I'm prepared to hear the worst.

[LoutheRussian]

So recently I've noticed that Lou makes a clicking sound while breathing. He has also been sneezing a bit and when he pulls into his shell he will sit for a bit then exhale hard like he's blowing his nose. That's the best way I can describe it. Also he seems to clear his throat often It looks like when a cow chew it's cud. He pulls in a little then starts making a chewing motion. I though it might be that he got something is his nostril but I looked as best I could with a bright light but didn't see anything. His nose is dry so there is no discharge and his eyes seem clear not puffy or watery. Does anyone have some insight into what's going on. Possibly URI? I live on the Southwest Washington coast so I'm at least two hours from the nearest vet on the list. I plan on going to the local vet and asking if they have any experience with torts. I don't have a lot of money right now so a vet bill would be pretty hard to pay. I've started soaking him twice a day and raised his overall temp so the low side is between 80-85. It still cools down at night but I'm trying to get some sort of night heat for him. I have a red 250w bulb I could use but I've read where some people use black light bulbs is this something I should look. Into? Anyways any help you can give me is geetly appreciated.


Luke&Lou

 

[dmmj]

Sadly sounds like a RI of some type, sounds like the early stages.
I use black lights, torts don't see the light, so it provides heat but a CHE will work. Just FYI if it is a RI they don't go away and they get worse as time goes on and they get harder to treat. Sorry no easy way to say it,I could be wrong but all signs point to a RI.

 

[LoutheRussian]

Thats what I was think in as well.


Luke&Lou

 

[LoutheRussian]

Are there any medications I should look into getting for him or are they going to need to be acquired from a vet?


Luke&Lou

 

[taza]

I hope thats not what it is.

 

[Tom]

What are you using for substrate? What are his four temps? Where did you get him?

 

[crimson_lotus]

My tortoise does the exact same thing. I took her to the vet for x-rays and it looks like she has pneumonia with a bunch of gunk in her lungs.

 

[erdavis]

I can't give any input as to what it could be, but I hope its not anything that isn't an easy fix. Best of luck, hope you get it figured out soon

 

[ascott]

clicking sound
sneezing a bit and when he pulls into his shell he will sit for a bit then exhale hard like he's blowing his nose
clear his throat often It looks like when a cow chew it's cud. He pulls in a little then starts making a chewing motion.
His nose is dry so there is no discharge and his eyes seem clear not puffy or watery.

So, I am also wanting to know...what type of substrate are you using? Do you keep it primarily dry and fluffy? Or wet and swampy?
My first thought is that he is too dry, not a RI...the throat motion is normal for a tort while breathing...do you mean he is coughing ("clear his throat") is he lethargic, is he refusing food, are his eyes swollen or opposite, sunken in?

I've started soaking him twice a day
raised his overall temp so the low side is between 80-85.
It still cools down at night
I have a red 250w bulb I

Soaking is always a good thing to do so that won't harm anything
What are his normal day time temps in the coolest part of the enclosure? What are his normal night temps in the coolest part of enclosure?
WOW....You must have a crazy large/huge enclosure to want to pop a 250 watt night heat bulb in....otherwise that would shrivel the poor thing up....

I would suggest you step back and inventory your husbandry and then go down your checklist;

Temps
Lighting
UV ray exposure
Room for exercise/or outside romp time
Diet (is it varied enough to be offering needs)
Hydration/drinking water---place to retreat where some humidity is available

 

[LoutheRussian]

He's in a 3x6 enclosure. Substrate is a mixture of coco coir and topsoil. Basking spot 98-100F low side 75-77F everywhere else stays around 80-82F night temp is in the mid 60s. I spray down the substrate twice to three times a day to keep it moist but it's never swampy. I don't want to use the 250w bulb I just have one from when my mo raised chicks on her farm.


Luke&Lou

 

[LoutheRussian]

He gets a mixture of dandelions romain lettuce Mazuri kale and any other leafy greens I come across. I take him outside as much as I can but I live in an apartment so sometimes I open my window and let him hang out there when the sun is shining. He has a hide he has been a little more lethargic lately but is still eating though not a voraciously as he used too eyes and nose are clear


Luke&Lou

 

[tortadise]

Mid 60s and wet is never a good combination. When you spray down do it when it's at the warmest parts of the day. After the bulbs and ambient temps have elevated. Also don't spray down just before turning the lights off either. That cold water(many minutes after sprayed and lights go off) will linger in the substrate and cause your tortoise to drop in temperature. Russians are not a thermoregulating tortoise species. So it's either hot for them or cold(which is usually hibernation) with some drop at night.

 

[LoutheRussian]

He came from a petco originally but my ex was terrible and kept him in a small cardboard box with nothing and gets him when she remembered. He came to me a couple months ago and I've been doing everything I can to make his life better


Luke&Lou

 

[Elohi]

<3 Lou.
I hope he's alright. I didn't realize your ex kept him THAT poorly. Sad.



Elohi(Earth)

 

[Tom]

Russians are not a thermoregulating tortoise species. So it's either hot for them or cold(which is usually hibernation) with some drop at night.

What do you mean by this? How is russian thermoregulation any different than any other tortoise species? They move into the sun when too cold, and move into the shade, or underground, when too warm.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

You've gotten good advice so far. This is just my 2 cents.. I use black lights bulbs at night bought at Kmart or a place like that. They are 60 or 75 watts and cost abt $3.
I also use with some success an antibiotic powder I buy at the local feed store...so if you cannot afford a Vet right now, check your husbandry as has been suggested and maybe get this powder that is added to his soaking water...Duramycin-10, (tetracycline hydrochloride). It's used in the drinking water of swine, calves and poultry. It has helped me a lot in the past when I also could not afford a Vet...Good luck and plz keep us posted.
PS, I think 60 degrees and wet is a BAD thing, and Bob uses a 250 watt basking bulb but not any of my smaller tortoises, that's a lot of light/heat for a small guy...

 

[LoutheRussian]

Mid 60s and wet is never a good combination. When you spray down do it when it's at the warmest parts of the day. After the bulbs and ambient temps have elevated. Also don't spray down just before turning the lights off either. That cold water(many minutes after sprayed and lights go off) will linger in the substrate and cause your tortoise to drop in temperature. Russians are not a thermoregulating tortoise species. So it's either hot for them or cold(which is usually hibernation) with some drop at night.

i only spay it down after lights have been on and everything is warm and never before lights out.


Luke&Lou

 

[LoutheRussian]

I only said I have a 250w bulb I never said I was using it. It sits on the floor next to his exclosure. I've mentioned this twice before.


Luke&Lou

 

[Maggie Cummings]

It sits on the floor next to his exclosure. I've mentioned this twice before.
Luke&Lou[/QUOTE]
Sorry, sometimes I read too fast...

 

[tortadise]

Psammobates are a thermoregulating tortoise. I will find the article.