3yr old leopard tortoise severe intestinal gas/constipation. Please help!

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
If she's not pooping I wouldn't try force feeding her it could make things worse. Torts can go quite a while without eating so don't worry about that yet, but they need to be kept hydrated as you are doing with soaking.
@zovick may be able to advise.
Thank you so much for your reply! Today we were trying to feed her oral medicine but did not work out. We have decided to take her back to the vet and let her receive stomach tube implant. After the stomach tube will be placed, do we need to feed her some mineral oil and water first to soften the stool? I'm also worried about feeding her critical care might make things worse.
 

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
Thank you so much for your reply! Today we were trying to feed her oral medicine but did not work out. We have decided to take her back to the vet and let her receive stomach tube implant. After the stomach tube will be placed, do we need to feed her some mineral oil and water first to soften the stool? I'm also worried about feeding her critical care might make things worse.
My leopard sometimes doesn't poop for a couple of weeks especially in the winter when he eats less and is less active.

Try the car rides first it worked for my tort when I was worried he was constipated.

Torts can go weeks without eating as long as they are hydrated; we had one stuck in his shell recently and he didn't eat for almost 3 weeks.
Have you tried tempting her with cucumber? They love that and it also has a laxative effect.

I'm not a tort health expert though, but hopefully zovick will respond soon before your vet visit.
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
My leopard sometimes doesn't poop for a couple of weeks especially in the winter when he eats less and is less active.

Try the car rides first it worked for my tort when I was worried he was constipated.

Torts can go weeks without eating as long as they are hydrated; we had one stuck in his shell recently and he didn't eat for almost 3 weeks.
Have you tried tempting her with cucumber? They love that and it also has a laxative effect.

I'm not a tort health expert though, but hopefully zovick will respond soon before your vet visit.
She took her last bite 3-23, and then she refused any food we have offered, closed eyes all day, and barely move. Based on her X-ray photo, she has severe intestinal gas built up, possibly with some weed barrier she chewed. My biggest concern is that how can we release the gas for her, enema sounds feasible to me but I'm not sure if the weak tort can push those tissue out her body. @zovick could you please give me some advice? Thank you!
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
Hello tortoise lovers, here is a quick update about our brave tortoie Strongie. We just picked her up from the clinic, she has placed a stomach tube, not completely wake up from sedation but she retracts front limbs if I gently poke her nails.

Based on the blood test, her volume of white blood cell is extremely high (8000 is normal but hers is 46000). It caused by intestinal and respiratory infection.

She was doing great for previous two years, so I suppose might be the environment issue- she lives with another leopard tortoise Cutie, and a redfoot tortoise Leggie. In a same chamber but separated rooms, even though they would not meet each other, but still share the same air (and possibly bacteria). We already separated Leggie the redfoot from leopards, now he has a plastic storage box on the top of the chamber. Now I know mix spices is risky, especially when you are not sure the newly introduced animal carries unknown bacteria or not.

Strongie has prescribed a new antibiotic called ceftazidime (need to given by injections), and previous oral metronidazole jelly we already have.

Today was a loooong tough day for all of Strongie my husband and me. Hopefully she can recove gradually. Tonight we will give her the first ceft. injection.

Thank you so much for all the inputs! We really appreciate your response and emotional support! I will keep this thread posted. Finger crossed.
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
Here is a photo what she looks like- with a sleepy but grumpy face
C22E9E6B-5B20-4867-B1B4-11008FB78125.jpeg
 

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.
Hello tortoise lovers, here is a quick update about our brave tortoie Strongie. We just picked her up from the clinic, she has placed a stomach tube, not completely wake up from sedation but she retracts front limbs if I gently poke her nails.

Based on the blood test, her volume of white blood cell is extremely high (8000 is normal but hers is 46000). It caused by intestinal and respiratory infection.

She was doing great for previous two years, so I suppose might be the environment issue- she lives with another leopard tortoise Cutie, and a redfoot tortoise Leggie. In a same chamber but separated rooms, even though they would not meet each other, but still share the same air (and possibly bacteria). We already separated Leggie the redfoot from leopards, now he has a plastic storage box on the top of the chamber. Now I know mix spices is risky, especially when you are not sure the newly introduced animal carries unknown bacteria or not.

Strongie has prescribed a new antibiotic called ceftazidime (need to given by injections), and previous oral metronidazole jelly we already have.

Today was a loooong tough day for all of Strongie my husband and me. Hopefully she can recove gradually. Tonight we will give her the first ceft. injection.

