Lady Hermann not her usual self

ruthiepo

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Hello and thank you for help afforded in the past.
Our 35 year old eastern hermanns tortoise who is a fascinating character, has been very subdued over the last couple of weeks. She came out of fridge hibernation successfully, has been eating and drinking, has a daily soak, pees and passes toothpaste like urates, poos normally, she sits under her heat lamp or puts herself to bed in her orchid bark layered box by the aga, we are suffering a very stormy cold May in the UK.
She usually makes her way to the door and scratches and bumps to go out into the garden, but now she only wants to sit in the warm spot.
She still eats, am giving her nutrazu, and nutritious weeds, I've studied Tom's care sheets and she is quite spoilt really.
Today after a short walk, she pooped rather a loose movement and then appeared to pop out a pinkish shiny thing.
I quickly picked her up and it disappeared straight away, I put her in a warm soak to clean her rear end.
Her cloaca appears normal but she is definitely not her usual robust fierce self.
Now she's put herself to bed.
There has been no pink urine or any trace of blood in her poos
Can anyone please advise or reassure us?
Sorry to ramble on, she's such a tough old lady it's worrying when she's not her normal self!
 

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wellington

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She flashed you her female organ like a Male will flash his male organ. Females sometimes not as often as males will do this.
I don't know why she would or if it has anything to do with her behavior. If she is straining at all to poop it could possibly be the reason it flashed.
I would soak her daily for a while and see if that and warmer weather will perk her back up to normal.
 

ZenHerper

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With an older female, you have to consider she might be egg bound. Like chickens, tortoises can produce eggs without fertilization.

I'm wondering if the lump you saw was an egg (or a bladder stone).

Some reading:



 

ruthiepo

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Thank you for responding, it's a mystery, will continue to keep her warm, well hydrated and fed and hopefully the weather will cheer up and she will be back to her determined self.
An unusual thing is that we recently got a round vacuum robot which sits on its charging station in the same room and she used to bully it regularly, ramming and bashing it, she would push it halfway across the room.
Now she has lost interest in it and I've moved it elsewhere anyway in case she was stressed by it sitting there
She doesn't normally live in the house, last summer she lived outside in the garden with her own hutch to sleep in.
It has a CHE heating lamp.
I will give her lots of warm soaks, perhaps that will help.
Thank you for the comments.
 

ruthiepo

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Further to above, my sulky tortoise is still not herself. She is emitting Squeaky farty sounds from her tail and showing her lady bits which appear and then retract.
She is eating and her legs are strong, she can walk normally, raising her shell, not dragging.
She just doesn't seem to have energy, just sulks under her heat lamp.
I have given her two 30 minute soaks each day and am adding olive oil to her nutrazu (mazuri) pellets
Wee and urates appear normal and she pooed in her soak yesterday.
Any comments and advice welcomed, thank you in advance!
 

ruthiepo

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Further again, this is the first spring we have had her, she came to us from a farm park that was closing due to covid last year and she was semi feral but loves children petting her, once she got to know us she became happy to have her neck rubbed and head stroked, our grandchildren petted and fed her and she appeared to enjoy all the attention.
We live next to a children's day nursery and when the inmates are outside playing, she puts her head up and listens, like a warhorse hearing the battle, but now she seems indifferent and doesn't want to walk outside.
It's so worrying, ought I to take her to a vet for an x ray
 

ruthiepo

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It's so strange she's done normal poos, no straining, could she be just wanting to meet a handsome friend?
Wanting to nest? but no attempts to dig, today I put her outside in the warm sunshine, at last the UK weather is cheering up, she did the nose to ground thing, testing the earth temps as i understand, anyway, maybe am a overanxious tortoise keeper, sorry to ramble or waste anyone's time, any advice would be gratefully received
 

Sarah2020

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Hi welcome . Good to share and get expert advise. It will b warmer this weekend so hopefully that will help. Try a long soak say 40 mins and also provide fresh dandelion flower and stalks. Just monitor which you are doing. They need heat to digest so ensure that is available.
 

ruthiepo

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Thank you, she was out in the sunshine today, sat in the sun and ate some clover, will continue the soaks, thank you for your reply
 

ruthiepo

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I'm sure something is not right
Her stool is loose, I'm soaking her twice a day, she is just not interested in anything, she will eat mazuri and takes a couple of half hearted bites at dandelion and sow thistle, she just acts like she has a secret sorrow, beginning to think I'd better take her to a vet
When we got her, we were told she had never been to a vet as she had never been I'll, and she therefore isn't micro chipped
Any advice?
I am keeping her warm, soaking, putting her in her cold frame/sunbed in the warm sunshine
Hand feeding her mazuri (nutrazu)
Sorry to bother anyone on bank holiday weekend, anyway, hope everyone has a good weekend!
 

