I need so much help (sick tortoise)

KristaAZ

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I know she acts like she wants out, but keep her in the water. It is what is best for her. I set my timer in 15 minute increments and scoop out the water to replace it with warmer water. Pooping in the water is one of the things they do best.

I didn't know they pooped and peed in the water! I have never seen her do that. I keep seeing that in the post. That would be awesome if I can get her to!
 

Tom

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I didn't know they pooped and peed in the water! I have never seen her do that. I keep seeing that in the post. That would be awesome if I can get her to!
It looks to me like she is blocked up with a lot more than just the O ring. Is your tortoise housed on sand or sandy dirt?

Another way to keep the soak water warm is to put the soaking tub outside and partially in the sun. You have to monitor the water temp VERY carefully this way, but it is effective. I do it all the time. But check that water temp every few minutes.
 

KristaAZ

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I agree with what Yvonne said on all points. She speaks from many years of experience there.

Your vet is not legally allowed to give you medical advice. I would not hold that against her. They tread a fine line.

What I don't like about this sort of thing is that most vets treat the symptoms, but they never address, discover and correct the cause of the sickness. Wild animals don't just get sick for no reason. Something is off in the care and husbandry. If that something isn't discovered and fixed, the tortoise will not get better, and this will be a re-occurring and likely fatal problem. Why did your tortoise get sick in the first place? In most cases they get an RI from cold damp temps. It is hot now, but this is something you might need to address this fall and over winter.

Thank you for your reply!

That's what they kept saying is that they can't give medical advice. I really do get that. I told them I just wanted to know if I should be concerned, take immediate action, something?? I feel like she could have said these are possible things tortoises can carry, and you can get XYZ from them. I just wanted some general info, versus having to google and not know what's true.

I got her from someone so she had it when I got her. She told me that she gets a cold and if she has symptoms to tell her and she will give me some drops. Ya...it's way more complicated then that. I had no idea. I few winters ago she was sick so I had to bring her in.

They did bloodwork and found out she is anemic. The vet said we aren't even going to think about that yet until she is healthy.
 

KristaAZ

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It looks to me like she is blocked up with a lot more than just the O ring. Is your tortoise housed on sand or sandy dirt?

Another way to keep the soak water warm is to put the soaking tub outside and partially in the sun. You have to monitor the water temp VERY carefully this way, but it is effective. I do it all the time. But check that water temp every few minutes.

That's what the vet said. That she is full of little rocks too. I don't see too many rocks come out in her poop. No no sand, but there are a lot of rocks. I will try to soak her outside (and monitor her). It's going to be 109 degrees today!!
 

Tom

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Tom

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That's what the vet said. That she is full of little rocks too. I don't see too many rocks come out in her poop. No no sand, but there are a lot of rocks. I will try to soak her outside (and monitor her). It's going to be 109 degrees today!!

If the temp is anywhere near 100, soak the tortoise outside but in full shade. I use large plastic tubs. Make the water come about half way up the shell. With a blockage like what you are seeing there, I would soak this tortoise for two hours a day and do you best to get some mineral oil into her. Put it on the romaine.
 

KristaAZ

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If the temp is anywhere near 100, soak the tortoise outside but in full shade. I use large plastic tubs. Make the water come about half way up the shell. With a blockage like what you are seeing there, I would soak this tortoise for two hours a day and do you best to get some mineral oil into her. Put it on the romaine.

Perfect it will be 109 today!!! haha. I usually fill it until it's about around her neck (so her head is out of the water). She pulls her head in and out of the water. Dumb question, but can you tell me more about what soaking does (besides the obvious of rehdyrating). I am just wondering why such a long soak time? I am good with it, just curious. Do they like to be in water? Tortoises can't swim correct? She has put her head under the water for several minutes and it freaks me out so I lift up to make her stand up more so she is out of the water.
 

teresaf

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Hi! Thank you so much! I have been soaking her about 10 minutes almost every day. I put her in my sink and when she starts trying to climb out I take her out lol. She lives outside.
At LEAST 30 min soaks.. keep water warm (about 95-100f). Her trying to get out actually is good for the digestive system so **** her off and leave her in longer.
 

