Two Antibiotics At Once?

Pearly

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Oh thank you, Pearly! :) I've been so busy taking care of and worried about Dante, I just haven't had the time or inclination to sit down and write an update. Maybe I should have a word with St. Francis as well!
Sure! I happen to be Roman Catholic and we love our patron Saints, Blessed Mother and the Angels (I know some other churches get lots of hiccups over that). I think prayer is one of the best powers of this Universe, to me it's a great form of meditation and induction of positive energy. I choose to believe that there is a Supreme Being whom I just happen to call God and who loves ALL of His creation, humans, animals and world around them. He was pleased with His creation according to the Old Testament. I think there are also other not-so-loving forces at work around, that cause suffering, sickness and distruction. Little Dante needs little Divine Intervention, and Dante's Mom definitely needs some relief. Hang in there Darling.
 

Pokeymeg

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How is he doing? Is he better? :)

He's hanging in there! But unfortunately he was continuing to get worse, so we've decided to board Dante at the vet.

Since my husband and I work 9-5, it's been hard (and extremely stressful) to give Dante all the care he needs. I brought him in to the vet last weekend, but he was too dehydrated to get enough blood for lab work, so that's why we finally decided to board him. Now he's getting much more TLC, and they'll be running a full blood workup to check organ function, etc, and hopefully see what we're missing.

We just visited him earlier today and he seems more comfortable. He took a couple nibbles of food and was wiggling around a bit, which makes me feel better about our decision to board him (it was not easy for me to hand him over to sometimes else's care :-/ )
 

Kori5

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I think you made the right decision. It's always better to be under vets supervision, maybe they find out what's wrong. He's been sick a really long time :/. Hopefully, blod work will give you more information. Is he being tube fed? I know you miss him but hang in there :). He'll get all the care he needs!
 

Pokeymeg

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I think you made the right decision. It's always better to be under vets supervision, maybe they find out what's wrong. He's been sick a really long time :/. Hopefully, blod work will give you more information. Is he being tube fed? I know you miss him but hang in there :). He'll get all the care he needs!

Thank you, I think so too now! I feel better knowing that trained eyes are watching him now.

He's getting food and fluids via syringe orally (no stomach tube). As far as torts go, he's pretty easy to handle so a stomach tube hasn't been necessary thus far, thank goodness!
 

Kori5

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Thank you, I think so too now! I feel better knowing that trained eyes are watching him now.

He's getting food and fluids via syringe orally (no stomach tube). As far as torts go, he's pretty easy to handle so a stomach tube hasn't been necessary thus far, thank goodness!
Well that is much better than a stomach tube. Keep us updated and I hope your little boy goes home soon :).
 

Pokeymeg

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How is Dante?

Dante's hanging in there!

He was showing some improvement when we visited him last Sunday (5/22)! The vet noted that during the week leading up to our visit, Dante started opening his eyes on his own (without being prodded), and was holding his head up better.
During our visit, the weather was finally nice so we took him outside. At first Dante did nothing but the usual blowing bubbles out of his nose, but after about 20 minutes he decided that he was STARVING! and ate several massive dandelions :) He ate unaided (I didn't have to hold the food right in front of his mouth), which he hasn't done in weeks. It did wonders for my mental state to see him enjoy some sunshine and eat on his own!

I'm going to see Dante again tomorrow, so fingers crossed this week has seen some more improvements!
20160521_102059-1-1.jpg
 
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Kori5

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What a beautiful picture! He looks much better and sounds even better :). Did he put on some weight? Because his legs look thicker to me. He sure is enjoying his dandelions. Kori loves them too, but prefers the stems which I don't like him eating because of the oxalates. When is he coming home? I think the sun and being outside, if you manage it for a few hours a day, is going to do wonders to him. Everything will be ok, fingers crossed for improvement. Keep us updated :<3:.
 

Pokeymeg

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What a beautiful picture! He looks much better and sounds even better :). Did he put on some weight? Because his legs look thicker to me. He sure is enjoying his dandelions. Kori loves them too, but prefers the stems which I don't like him eating because of the oxalates. When is he coming home? I think the sun and being outside, if you manage it for a few hours a day, is going to do wonders to him. Everything will be ok, fingers crossed for improvement. Keep us updated :<3:.

I think that's just the angle of the photo! His legs are still fairly scrawny, due to no muscle mass right now. But that will change once he's moving again :)

I'm actually sitting with him right now and he's doing great! He's had another week of teeny tiny baby steps forward. Today he's willing to eat non-dandelion things, like clover and plantain, and his eyes are wide and bright!

Dante will be here for quite some time yet, probably another month. He's still on medication and getting supportive care (forced feeding/fluids) and not eating on his own constistantly. It's believed he's in some stage of fatty liver disease, with all his non-eating over the last few months, so we need to get him eating right and stronger before taking him home.... And breathing better, of course!
 

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Kori5

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He looks great to me! :) How old is Dante? I don't know if you've mentioned it somewhere. Oh I thought he's gonna be home sooner. But at least there is some improvement, you can wait a little while :).
 

Pokeymeg

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He looks great to me! :) How old is Dante? I don't know if you've mentioned it somewhere. Oh I thought he's gonna be home sooner. But at least there is some improvement, you can wait a little while :).

He's about 13, still a young'n!
 

Pokeymeg

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We visited Dante today - he's finally starting to make a comeback!

I've been informed that all the interns take turns taking Dante outside for sunshine when they have downtime, and that he has actually started nibbling the grass and weeds on his own!!

And, most importantly, today he pooped!! As we walked in, the intern said, "he just pooped more than any tortoise ever should. I thought a second tortoise might come out!" It's been 2 months since he pooped, so I'm super excited!

His breathing is still not recovered fully, but it's possible that may take longer to clear up, if it clears up...He has a lot of scar tissue in his lungs from pneumonia. But as long as he is eating and getting stronger and starts moving around, we'll be taking him home in a couple weeks. Can't wait!!!! :D:D:D
 

Kori5

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I'm so sorry I just saw this. I am so happy for you and Dante :). How is he now? You are lucky the vet staff is so considerable so he can spend some time outside.
 

Pokeymeg

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Make 'em here
Yes, very lucky that they not only take the time, but also that they recognize how important real sunshine is and consider it part of his treatment!

I'll be visiting tomorrow and can't wait to see if he's had any further progress this week.
 

Pokeymeg

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Unfortunately all of my worst doubts and fears have come true... Dante has passed.

He was a wonderful tortoise who should've had many years left to live and the thought of never seeing him romp around again is sickening.

Here's the last picture I took of him, napping in the sun a few days before he passed.1466631355412.jpg

RIP Dante.

I will be taking a break from TFO for a little while.
 

DutchieAmanda

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Ooo I'm so sorry... And he seemed to be getting better lately. :'(
Wish you all the best..
 

Kori5

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I'm so sorry :(. This is heartbreaking. I thought he is getting better. Meg you did everything that was possible and it makes me so sad. Please hold on there. Condolecens from us. If you need to talk or anything, contact me.
 

Yvonne G

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Aw, dang. That's pretty darned sad.
 

Nicole M

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So sorry for your loss... Dante was beautiful, and while I didn't know him, his personality seems to shine through in photos. What a wonderful creature.
 

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