Sorry to hear he isn't well, but I'm glad you have a vets appointment booked 
Abscess or some other infection?
- Thread starter Kelli_12
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2013
- Messages
- 693
Sorry to hear that! let us know what the vet said tomorrow
Sent from my ZTE N9120 using TortForum mobile app
Sent from my ZTE N9120 using TortForum mobile app
The vet said it was a swollen gland. I forgot the name for it at the moment. It was drained and now he has to be watched to make sure it was fully drained and is not gonna cause more problems.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2013
- Messages
- 693
Good.glad that is better. Im sure he feels better when there is no more presure on it
Sent from my ZTE N9120 using TortForum mobile app
Sent from my ZTE N9120 using TortForum mobile app
My lil guy did not make it :'(
Oh how terrible! I am so very sorry for your loss.
Oh no...I'm soooo sorry for you. Is there a yeah you can find out what really happened here? I mean, this could happen to any of our torts, and instead of waiting, perhaps we can take immediate action especially when we don't know what this really was. It will help a lot of members in the future. I'm particularly keen in knowing if it was a poisonous insect bite.
I am not really sure what happened yet. He did have a salivary gland infection, which was drained. Maybe it was worse than previously thought. I only had him, Sheldon, for a few weeks. He seemed happy, but it's possible he was sick before I got him. I dont know. I knew he was barely eating and sleeping for long periods of time under the heat lamp. I gave him longer and more frequent soaks to prevent dehydration, but maybe it wasn't enough
Too bad. The problem probably started way before you got him. Where did you get him?
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2013
- Messages
- 693
Im so sorry,to hear that.
I really thought the vet would help.
Did they gave u any antibiotics?
Sent from my ZTE N9120 using TortForum mobile app
I really thought the vet would help.
Did they gave u any antibiotics?
Sent from my ZTE N9120 using TortForum mobile app
Tortoise have a number of salivary glands...this allows them to eat and swallow the food....unlike a turtle who have none--at is why they need to be in water to swallow their food.
Unfortunately there is very little warning as to what is going awry when these glands are injured/affected....even a vet will have a difficult time pinpointing the exact gland affected as they are so close and small....
It can fester for a long time and similar to an abscess when the part grows on the outside and becomes visible --it has already grown to the same if not larger size on the inside...it can press on the throat and block airway...it can press against the orbit of the eye and cause poor to no vision to be present...it can press against the interior of the ear and cause great pain so much so that the tort can not completely draw its head nor front limbs into its shell ....
I am so so sorry that this occurred...if you should encounter this situation in the future...first of all there is not guarantees....and usually (usually) the issue starts as a result of some type of injury to the area (can be a minor injury)... have the site cleaned out by ve cutting open the sore and drain and scrape out the cavity but gently....antibiotic injections done for at least two weeks (baytril) to the front area between the neck and front legs in the soft loose skin area...and animal kept indoors and flies kept away from the area....the area does well when flushed several times a day after the area is squeezed gently to make sure no puss gathers while the wound is healing from the inside out with the antibiotics...keep temps up no less than 85 degrees with a basking spot available of 100-110...
Likely this tort came with the hidden issue...it can take awhile before it literally comes to the surface....
I guess that would explain why he was such a gentle eater. He only ate small bites so it took him forever to finish one leaf. As long as he was eating I figured he just wasnt in a rush.
Yes....that is also something that will happen....it almost appears as though they have no tenacity when biting the food....you would not have known this was a possible issue and absolutely would not have ever imagined this could be the outcome....so, please do not torment yourself.
You will have this piece of information to carry with you into future ventures....you will be that much more prepared.
If you had your little tort for a short while then likely an injury had occurred prior to you ever taking him into your home and your heart.
Please try to not spend so much time in the land of sorrow...it will only weaken your spirit and that is of no help to you....also, relish in the fun stuff your tort buddy did....this will continue to give his memory life....
You will have this piece of information to carry with you into future ventures....you will be that much more prepared.
If you had your little tort for a short while then likely an injury had occurred prior to you ever taking him into your home and your heart.
Please try to not spend so much time in the land of sorrow...it will only weaken your spirit and that is of no help to you....also, relish in the fun stuff your tort buddy did....this will continue to give his memory life....
- Status
