HELP PLEASE!!!! Hermanns Tortoise Eye Problem

Sosakan

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Hello all,

I am having a serious problem with my 1y4m Hermanns Tortoise named Einstein. About six weeks ago I noticed his eyes were getting dry and crusting looking, so I took him to our local vet who specializes in exotics. The vet prescribed Ceftazadime injections, of which he has had two rounds - one every three days with 5 shots in all, a couple of weeks to see how he was doing and the another round of 8 shots every three days as well. Also, the vet prescribed Neomycin and Polymyxin ophthalmologist ointment which I administered twice daily. The first round of treatment kept him looking good but after a week and a half he started to degrade again. Today was the last injection and he doesn't look any better. He is having trouble seeing and this is affecting his ability to eat, which worries me a lot. I'm calling the vet tomorrow for more advice but I would like to know if any of you have had a similar problem?

The vet first said it was an infection because he had labored breathing, but the eye problem has persisted. He later thought it might be a metabolic problem and suggested Timothy hay as a supplement. I have tried to get him to eat zoo med grassland diet but he refuses. I have also put Timothy hay in one of his hides but he is uninterested.

I am at my wits end!

Setup:
Zoo med 120w mvb on a stand, bulb is new this month
Substrate: zoomed plantation earth
Diet: I raised him on a "sweet butter" mix from the grocery and still do. He gets fresh hibiscus and dandelions when available. I want to feed him zoomed, but he hates it.
Temps: 124 hottest, 75 lowest. It is pretty cool in my house, but I try to keep him warmer than usual because he is sick


I don't know how to add pics, I have them on standby once I figure how or you guys tell me!


Thank you very much in advance!
 

wellington

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First, the hay is very drying and he probably won't eat it anyway, I would use it for bedding. Second the 124 temp is way too high. Get it lowered to 95-100. I would raise the 75 to 80. How about humidity? You don't mention it and it's needed. This could be the problem, to dry. Soak him daily and more items to his diet, just butter lettuce with occasionally other things added is not a big enough variety.
Please check out the caresheet.
 

Sosakan

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First, the hay is very drying and he probably won't eat it anyway, I would use it for bedding. Second the 124 temp is way too high. Get it lowered to 95-100. I would raise the 75 to 80. How about humidity? You don't mention it and it's needed. This could be the problem, to dry. Soak him daily and more items to his diet, just butter lettuce with occasionally other things added is not a big enough variety.
Please check out the caresheet.
I will try what you say, I hope it is as simple as that! Regarding the food, I read all of the care sheets that TF, Tortoise trust, and the Tortoise table have. I TRY to give a varied diet, but can't find anything safe around where I live (NE Indiana) besides a little clover, very sparingly, dandelion and hibiscus. I have two black thumbs and can't grow a thing. I would say humidity and a varied diet are the two hardest things to maintain here.
 

wellington

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Whole foods and ethnic markets, Mexican and polish markets carry lots of things. Even adding grocery greens, like spring mix, and other dark greens is good to rotate in the diet. As for humidity, try covering part of the enclosure or making a warm humid hide.
 

Sosakan

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Whole foods and ethnic markets, Mexican and polish markets carry lots of things. Even adding grocery greens, like spring mix, and other dark greens is good to rotate in the diet. As for humidity, try covering part of the enclosure or making a warm humid hide.
Thank you for all the help! I forgot I mix collard greens, kale and cactus into the mix...had a senior moment at 33! Lol!
 

Yvonne G

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Usually crusty eyes is environmental, not from illness. Do you have the tortoise in a fairly moist environment? Do you soak him daily?
 

Sosakan

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Usually crusty eyes is environmental, not from illness. Do you have the tortoise in a fairly moist environment? Do you soak him daily?
I try, but it gets so dry so quickly. I can spray down his house and it is bone dry in half an hour. He burrows below the surface all the time, where it is much more damp. I will try covering half with cling film and see what happens. Other than that and spraying/soaks I don't know what else to do.
 

