Aldabra Buddy Emergency Vet appt

[Mini]

RE: My Buddy has hurt leg and not pooping

I have had the vet give Buddy all sorts of stuff on the past 2 appointments.

What does this mean? What stuff?

Antiobiotic injection on the first visit 4 radiographs. Second visit, same injection plus 32 ounces of fluid IV. And 10 day supply of liquid Metronidazole to put on his food each day. Increase appetite and to help with pooping. Plus 1 tablespoon mineral oil each day.

I was able to soak him in his big tub (110 gal cut down) 5 days in a row, starting with warm water (25 gallons) and gradually adding hotter water, 1.5 to 2 hours a day. He loved that so much he wouldn't get out of his tub until I drained the water.

 

[Laura]

RE: My Buddy has hurt leg and not pooping

more mineral oil..
but really need to figure out the problem.. was he dropped?
design a support with a wheel.. he needs to keep moving..

 

[Mini]

RE: My Buddy has hurt leg and not pooping

more mineral oil..
but really need to figure out the problem.. was he dropped?
design a support with a wheel.. he needs to keep moving..

He has not been dropped. He must have hurt himself while I was at work. I am not home 10 hours a day, but home Friday through Sunday.
I drive home at 11 am every day to feed and check on him.

I have in the past duct taped a garden kneeling pad under him to cushin his dropping on his hurt leg side.

I have put him on a heavy duty round plant caddy that has 5 wheels under him, but it gets stuck when goes off roading. He is getting more lethargic, Friday is almost here and I will put him back on the plant caddie and watch him all weekend and keep him mobile.
He goes into his kennel and dog house every night. I'm thinking MRI next.

 

[ascott]

RE: My Buddy has hurt leg and not pooping

Are the injections being given in that leg? (not meaning to sound dumb, just curious )

 

[Mini]

RE: My Buddy has hurt leg and not pooping

Are the injections being given in that leg? (not meaning to sound dumb, just curious )

The injections were given in the soft part of his skin between his neck and front leg.

 

[Mini]

Buddy going to a vet specialist

Iv'e been using my local vet that treats exotics.
The first two vet appointments went well with the antibiotics, and one dose of hydration fluid IV. Still no potato (poop) from Buddy and he is eating well every day.

It's his leg I'm most concerned about. He can't put his full weight on his
right back leg. Both back legs have been radiographed and are good.

He's going to a specialist in Houston today about 40 miles from my house.
The specialist treats Galapagos and Aldabras. She said that Buddy might have an intestinal blockage or mineral stone deposits in his...
bladder or kidney. I forget which one she mentioned. But she has seen this back leg problem before in torts.

So it's back into his travel tub and off we go!

 

[mike taylor]

RE: Buddy going to a vet specialist

Hope everything turns out ok .

 

[Elohi]

Buddy going to a vet specialist

Whoa. I'm either having one helluva déjà vu or I've seen these pictures before! ?????


Elohi(Earth)[TURTLE]

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Are these just like pictures from a previous trip?

I sure hope they find the problem quickly and that it's a minor fix so that he back to normal ASAP. I have fallen in love with buddy. He is just beautiful!

 

[mike taylor]

RE: Buddy going to a vet specialist

How is Buddy doing?

 

[Mini]

RE: Buddy going to a vet specialist

Whoa. I'm either having one helluva déjà vu or I've seen these pictures before! ?????


Elohi🌎(Earth)[TURTLE]

---

Are these just like pictures from a previous trip?

I sure hope they find the problem quickly and that it's a minor fix so that he back to normal ASAP. I have fallen in love with buddy. He is just beautiful!

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You have seen my pics.. in a previous pic post before. It's his travel tub

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Well, He got a CAT scan ( yes, it's $$$), but he would have needed 6 radiographs that would be the same price as the CAT scan, which does a more complete scan of his entire body. He barely fit into the CAT scan tube and the technicians had to wrap him up in a sheet and Duct tape the sheet snug all over him to keep his legs still, they took pics of the whole process which I will get Monday. It was hilarious to see the photos.

Good news, his lungs are good (worries about respiratory infection) and no mineral stone deposits. But no news why he can't put weight on his back leg. I will get that report Monday.

FYI - he put out 3 huge potatoes (poop) on the vets lab floor while roaming around! LOL

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Iv'e been using my local vet that treats exotics.
The first two vet appointments went well with the antibiotics, and one dose of hydration fluid IV. Still no potato (poop) from Buddy and he is eating well every day.

It's his leg I'm most concerned about. He can't put his full weight on his
right back leg. Both back legs have been radiographed and are good.

He's going to a specialist in Houston today about 40 miles from my house.
The specialist treats Galapagos and Aldabras. She said that Buddy might have an intestinal blockage or mineral stone deposits in his...
bladder or kidney. I forget which one she mentioned. But she has seen this back leg problem before in torts.

So it's back into his travel tub and off we go!