Thank you so much for all the inputs! We really appreciate your response and emotional support! I will keep this thread posted. Finger crossed.
Oh, I'm praying πŸ™for all three of you, I know how hard this is, I went through a similar situ nearly 2 yrs ago. and it takes a toll on body & spirit.
I'm hopin Strongie is indeed strong and is able to shake off this troubling episode. Keep at it, your dong the best that you can....πŸ‘
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,660
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
If I'm understanding, you have 2 leopards and 1 RF. They don't live together but are in the same room?
If I got that right, great that's how they should be housed, seperate.
However, you do also need to not cross contaminate dishes, touching one and then the other, etc. Each should have their own dishes and when you touch one, wash hands or wear and change gloves before you touch the other, more so with the two different species.
Anyway, good luck, hope a full recovery is had in a ahort amount of time.
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
Oh, I'm praying πŸ™for all three of you, I know how hard this is, I went through a similar situ nearly 2 yrs ago. and it takes a toll on body & spirit.
I'm hopin Strongie is indeed strong and is able to shake off this troubling episode. Keep at it, your dong the best that you can....πŸ‘
Thank you πŸ™πŸ»Strongie was the strongest one among the herd. That's why I'm so shocked to see her sudden sick. We just needled her the first dose of antibiotic and gave her critical care solution. She was so mad and pulled her limbs back so hard. Hope those meds work for her.
I'm totally understand how stressful for torties' parents- how is your shell baby doing? ❀
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
If I'm understanding, you have 2 leopards and 1 RF. They don't live together but are in the same room?
If I got that right, great that's how they should be housed, seperate.
However, you do also need to not cross contaminate dishes, touching one and then the other, etc. Each should have their own dishes and when you touch one, wash hands or wear and change gloves before you touch the other, more so with the two different species.
Anyway, good luck, hope a full recovery is had in a ahort amount of time.
Right, we have 2 leopard tortoises and 1 redfoot. Those 2 LPs were keeping together for past two years, and they were doing completely fine. The RF was bought from a reptile show last August 2021, however we don't know the original source of those reptiles.
We have learned a lot from this trauma, and definitely follow what you mentioned above. Thank you so much for the info ❀
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,660
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Okay, I thought the two leopards had their own enclosures. Hopefully the little one makes it and you keep them in their own enclosures. Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. The stress is likely what brought this one down. Most people miss the bullying signs until it's too late. They aren't always in your face but subtle.
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
Hello tortoise lovers! Here's a quick update about our bravest tortie Strongie: she's awake today!!!!!! Her eyes are opened, and taking her first bite of romaine lettuce 😭😭😭my husband sent me a video she was chewing the leaf and I'm literally crying 😭😭😭 I suppose this is a good sign she is recovering!5242697C-96AD-4188-A1D4-185024CD74A7.jpeg
Now we are expecting her first poop which means she is no longer constipated. πŸ™πŸ»πŸ™πŸ»πŸ™πŸ»
 

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.
Oh, it is So'ooo nice to get some "GOOD" news for a change. Life has been a lil depressing the last month or so.
I'm happy things are turning around....πŸ˜‡
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
4/9 update: Strongie can roam around! πŸ˜† This morning she ate 3 thumbnail sized pieces of cucumber and a palm sized turnip green leaf. When I checked on her just now, she was climbing water dish and then sitting on substrate plate (for fun?) She is more active than Thursday.
Still no poop today. We are wondering if we can only soak her lower belly and cloaca to let her poop?
8E511950-FD2E-4D38-9E42-BC1B6B2EF84D.jpeg
80E83FDB-0F30-4316-A452-F9ED07FCA0DB.png
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
Hello Tortoise Lovers πŸ––πŸ»
Seems like Thursdays are our lucky day- Strongie poooooooooooopped!!! πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜† Since she still has stomach tube implanted, I cannot soak her as usual, this morning I just flush her cloaca by warm water for about 5 minutes and then let her roamed around.
And then this afternoon my husband sent me a photo- (it's kinda gross I'll attached it on the end of this post 🀣)
Strongie pooped on her carpet and she clamped some in her mouth 😱😱😱
My husband also checked her stool but there's no obvious weed barrier fabric inside.
Such a big relief she is acting like normal! Hopefully we can take her back to the vet next week to remove stomach tube for her.
So so so happy she pooped today! ❀

Here is the photo-

B5D2F7BE-B400-4F57-B835-7C82F9767187.jpeg
 

zolasmum

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 19, 2015
Messages
2,001
Hello Tortoise Lovers πŸ––πŸ»
Seems like Thursdays are our lucky day- Strongie poooooooooooopped!!! πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜† Since she still has stomach tube implanted, I cannot soak her as usual, this morning I just flush her cloaca by warm water for about 5 minutes and then let her roamed around.
And then this afternoon my husband sent me a photo- (it's kinda gross I'll attached it on the end of this post 🀣)
Strongie pooped on her carpet and she clamped some in her mouth 😱😱😱
My husband also checked her stool but there's no obvious weed barrier fabric inside.
Such a big relief she is acting like normal! Hopefully we can take her back to the vet next week to remove stomach tube for her.
So so so happy she pooped today! ❀

Here is the photo-

View attachment 343229
Truly magnificent - congratulations to you all.
Strong has been so brave - it must have been very unpleasant having that tube there.
Please tell us how she gets on at the vet visit. I know tortoises can take a long time to fully recover from things, but it it is very very good news.
Angie
 

dzzxmm1919

New Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
Hello tortoise lovers! Strongie has recovered and had her feeding tube removed this Monday!
Here is the last photo she and her tube:
465D0B93-3B42-4B01-8F99-E41A2CF2C8A8.jpeg

And here is the photo she and her favorite duck toy:
3C74B83E-A8B8-478D-A5EA-839B14F59E74.png

Her wound was sealed by medical glue. The vet said we can soak her after 4-6 weeks once her wound is fully cured. So far she eats normally but her stool is a little bit soft. We feed her greens and dry hay with nutribac powder. Thank you all your members valuable inputs! I really appreciate your help and emotional support ❀
Live long and prosper πŸ––πŸ»
 
Top