Day: July 15, 2017

birdblogwhichisforbirds:

pervocracy:

Dear people who believe every doctor’s office should be able to “just look me up” and have all their medical information and history right there: you’re right, we *should* be able to do that.

But we can’t, so please bear with us and don’t berate the front office staff for not establishing a secure national health data network right before your eyes.

Thanks

This *can* be a blessing (although in most cases I agree it is definitely bad.)

If you have one asshole doctor who labels you as Evil Non-compliant Patient Whose Physical Health Issues Are Clearly All Psychosomatic (Despite Lab Tests Indicating They Are Real) then it’s very hard to ghost on those medical notes in the NHS. I’ve never had that experience but I know multiple people who have.

(Someone I know recently managed to do this. It required changing her name by deed poll and moving cities, both of which she had intended to do anyway for other reasons. I can ask her about details if any followers want to know.)

But yeah, it’s mostly very bad you can’t do this.

fuckyeahherpetology:

Here’s me holding a common snapping turtle properly. Notice how my hands are on the sides of the shell, not putting weight pressure on the thinner front and back portions that connect to the spine. Here I’m supporting the turtle at 3 points. Two hands at the bridges (where the carapace and plastron meet) and one supporting his weight on my thigh. The bridges are thick parts of the shell that can handle the weight of the turtle without putting pressure directly on the spine. He did claw at me a little, but it’s hardly bad compared to other things that claw at me. He cannot reach me with his mouth, not that he tried really. This was comfortable and not very threatening for him.
It’s not an alligator snapping turtle, but even then I wouldn’t take one above 70lbs out because they simply are too heavy to be held comfortably by us and without putting pressure on their body.

The old tradition of holding the top of the shell behind the head perplexes me, because it puts all of the weight on that point (the front of the spine) and bends it back. It also would have no reason evolutionarily to support that area for weight bearing! Knowing that, how could anyone think that’s the only correct way?

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

fuckyeahherpetology:

earthstory:

Apparently this is the correct way to pick up a snapping turtle without injuring it (not the case for every turtle)

No it’s not. If you hold them entirely by the top of their shell, you are putting immense pressure on their spine and joints. He’s holding it okay here because he’s supporting the weight of the turtle with his knee to prevent it, but there’s no reason not to hold it by the sides of his shell towards the back. You have to be careful of the claws, yes, but I’ve held about 100+ snapping turtles (commons and alligators) that way and they cannot reach you with their mouth.

What they can do in this situation, is this.
http://www.chelydra.org/neck.jpg

I’ve seen them place their heads entirely upside down on the front of their carapace. Your hand helps prevent that but it’s also not totally safe there from a turtle that really tries.

Also if you ever lift a snapping turtle by its tail, you dislocate its tail spine from its shell and that has and can kill them. I’ve found dead or dying turtles with the spine dislocation because someone lifted a 50lb animal by its tail and thought that would be fine. Please don’t do that ever.

Seriously, it’s not that complicated I promise. Just hold the turtle towards the back in the middle of the shell, but give it proper support, or don’t hold it at all.
https://thevlm.org/wp-content/uploads/Snap-x2-6.jpg