A controversial constipation remedy

[Maggie3fan]

One time when Bob was alive and close to or over 90 lbs or so... he tried to climb the 3 high cinder block wall and flipped. I was not home and when I found him he had tried so hard to right himself he'd made a track in a circle around himself thru the grass and into mud, he'd pooped and peed horrible and he was not struggling at all. His eyes were half slits...I righted him as carefully as I could but he still went THUD as he then fell over.... his eyes looked better, but he was strange for about a half an hour...

 

[wellington]

One time when Bob was alive and close to or over 90 lbs or so... he tried to climb the 3 high cinder block wall and flipped. I was not home and when I found him he had tried so hard to right himself he'd made a track in a circle around himself thru the grass and into mud, he'd pooped and peed horrible and he was not struggling at all. His eyes were half slits...I righted him as carefully as I could but he still went THUD as he then fell over.... his eyes looked better, but he was strange for about a half an hour...

Im sure when flipped for a long time it is not only deadly for the big guys specially but very hard on their entire system. You could tell by the circle he dug how hard he tried to save his life. They probably give up realizing this is the end or they are just out of steam.
Mine have never been flipped for a long time. Probably why they never pooped.

 

[MenagerieGrl]

Im sure when flipped for a long time it is not only deadly for the big guys specially but very hard on their entire system. You could tell by the circle he dug how hard he tried to save his life. They probably give up realizing this is the end or they are just out of steam.
Mine have never been flipped for a long time. Probably why they never pooped.

Wow. . . I can only imagine what they are thingking after attemptng to "right" them selves after an extended period of time...
This thread has given me a whole NEW perspective of the potential severity of the situ.
Thank you @Armadilloguy for bringing this subject up, it has been a conversation I have learned from.

 

[Toombsk16]

Alright, everyone. Long-time listener, first-time caller.

I "discovered" a potentially controversial yet very effective remedy for constipation in tortoises.

Before I explain, I want to clarify that I did quite a bit of research over the years before performing this, and concluded that, in my opinion, wasn't abusive despite what some big-time reptile enthusiasts may be led to believe.

I also want to clarify that since I definitely take my tortoise's health very seriously, I performed this with patient and attentive care. She was in my hands the whole time and was prepared to stop immediately if something looked wrong.

Many (if not all) tortoise owners have experienced a flip-over, whether it be a few minutes after it occured or when they arrive home from work, and unless the tortoise is very heavy or got cooked by its heatlamp, the tortoise is fine after getting righted or righting itself, if not a bit dazed and back to normal after a nap.

I have caught my tortoise on her back after trying to climb in her enclosure multiple times (this enclosure was promptly mad flip-proof, so don't worry) and each time was minutes after the flip occured, which is when I either righted her helped her right herself to get her used to helping herself if I'm ever gone. Despite this, the first result on google says that ANY period of time a tortoise spends on its back can prove fatal, due to its internal organs putting pressure on its lungs. This confused me, because if this were the case, my tortoise would've died a long time ago. This contradiction (like the many other annoying contradictions in reptile care) frustrated me, so I researched the specifics.

I learned from compiling information I gained from various sources (articles, YouTubers, reptile experts etc) that it's not necessarily that black and white. Small tortoises, such as mine, have lighter organs and far less mass being pressed against the lungs, and as such take hours upon hours to even make an impact on breathing, and would usually die from their heat source overheating them in their vulnurable belly-up position before they suffocate. Large tortoises, on the other hand, wouldn't do so well, as their heft is enough to crush their lungs, so I want to clarify that if I had a sulcata, the following procedure would definitely be abuse.

Before I make my final admission, there's a big detail that needs to be addressed: tortoises void their bowels when they are on their backs.

Have you guessed it yet?

My tortoise hadn't pooped for a week (light eating but no other symptoms), I got worried, and after many warm baths with no result, the lightbulb went on. I picked her up, cupped her shell-down in my hands and watched. I watched attentively for about 60 seconds for signs of breathing problems (with an intent to right her if I saw them, which I didnt) and as expected, the week old blockage was released.

I put her back on her feet and she's happy as a clam, even more peppy than before.

A single minute of discomfort resulted in a remedy for an actual health issue (which I will prevent with the proper dietary additive in the future, I'm considering pumpkin)

So, what do you think? Am I an abuser? Or did I do what was necessary? Was a minute on her back more stressful than a trip to the vet plus commute? Does that level of discomfort equate to inexcusable suffering?

(Note: Im not suggesting this as a mainstream remedy for anybody)

Hello, my family and I are proud to have a new baby Sulcata (Obi’) as part of our family. We did a lot of research before taking on a lifelong commitment.

I think you did your due diligence and I’m so glad you had such a positive result. I find it so unfortunate that the internet is littered with so much misinformation that it’s hard to know what to believe. It’s kind of like researching human health conditions. Results go from one end of the spectrum to the other.

How you went above and beyond to explain your cautiousness tells me you really care and want the best for your Tortoise.

I don’t think you did anything cruel, wrong or careless.
I’m coming to the conclusion with ours that in the big picture, Tortoises are relatively new to the pet community and there isn’t decades or centuries of knowledge with animals like dogs who are completely domesticated.