Lyn W

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To add pics from a laptop click on UPLOAD A FILE below text box, then choose 'Pictures' from your folder list and then 'Open' the pic you want to include and chose thumbnail or full image from below text box. Or just Copy and Paste pic into your post.
 

Gillian M

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Hi @Sosakan how's Einstein doing today? Sincerely hope his eye is better.

(By the way; I love his name)!
 

Sosakan

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To add pics from a laptop click on UPLOAD A FILE below text box, then choose 'Pictures' from your folder list and then 'Open' the pic you want to include and chose thumbnail or full image from below text box. Or just Copy and Paste pic into your post.
Do you happen to know how on an iPad? I don't have a pic at the moment. Thanks
 

Sosakan

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Hi @Sosakan how's Einstein doing today? Sincerely hope his eye is better.

(By the way; I love his name)!
Thank you very much for your concern and liking his name! Unfortunately he is still doing bad, he is now not even trying to eat, which kills me. I soaked him yesterday for 30mins and drenched his home all day, keeping it very moist. I will hate myself if I lose the little guy! :(:(:(:(
 

Yvonne G

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Are you sure his habitat is warm enough? Measure the temperature at floor level all over the whole habitat, even in the hiding place.
 

Gillian M

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Thank you very much for your concern and liking his name! Unfortunately he is still doing bad, he is now not even trying to eat, which kills me. I soaked him yesterday for 30mins and drenched his home all day, keeping it very moist. I will hate myself if I lose the little guy! :(:(:(:(
Sorry to hear Einstein's still sick. :( Hope to hear he is well SOON. :)

How''s the weather back there now? If it's cold then it's expected that your cutie won't eat: torts do lose appetite in cold weather. :(

Please keep us updated. ;)
 

Sosakan

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Sorry to hear Einstein's still sick. :( Hope to hear he is well SOON. :)

How''s the weather back there now? If it's cold then it's expected that your cutie won't eat: torts do lose appetite in cold weather. :(

Please keep us updated. ;)
Thank you very much Gillian! Today it is raining, 64 degrees, but I try to keep him cozy. :) if anyone here prays, Einstein could use them :(
 

Gillian M

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Thank you very much Gillian! Today it is raining, 64 degrees, but I try to keep him cozy. :) if anyone here prays, Einstein could use them :(
Welcome @Sosakan . Where do you live? Please make sure EINSTEIN is warm. I live in Jordan (The Middle East) where it's BOILING HOT in Summer and FREEZING COLD in Winter. The latter keeps me very worried as far as Oli is concerned, although I do all I can to keep him nice and warm, with his light, a central heating system in the flat and an electric heater!
 

Sosakan

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Are you sure his habitat is warm enough? Measure the temperature at floor level all over the whole habitat, even in the hiding place.
It is 105 under the light since you said it shouldn't be hotter, it is 71-76 in the hides, the floor is roughly 90 in most places, Einstein is 94f, he is hiding under a little fake flower not too far from his food dish, near the light/heat.
 

Sosakan

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Welcome @Sosakan . Where do you live? Please make sure EINSTEIN is warm. I live in Jordan (The Middle East) where it's BOILING HOT in Summer and FREEZING COLD in Winter. The latter keeps me very worried as far as Oli is concerned, although I do all I can to keep him nice and warm, with his light, a central heating system in the flat and an electric heater!
Greetings to Oli! That's my nickname because my last name is Olinger. I live in NE Indiana USA. We have been alternating between very cold and very hot days for the last month, making it difficult to keep the proper temps, I do my best, but it always seems to not be enough. Sometimes I feel like Einstein doesn't deserve such a bad keeper as myself :( truly, I try!
 

Gillian M

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Greetings to Oli! That's my nickname because my last name is Olinger. I live in NE Indiana USA. We have been alternating between very cold and very hot days for the last month, making it difficult to keep the proper temps, I do my best, but it always seems to not be enough. Sometimes I feel like Einstein doesn't deserve such a bad keeper as myself :( truly, I try!
Thank you! So you and Oli have something in common......hahaha.

Oh @Sosakan you are NOT a bad keeper, that I am sure of. We all started from "SCRATCH" so as to say.

Will PM you, ok?
 
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