Taylor T.

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Just a thought:

I don't know that much about reading medical X-rays, but I do know how X-rays work in general. You see, a rubber O-ring would not bounce back enough electrons at the sensor to produce those bright white pixels on the image. A metal washer however, certainly could.

If it is a ferrous metal washer, could you somehow use a strong magnet to get it out?
 

mark1

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First she was on Batryel. It worked, but didn't fully get rid of it. Then the vet switched her to oxytetracycline. She actually had to get the injections from another vet out of state because apparently it only comes in oral form in the US, but you can get the injections from Europe??


i believe your vet knows what she is doing ............ i would say the nasal washes would help ........... it may take a long time to clear it up , but the tortoise should be showing improvement .......
 

Maro2Bear

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Just a thought:

I don't know that much about reading medical X-rays, but I do know how X-rays work in general. You see, a rubber O-ring would not bounce back enough electrons at the sensor to produce those bright white pixels on the image. A metal washer however, certainly could.

If it is a ferrous metal washer, could you somehow use a strong magnet to get it out?

That was my first gut impression as well. Clearly defined edges as well, nothing ragged..I’m going with metal.
 

Yvonne G

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Perfect it will be 109 today!!! haha. I usually fill it until it's about around her neck (so her head is out of the water). She pulls her head in and out of the water. Dumb question, but can you tell me more about what soaking does (besides the obvious of rehdyrating). I am just wondering why such a long soak time? I am good with it, just curious. Do they like to be in water? Tortoises can't swim correct? She has put her head under the water for several minutes and it freaks me out so I lift up to make her stand up more so she is out of the water.
The reason for the long soak is to make them tired of being in there and try to escape. Scrambling around, climbing the sides, trying to get out is what makes the poop let go and come out. A tortoise's mobility has very much to do with how well the digestive system works.
 

KristaAZ

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The reason for the long soak is to make them tired of being in there and try to escape. Scrambling around, climbing the sides, trying to get out is what makes the poop let go and come out. A tortoise's mobility has very much to do with how well the digestive system works.

She is not happy! . I need to get a deeper container. Sometimes she can hook her hand on top and get out . Thank you for all of the great info!
 

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KristaAZ

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i believe your vet knows what she is doing ............ i would say the nasal washes would help ........... it may take a long time to clear it up , but the tortoise should be showing improvement .......

I am going to try to do this ASAP. I may have to go back to the original vet to get it. I love the vet. It’s the girl at the front who I wanted to throat punch
 

ascott

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She is not happy! . I need to get a deeper container. Sometimes she can hook her hand on top and get out . Thank you for all of the great info!

LMAofff...I have never seen a tortoise with a hand...:) Okay, so let the tortoise soak for about 2 hours....whilst keeping an eye on from time to time to assure she has not flipped in the soaker....I would fill the water up as you have been...I would also begin to feed romaine, red and green leaf lettuce, especially if that is a familiar item she already likes and knows....you can also offer some squash and other yellow items....if she likes the red flowers...give her as many as she will eat....I agree with Tom that she is backed up with more than that mystery orb...I would also try to trick her into a bite or two of something that she likes and before you give it to her get a bit of mineral oil in/on the bite and do this a few times....that tort needs to be lubed up big time....I have cleared an old tort that was blocked/impacted with sand...when I got the old man he would not move, he would not eat....nothing....then I started soaking him 2 plus hours for weeks...and then one day I started blaming people for tracking in sand from outside (he staid in my office at a park I use to work at and had free range of the office...is was okay like that then :) ) on their work boots..I bitched and moaned and gave everyone a what for...then I realized oh crap..those sand spots were the tort pooping out little sand balls...like perfect little round sand balls...once that started the rest was history....more soaks, more dandelion offerings (this is tortoise crack, as long as no chemicals on them) and then eventually the "dam" broke loose and once it did...there was sand everywhere...and then he began eating everything I offered and to this day he will put away and entire head of untrimmed romaine each and every day... along with anything else he finds, or is offered..