Tortoises especially over turtles (in my opinion) really do make wonderful pets. They are engaging, friendly & fairly easy to care for. (As long as their few very important needs are met) We are very happy and honestly excited that we have our Tortoise which we will be able to pass along to one of our young, but grown children. I find something very special about that as well as the peace of knowing he will be properly cared for & stay in our family for his entire life.

Thank you for the time you took to explain this treatment! Tortoise ??

 

[rosierocks]

I agree. My title was misleading in that I'm not actually advising this to anyone. I can definitely see people using successes like this one as an excuse for neglective animal care. I kinda created this post to hear thoughts on it, especially since prior to doing my little "stunt", research yielded nothing in regards to curing constipation via up-ending.

WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH ! I actually appreciated the simple insight..way cheaper than taking fifu to the vet thanks hun

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH ! I actually appreciated the simple insight..way cheaper than taking fifu to the vet thanks hun

There are less stressful ways to manage constipation. Often just a trip to a vet helps without actually visiting office (1 hour car ride).

 

[MaNaAk]

There are less stressful ways to manage constipation. Often just a trip to a vet helps without actually visiting office (1 hour car ride).

Daisy couldn't manage five minutes in a car without making a mess.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Daisy couldn't manage five minutes in a car without making a mess.

I'm looking forward for a vet checkup with Besha 20 minutes drive...

 

[MaNaAk]

I'm looking forward for a vet checkup with Besha 20 minutes drive...

Good luck Jacky used to walk away from the vet whereas Daisy used to give him a shove !

Natrah

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Edward has never pooped in the car, but he has pooped in his carrier once when I had to carry him a few hundred meters to the parking space. Maybe a car ride isn't stressful enough for him.

 

[ryan57]

Stump pooped only a little bit on last Tuesday and Thursday. Both times it was a large "plug" that then tapered off and only about 1/3 the length of a normal movement.

No urates for 4 days (which was every day)
No urine for 4 days (which was every day)
No flashing for 4 days (which was every day)

Friday after no movement during his soak, I set him down and he was struggling to walk on his rear legs, mainly his right rear leg. Set up an emergency appointment for Saturday at the vet.

He was uncomfortable and grunting through the night so I soaked him from between 3:00-4:30 AM on a baking tin with a towel over it so his rear legs could hang in the water (his position when he normally poops. He seemed more comfortable like that. We went to the vet and they confirmed that he was full of stuff. Only two small pebbles which is good.

Couldn't give him an enema at the vets office because 1) they could barely keep him on their table as he was huffing/puffing and grunting at them. We all 3 flipped him on his back but his back end was like FT Knox. Later that night in his soak he pooped and I was able to slide the tube -w- jelly into his tail opening. He had a whole bunch of stuff come out after 2 rounds.

Sunday night I gave him the oral medication again as a salad dressing -w- soaked Mazuri, etc. and in his Sunday soak he pooped like normal, urine, urates and he flashed. Hopefully we're back to normal.

Everyone needs to watch their habits very closely and with him it was very easy because he is large. My smaller one would have been a real chore.

$300 well spent...

Kane mat / heating pad on the bottom at all times to keep him 95deg on the bottom, probiotics from the Mazuri, CHOP his food more finely, finish the course of the oral salad dressing for 5-7 days and we'll see. We need some long walks this week for sure.

 

[MaNaAk]

Stump pooped only a little bit on last Tuesday and Thursday. Both times it was a large "plug" that then tapered off and only about 1/3 the length of a normal movement.

No urates for 4 days (which was every day)
No urine for 4 days (which was every day)
No flashing for 4 days (which was every day)

Friday after no movement during his soak, I set him down and he was struggling to walk on his rear legs, mainly his right rear leg. Set up an emergency appointment for Saturday at the vet.

He was uncomfortable and grunting through the night so I soaked him from between 3:00-4:30 AM on a baking tin with a towel over it so his rear legs could hang in the water (his position when he normally poops. He seemed more comfortable like that. We went to the vet and they confirmed that he was full of stuff. Only two small pebbles which is good.

Couldn't give him an enema at the vets office because 1) they could barely keep him on their table as he was huffing/puffing and grunting at them. We all 3 flipped him on his back but his back end was like FT Knox. Later that night in his soak he pooped and I was able to slide the tube -w- jelly into his tail opening. He had a whole bunch of stuff come out after 2 rounds.

Sunday night I gave him the oral medication again as a salad dressing -w- soaked Mazuri, etc. and in his Sunday soak he pooped like normal, urine, urates and he flashed. Hopefully we're back to normal.

Everyone needs to watch their habits very closely and with him it was very easy because he is large. My smaller one would have been a real chore.

$300 well spent...

Kane mat / heating pad on the bottom at all times to keep him 95deg on the bottom, probiotics from the Mazuri, CHOP his food more finely, finish the course of the oral salad dressing for 5-7 days and we'll see. We need some long walks this week for sure.

Oh I'm so pleased to read this

Natrah