemia, diabetes or dental disease can underlie loss of appetite, and waiting until Monday is dangerous. Pushing in honey risks aspiration and a bite and worsens diabetes. Self-diagnosis from online information and human medicine lead to poisoning. Weighing it and recording what and how much it ate helps at the visit.

IssuesNo visit criteria had been decided in advance, and the option of a phone consultation with the after-hours hospital was unknown. No alternative for the regular vet's closed days had been confirmed.

ImprovementWrite out the "see a vet now" and "same day" criteria from the manual and post them beside the cage. Note the after-hours hospital's number and travel time, and confirm where to go on the regular vet's days off. When in doubt, call first, and be ready to bring weight and diet records.

Late at night in January, a 9-year-old slow loris had a seizure; it has now stopped and the animal is limp. It is barely conscious and its body is cold. The owner called the after-hours hospital that sees primates and was told to come at once. It is 2°C outside, and the drive takes 40 minutes.

What is the most appropriate method of transport?

1. Hold it wrapped in a blanket, tuck it inside your warm clothing and drive
2. Load its usual cage into the car and secure it on the back seat so it does not shake
3. Line a darkened small box with a towel, add a cloth-wrapped hand warmer, carry it without jolting, and keep the car interior at 24°C or above
4. Put it in a lidless box so it can breathe easily and drive with the window open for fresh air

AnswerC. Line a darkened small box with a towel, add a cloth-wrapped hand warmer, carry it without jolting, and keep the car interior at 24°C or above

ExplanationThe basic way to transport a loris is in a darkened small box lined with a towel, with the hand warmer wrapped in cloth so it cannot touch it directly, carried still and quietly. Keep the car interior at 24°C or above. A cold animal after a seizure has progressing hypothermia, and warmth is a matter of life and death. Holding it risks a venomous bite, an accident while driving and escape. A large cage shakes more, cannot be darkened and is exposed to the winter air. A lidless box and open window worsen hypothermia in 2°C air and add escape and stimulation risks. Before leaving, tell the hospital your expected arrival, and bring the CITES registration certificate, weight history and diet records.

IssuesA dark small box and hand warmers for transport had not been prepared in advance, and the hypothermia risk of a winter night transport was not considered. The transport method had not been checked beforehand.

ImprovementKeep a transport box, towel, disposable hand warmers and cloth together near the front door. In winter, pre-warm the car to 24°C or above before setting off. Put a copy of the CITES certificate and the record notebook in the transport kit, and share the nighttime transport procedure with the family.

On a winter morning, the owner notices the heating has failed and finds a 7-year-old pygmy slow loris curled up and responding sluggishly when called. A hand on the chest finds a heart rate of about 60 per minute and shallow breathing at 12 per minute. A thermometer reads 33°C. The owner is preparing to go to the vet right away.

What is the most appropriate action until reaching the vet?

1. The heart rate is slow, so start chest-compression CPR immediately and put off the vet visit
2. Immerse it in water of 40°C or hotter to raise its temperature quickly before transport
3. Pour in lots of sugar water to perk it up and rub its body hard to warm it
4. Confirm breathing and heartbeat are continuing, warm it gradually with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and a blanket while transporting it immediately, and switch to CPR if breathing stops on the way

AnswerD. Confirm breathing and heartbeat are continuing, warm it gradually with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and a blanket while transporting it immediately, and switch to CPR if breathing stops on the way

ExplanationA loris's normal body temperature is 36–38°C, resting heart rate 100–200 and breathing 20–40; 33°C, a heart rate of 60 and 12 breaths per minute is severe hypothermia. While breathing and heartbeat are present it is not a candidate for CPR; warm it gradually with cloth-wrapped hand warmers and a blanket and see a vet immediately. If breathing stops during transport, switch to checking for foreign material, chest compressions and rescue breaths. Chest compressions on an animal with a heartbeat are dangerous, causing arrhythmia and fractures, and must not delay the visit. Immersing in hot water causes shock from a sudden temperature change, and being wet draws off heat. Pouring in lots of sugar water causes aspiration, and hard rubbing saps its strength. If it is clearly conscious, limit this to a little sugar water at the corner of the mouth.

IssuesThe heating failure went unnoticed until morning, and there was no system to warn of a temperature drop. Normal heart and breathing rates for hypothermia were not known, and CPR was nearly applied wrongly.

ImprovementInstall a thermometer that warns when the temperature drops, and have two heating systems in case one fails. Record normal body temperature, heart rate and breathing rate, practice how to check them, and understand that CPR is only for when breathing and heartbeat are absent. Keep warming supplies and the transport box close at hand throughout winter.