Is my Russian Tortoise going to survive?

Dcatalano

Active Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2021
Messages
94
Location (City and/or State)
Colorado
You’ve come to the right place and are getting good advice. The care sheet is overwhelming when you first start to read through but take it in small pieces and it’ll come together for Earl.
If you have a way to provide outside time, supervised, so she can get natural sunlight, it’ll help tremendously. Maybe your son can supervise. Keep soaking and following tips on food, water and eye drops, etc. post updates as she improves. Hope Earl is better each day!
 

Earl the girl

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2021
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
North Liberty, Indiana
Our girl Earl has traveled a long road in the past month. Multiple vet visits, antibiotics, eye drops, daily soaks, feeding with a syringe and almost blind. But, today she ate food again on her own and her eyes are open again. We couldn't be happier!
 

Attachments

  • 20210721_172449.jpg
    20210721_172449.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 40
  • 20210628_181019.jpg
    20210628_181019.jpg
    820.3 KB · Views: 40

Barbara ONeil

New Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2021
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
Gravesend
My son has a Russian Tortoise name Earl. She's (yes a girl name Earl) 9 years old and has lived in a 25 gallon fish tank all her life. We've had her 7 years. She lives at dad's house (divorced parents) and last Sunday dad called son at my house to say she had swollen white eyes and was very lethargic and not eating. We brought her habitat to my house and have been doing baby food/warm water soaks daily and took her to the vet Tuesday. Vet said she had blocked tear ducts and flushed her eyes, said vitamin deficiency and to keep doing soaks, and probably was getting dehydrated so again, continue warm water soaks for hydration and also prescribed antibiotics for her. We use UVA and UVB bulbs and rotate there being on and not exceed 12 hours per day. She is looking better, color wise and all, but she's still very lethargic and not eating. When we hold her she does move her legs and head around. I'm just worried because she's not eating yet and/or eating. The vet said she probably is intaking some of the water during the soaks and we recheck in 2 weeks. I'm just afraid she's going to die before that. Anyone ever have a tortoise with these symptoms? Any suggestions? I don't want to see her pass away, my son, although 15 will be heart broken if that happens.
She might just be unhappy - I had a Russian tortoise who would never eat for anybody caring him when I was away, even for 2 or 3 weeks and would be eating ravenously within minutes of my return home. Also try taking her out of her tank and letting her walk around the house or garden (if it is tortoise-proof) to discover her food, which of course you have put there for her to find. A change of scene might arouse her interest. Mine always go and investigfate anything new and love climbing.
 

Trapgul08

New Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2022
Messages
7
Location (City and/or State)
Tulsa
My son has a Russian Tortoise name Earl. She's (yes a girl name Earl) 9 years old and has lived in a 25 gallon fish tank all her life. We've had her 7 years. She lives at dad's house (divorced parents) and last Sunday dad called son at my house to say she had swollen white eyes and was very lethargic and not eating. We brought her habitat to my house and have been doing baby food/warm water soaks daily and took her to the vet Tuesday. Vet said she had blocked tear ducts and flushed her eyes, said vitamin deficiency and to keep doing soaks, and probably was getting dehydrated so again, continue warm water soaks for hydration and also prescribed antibiotics for her. We use UVA and UVB bulbs and rotate there being on and not exceed 12 hours per day. She is looking better, color wise and all, but she's still very lethargic and not eating. When we hold her she does move her legs and head around. I'm just worried because she's not eating yet and/or eating. The vet said she probably is intaking some of the water during the soaks and we recheck in 2 weeks. I'm just afraid she's going to die before that. Anyone ever have a tortoise with these symptoms? Any suggestions? I don't want to see her pass away, my son, although 15 will be heart broken if that happens.
Hi my tortoise had the same symptoms and we took her to a hospital ? and they told me that she was going to die but she survived
 

New Posts

Top