Rescued a leopard tort who seems very sick... new owner!

Tessa127

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Hey all... New to the forum here. I just rescued a possible 2 year old leopard tort. Its eyes appear to be slow to open and a bit swollen, although bright when open. Its stool is also runny. Comments, ideas? Someone on the forum already helped very much (you know who you are), just thought I'd throw out this info if anyone has anything. I've only had her one day.

It seems to be showing signs of a lower resp infection, which I know is bad. Just found a vet and have an appt tomorrow. It's in a large plastic tub (for now), high humidity, bumped the temp up to 95, soaking often, and even got out for a bit of natural sun today. Runny stools, small appetite, swollen eyes, slightly labored breathing. :(

I really want to save it and give it a good life. Comments appreciated. Thanks so much.

Kari
 

TechnoCheese

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Welcome to the forum! Could we see pictures of your tortoise and enclosure?
Be sure to keep all temps above 85 day and night with a 95-100 degree basking spot during the day.

Since you’ve had it for such a short amount of time, this obviously isn’t your fault. Do you know how the previous keepers were keeping it, or what they fed?

I’m sure you’ve already read these, but I’ll link them here just in case :)
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/
 

Tessa127

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Welcome to the forum! Could we see pictures of your tortoise and enclosure?
Be sure to keep all temps above 85 day and night with a 95-100 degree basking spot during the day.

Since you’ve had it for such a short amount of time, this obviously isn’t your fault. Do you know how the previous keepers were keeping it, or what they fed?

I’m sure you’ve already read these, but I’ll link them here just in case :)
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/How-To-Raise-A-Healthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/


Thanks TechnoCheese.... Kept in a typical glass enclosure, no humidity, no hide hole. Also with different species of torts. Yep, the temps are just that. Thank you.. And I sure did read those! I appreciate the help. Took it to the vet tonight. Labored breathing, weak, puffy eyes. I hope she makes the night :( Vet gave me electrolytes every hour, antibiotics, and some liquid vitamins. recheck soon. It's so lethargic. I'll be sitting up all night .... Cross your fingers. It's a great little tort. shame on the previous owner. Shame on him...
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Kari, and welcome to the Forum!

I have had good luck using an antibiotic you can buy at a feed store (but now you may need to get a script from your vet):

2545Large.gif


You use a quarter teaspoon in a quart of warm water and leave the tortoise soaking in it for an hour. Keep a close watch to make sure he doesn't tip over upside down. You can either place a light over the edge of the soaking tub, or put it back into the enclosure to keep it warm. I do this daily for about a week. If you can't buy it online and if you can't get a script from your vet, take a look at the medicines sold in the fish department at pet stores. Sometimes you can find it there (not in the same package as shown)
 

Tessa127

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Hi Kari, and welcome to the Forum!

I have had good luck using an antibiotic you can buy at a feed store (but now you may need to get a script from your vet):

2545Large.gif


You use a quarter teaspoon in a quart of warm water and leave the tortoise soaking in it for an hour. Keep a close watch to make sure he doesn't tip over upside down. You can either place a light over the edge of the soaking tub, or put it back into the enclosure to keep it warm. I do this daily for about a week. If you can't buy it online and if you can't get a script from your vet, take a look at the medicines sold in the fish department at pet stores. Sometimes you can find it there (not in the same package as shown)


Thank you so much... So far vet gave us electrolytes every hour, an antibiotic once a day, eye drops 3x a day, and a vitamin food supplement 2x a day. No sleep for anyone. Little tort made it through the night but is pretty weak this morning. Still keeping fingers crossed. Thank you YvonneG! Can I do an antibiotic soak AND liquid oral antibiotics at the same time? Again any and all comments appreciated. Sad for for little tort.
 

Ray--Opo

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Good luck Kari, I commend you for helping the little guy. I will yell out to @Bee62 to cross her fingers to. I had a different situation with my tort by I give the great outcome to Bee62 crossing her fingers. I will keep you all in my prayers
 

Tessa127

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Good luck Kari, I commend you for helping the little guy. I will yell out to @Bee62 to cross her fingers to. I had a different situation with my tort by I give the great outcome to Bee62 crossing her fingers. I will keep you all in my prayers
Thanks Ray--Opo... Much appreciated.
 

Yvonne G

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I was sitting here watching TV and it popped into my mind that you said the vet had given you antibiotics for the tortoise. What is the name of the antibiotic? Leopard tortoises don't do well on Baytril (enrofloxicin). I would not use that one.

If that's not the antibiotic you have go ahead and finish using that one and if the tortoise still isn't well you can start using the one I sent you.
 

Tessa127

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I was sitting here watching TV and it popped into my mind that you said the vet had given you antibiotics for the tortoise. What is the name of the antibiotic? Leopard tortoises don't do well on Baytril (enrofloxicin). I would not use that one.

If that's not the antibiotic you have go ahead and finish using that one and if the tortoise still isn't well you can start using the one I sent you.


It IS Baytril. liquid, oral 1x per day. I've been doing the carrot soaks, electrolytes, and baby food (squash) in a syringe. She's been up and down. She's so weak, won't even hold her head up in a soak. I have to prop her up. AND she hasn't urinated or booped. After 24 hours of electrolytes every hour that shocks me. Still not interested in food. She's lost 0.2 ounces in a day and a half. I'll keep at it! If she has it in her, I sure am not giving up! That's why I took her!!
 

Ray--Opo

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Keep up the fight and keep us posted. What a wonderful thing you are doing.
 

Gillian M

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Hey all... New to the forum here. I just rescued a possible 2 year old leopard tort. Its eyes appear to be slow to open and a bit swollen, although bright when open. Its stool is also runny. Comments, ideas? Someone on the forum already helped very much (you know who you are), just thought I'd throw out this info if anyone has anything. I've only had her one day.

It seems to be showing signs of a lower resp infection, which I know is bad. Just found a vet and have an appt tomorrow. It's in a large plastic tub (for now), high humidity, bumped the temp up to 95, soaking often, and even got out for a bit of natural sun today. Runny stools, small appetite, swollen eyes, slightly labored breathing. :(

I really want to save it and give it a good life. Comments appreciated. Thanks so much.

Kari
Hi Tessa and welcome to the forum!

Please keep us updated and I wish you the best of luck.
 

Tessa127

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Most leopard tortoises are allergic to Baytril. They show weakness, are limp, and eventually die. Stop using it immediately! and soak, soak, soak! to try to flush it out of his system.


Thank you! Tort seemed so weak last night I wasn't sure it would make it. But continuing soaks and hourly electrolytes. Now Im adding squash baby food in the electrolytes (total of about 2cc) every hour. Called the vet and stopped the Baytril. Any recommendations for a different oral antibiotic? Or injection? Not sure what to recommend to a vet that didn't even ask what kind of tortoise it was ...Trying everything possible.

But I saw a moment of good!!!!!! After a nice soak and warming under the basking lamp, it showed an INTEREST in eating!!! It's just so weak. I'm hoping as the day goes on there's more interest in food! Thanks @Yvonne G ... Thank you everyone.
 

Yvonne G

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When you receive my antibiotic in the mail you can start using it. But don't put the tortoise through the stress of trying to give it orally. Add t to the baby food soak.
 

TammyJ

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Wow. Really holding out hope very high for this one!!! If he does not make it, it will be no fault of yours. Good luck!
 
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