Be diligent and soak and offer food she likes so he will eat.....let her move about...take her for walks if at all possible....I also did this and the drive to walk will get stuff moving....BUT YOU CAN NEVER EVER EVER EVER take your eyes off her while walking....well, of course unless you are in a secure area fenced where you can locate her if she gives you the slip....sneaky buggers.
 

DesertGirl

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Hi! Thank you so much for the response. She is a Sonoran Desert Tortoise. She is outside in the backyard. She is outside and it’s so hot here already. The vet told me to leave her outside and not to bring her in. I am going to call my doctor this morning. I hope the needle stick is no big deal.
 

DesertGirl

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Hi! Thank you so much for the response. She is a Sonoran Desert Tortoise. She is outside in the backyard. She is outside and it’s so hot here already. The vet told me to leave her outside and not to bring her in. I am going to call my doctor this morning. I hope the needle stick is no big deal.

Right up front, let me say I am NOT a doctor. I wouldn’t worry one bit about that needle stick. Think about your size compared to a tort. Anything formulated for a 10 lb tort would be an infinitesimal amount for a human. That’s just me - I wouldn’t give it another thought.

I have a Sonoran DT, too! Glad to have you here! Haven’t seen too many SDT keepers here. Frisbee says hi from Las Vegas.

Hi! Thank you so much for the response. She is a Sonoran Desert Tortoise. She is outside in the backyard. She is outside and it’s so hot here already. The vet told me to leave her outside and not to bring her in. I am going to call my doctor this morning. I hope the needle stick is no big deal.
 

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Pearly

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Great advise above, just to add that my torts LOVE their bathtime ever since I switch them from smaller container to my guest bathtub. Back when I did they were tiny (2-3” long) and this was HUGE space for them. Now 3yrs later they are 10 and 11”, so not that much “swim room” anymore, but they are so used to their daily bath at sunset that it’s hard to give that routine up. It’s our special time together. I get to inspect them for potential scratches or bug bites after coming inside from the garden. IMG_5599.jpgSo maybe try bigger container, or the tub you had mentioned. Just remember, she WILL pee and poo in there. I have designated special tools for cleaning all that up[emoji6][emoji38]. As for RI and anemia, your tortie girl needs any help she can get now, so aside from daily long warm soaks (with babyfood- carrot, or prdialyte, or without), I’d keep that water warm. Have your temp gun handy, and I’d keep it at 95 at the lowest to 105F highest. That will be comfortable for her and she will be breathing those warm vapors right above the water surface. I’d also keep her inside at least at nite in a very humid, warm place (85F and humiditi in high 90’s), you can use a plastic container for that, put some substrate on the bottom and/or bunch of old (clean) rugsthat you don’t mind throwing away afterwards) and let her bury herself in those, or just cover her with a few. Cover it up with just a crack open and run in there your humidifier in there for 15-20 min. When your humidity gague shows 99%, and next morning there is condensation on the box’es walls, you’re in good shape. The point of all that is to let her breathe those WARM VAPORS as much as possible. That, hydration, and do all you can to get her to eat! Whatever it takes! If she likes only romaine, give it to her with slowly adding to it other things. Can soak Maxuri and coat the romaine with this mash like with a salad dressing. Just trwat her like a new sickly, fussy eater- hutchling. And be PATIENT! And persistent! Good food will hopefully help with anemia. Look into slowly adding some iton rich green leafy veggies, just don’t overdo on those as many of them may not be good for her calcium metabolism. She maybe weak and not have enough stamina to bite off her food, due to her lungs being compromised, so try chopping thing up, as finely as it takes. With the antibiotics, consider probiotic/prebiotic options... I know one thing for sure, that perseverance with torts really pays off. Sending my best healing vibes your way. Good luck, hugs[emoji217]
 

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