Recent content by MKNOX

Yes. I could come over tomorrow afternoon. I get off work at 2 so I could be there after 6pm or during the day Sunday.

I am very happy to hear of her improvement. Please keep us updated.

Turtle Love, I am glad to hear that you got her to U.F. again I am sorry for the delay in getting back to you this week. I was crazy busy with work, finals, and transitioning over to a new payroll company at tha clinic. Among a million other things. I was very happy to finally talk to you. I am...

Excellent post. I am happy to see someone with experience in this condition respond

Turtle Love , I would bet her systemic septicemia never fully resolved. It is very common for giant tortoise to have long term low grade sepsis with flare ups. Intestinal amoebensis is a leading cause of it and metronidazole and sulfa drugs are poor choices for some of the more virulent strains...

Are the leaves on the ground oak tree leaves ? Oak is toxic to tortoises both the leaves and acorns. Just a thought to add to the differential. I still think a trip to UF should be made as soon as you can. I don't know if Elliot Jacobsen still practices or if he retired but he is probably the...

I am pretty sure I just read a discussion on VIN regarding your tortoise. The vet was pretty perplexed but hypoalbuminemia and hypoprotinemia seemed to be the primary concern as well as elevated blood sugar. There did not seem to be a consensus as to a treatment plan other than diet change and...

We would be looking for elevated uric acid levels for kidney failure. I looked at your pictures and she does look goitered but that doesn't mesh with how sick she is. You haven't given her injectable vitamin A, or ivermectin have you? Both can cause symptoms similar to hers. Another...

A common problem in older Galapagos and Aldabras tortoise is goiter. Little is known about why they get it or how to treat it, but it usually doesn't make them as sick as yours is. Please give us a complete history of her husbandry and habitat. We also need to know all medications she has had...

Turtle Love , I would start a differential list for your tortoise and work down it. The first 2, and most common are Hardware disease, and toxic substance ingestion. We need to know where and how she is housed and where and how she has been housed in the past. Big tortoises are very prone to...

Where are you located? I am a veterinary hospital manager. My wife is a vet. If you are close enough to west palm beach I can come and draw blood to check her values and help develop a treatment plan. Call me at 561-727-9288. My name is Michael Knox. I have a final exam tomorrow from 2-4 pm but...

I really like the suggestion about having them speak at club meetings. Another way is to try to get to know the keepers well enough to have discussions with them, although this will take time. Ask the keepers to attend your local club meetings as guests and encouraging them to join might also...

Absolutely, I can drive over this weekend or meet you partway any evening.

Thank you!! I think they are one of the coolest animals to own. I have been fascinated by them since I was a child. I have 3 active Florida gopher tortoise borrows on my farm in North Florida. I also regularly monitor a breeding pair in a park near the beach here in Jupiter. Last spring I got to...

My smallest is 6" plastron and the largest is about 8" plastron. I have plenty of room to separate them if necessary. I have r acres. My current set up is an 8ft by 8ft outdoor pen for the juveniles and 2 24x24ft sections for my adult separated by a gate so I can move him from one to the other...