zolasmum

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I'm sure something is not right
Her stool is loose, I'm soaking her twice a day, she is just not interested in anything, she will eat mazuri and takes a couple of half hearted bites at dandelion and sow thistle, she just acts like she has a secret sorrow, beginning to think I'd better take her to a vet
When we got her, we were told she had never been to a vet as she had never been I'll, and she therefore isn't micro chipped
Any advice?
I am keeping her warm, soaking, putting her in her cold frame/sunbed in the warm sunshine
Hand feeding her mazuri (nutrazu)
Sorry to bother anyone on bank holiday weekend, anyway, hope everyone has a good weekend!
Hello- I am so sorry your tortoise is not well -I love your description of her having a secret sorrow - that is very evocative. I do think you would be wise to take her to the vet - an Xray would be able to tell you about being egg bound or having a bladder stone - in fact I would get that done before any other treatment, as you don't want the vet giving her an injection or any strong medicine until that is sorted. You could take a poo sample in at the same time, in case there is any parasite build-up over her hibernation.
Tortoises don't have to be microchipped in the UK unless you are selling them - if you are pretty sure she is safe, I wouldn't do it.
Zola is a 20 year old Hermanns, by the way, living in Devon.
Angie
 

Yvonne G

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I was also thinking along the same lines as Angie: egg bound or bladder stone, but leaning more towards the stone because no nest building activity.
 

ruthiepo

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Thank you for your replies, I will have a try at locating a good vet experienced in tortoises, regards and a chin tickle to Zola!
 

ruthiepo

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Here is the Lady this morning, basking in the glorious sunshine, with mazuri round her mouth, she is having two long warm soaks a day, and has been moving round more, she has done small poos and normal wee with creamy urates, now and then her head disappears inside and I wonder if she is trying to move something.
There is an exotic vet locally and also one in Swindon, fairly close, so I can contact them if I am still worried.
I think the warm sunshine and soaks are helping.
She has an endearing habit of resting her head in my hand when her neck is being gently stroked!
Funny Lady!!
 

zolasmum

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Here is the Lady this morning, basking in the glorious sunshine, with mazuri round her mouth, she is having two long warm soaks a day, and has been moving round more, she has done small poos and normal wee with creamy urates, now and then her head disappears inside and I wonder if she is trying to move something.
There is an exotic vet locally and also one in Swindon, fairly close, so I can contact them if I am still worried.
I think the warm sunshine and soaks are helping.
She has an endearing habit of resting her head in my hand when her neck is being gently stroked!
Funny Lady!!
She is a fine figure of a Lady, and I'm glad she is improving, but it seems to me that you haven't solved the mystery of what the pinkish shining thing is that you saw. I would still be inclined to go to a vet for a general check-up,and for an x-ray . If there is a problem of some kind, it would be best to know and deal with it, otherwise it could get worse and need more drastic treatment later.That is what I would do, anyway.
Best wishes to you and to lovely Lady.
Angie
 

ruthiepo

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Thank you Angie, yes I've been observing her today, she's had a basking session in the sun but doesn't want to move much which is unusual for her, she usually charges down to the bottom of the garden and hides in the shrub undergrowth. She's eating from my hand, I've given her some chicory leaves , dandelions, mazuri and half a strawberry, but she doesn't seem to feel like walking.
I think I'd better contact the vet to be sure.
I haven't seen the pinky tissue since, seems to be something to do with her lady bits, I think your advice is wise and I will act on it
 

zolasmum

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Thank you Angie, yes I've been observing her today, she's had a basking session in the sun but doesn't want to move much which is unusual for her, she usually charges down to the bottom of the garden and hides in the shrub undergrowth. She's eating from my hand, I've given her some chicory leaves , dandelions, mazuri and half a strawberry, but she doesn't seem to feel like walking.
I think I'd better contact the vet to be sure.
I haven't seen the pinky tissue since, seems to be something to do with her lady bits, I think your advice is wise and I will act on it
I am glad you are going to the vet - please let us know how you get on. And like I suggested before, take a poo sample with you to be checked ( From her, not yours, obviously !!! )
Good luck.
Angie
 

ruthiepo

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Ha!!
I have emailed the British chelonia group as recommended by the pet shop owner where I buy my basking lamps and the outdoor tortoise house and run, etc, he has tortoises himself and is knowledgeable and encouraging, he has advised me to contact this group as they will direct me to the most appropriate vet(he says)
So am finding out the best way of getting help for my Lady Hermann
Here she is in her fourth warm soak today!
She has been doing a lot of basking as well
I will keep you updated.
Thank you for the support, interest and encouragement!
Also a pic of her cloaca, it may give clues to what's going on
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