------
Well, He got a CAT scan ( yes, it's $$$), but he would have needed 6 radiographs that would be the same price as the CAT scan, which does a more complete scan of his entire body. He barely fit into the CAT scan tube and the technicians had to wrap him up in a sheet and Duct tape the sheet snug all over him to keep his legs still, they took pics of the whole process which I will get Monday. It was hilarious to see the photos.

Good news, his lungs are good (worries about respiratory infection) and no mineral stone deposits. But no news why he can't put weight on his back leg. I will get that report Monday.

FYI - he put out 3 huge potatoes (poop) on the vets lab floor while roaming around! LOL

---

Well, He got a CAT scan ( yes, it's $$$), but he would have needed 6 radiographs that would be the same price as the CAT scan, which does a more complete scan of his entire body. He barely fit into the CAT scan tube and the technicians had to wrap him up in a sheet and Duct tape the sheet snug all over him to keep his legs still, they took pics of the whole process which I will get Monday. It was hilarious to see the photos.

Good news, his lungs are good (worries about respiratory infection) and no mineral stone deposits. But no news why he can't put weight on his back leg. I will get that report Monday.

FYI - he put out 3 huge potatoes (poop) on the vets lab floor while roaming around! LOL

---

 

[wellington]

RE: Buddy going to a vet specialist

How did it go?

 

[AnnV]

Re: Buddy going to a vet specialist

How frustrating not getting answers.
Maybe he'll feel better after his big poo at the vets.

How much does Buddy weigh?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

RE: Buddy going to a vet specialist

Buddy is a fairly new addition to your household, right?
Do you remain in contact with his previous owners? Did he have leg problems with them? Are they offering any insight or moral support while you deal with this?
I know he is your only tortoise right now but is he also your first?

 

[Mini]

RE: Buddy going to a vet specialist

We were at the vet specialist 3 pm to 6:30 pm. They(we) weighed him on a large animal scale and he's 153 pounds!
Then we took Buddy to the lab and put him on the floor in the lab so the vet could watch his back leg limp.
Then they took him for a CAT scan to look for kidney stones, possible rocks he may have ate and to see if his colon is impacted and to check his lungs.

He does have an upper respirtory infection and been being treated with
liquid antibiotics the pst two weeks. Will continue this for two more weeks.

While Buddy was walking around for the vet, he pooped 3 big potatoes! So that was good news. Ha ha ha
He has only been pooping one every two weeks. These torts have to keep moving to help with digestion.
The vet did say they if his colon is/was impacted, it would press on his
nerves affecting one or both his back legs.

The clinic was closed at 6:00 pm and most of the staff went home. Still no news about his bad gimp leg. I should get a full report today or Monday.

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Buddy is a fairly new addition to your household, right?
Do you remain in contact with his previous owners? Did he have leg problems with them? Are they offering any insight or moral support while you deal with this?
I know he is your only tortoise right now but is he also your first?

The previous owner thought Buddy was a Sulcata and did no further research, but she fed him well and gave him lots of attention. She does come to visit and we keep in touch.

Buddy is my first tortoise. I'm hoping to keep him 8 years, then he goes to a A&M vet student once she graduates.

 

[wellington]

RE: Buddy going to a vet specialist

Sure hope it was just needing to do a big poop and he will start walking normal. Good luck.

 

[Mini]

Your going to have to buy a small trailer . You can find a enclosed trailer cheap . Then hook it up to the car an go . To make life even easier you could make the trailer his little heated house . So that when he goes in at night his ready to go in the morning . I really need to load up and take you up on that offer to visit .

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Found some pictures of a trailer just something to think about .

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Good idea.. since he will only get bigger!

 

[Mini]

Aldabra Buddy - naked - CT scans ! (updated with video)

Well, after 2 visits from my local vet, treating him for respiratory issues for 5 weeks on antiobiotics... he was still not able to support weight on his right hind leg. (passenger side)She took 2 radiographs of each rear leg (for comparison). Dr Kessler suggested Buddy go see a specialist in Houston.

I did last Friday and I opted for a CT scan to rule out possible kidney stones or other issues. Six radiographs would have cost more and not be as detailed.
It turned out his intestines were so full, they were pressing on his nerves to his back leg causing the "walk and drop" issue.
He did drop 3 huge potatoes at the vets office while there!
For the record, we weighed him on the large animal scale... 153 pounds!

I have included just 3 of the 476 CT images. I plan on making as video with my iphone while scrolling thru all the images. It's just amazing!
Will post the video via youtube link soon.

 

[parrotlady]

Buddy - naked - CT scans !

I hope, all is well now.

 

[wellington]

RE: Buddy - naked - CT scans !

Pretty cool. So what's the plan now? Did they give him anything to get him cleared out? How's he doing now? Sorry you had such an expense with him, so far, but so glad you care enough to go all out.

 

[Mini]

RE: Buddy - naked - CT scans !

Pretty cool. So what's the plan now? Did they give him anything to get him cleared out? How's he doing now? Sorry you had such an expense with him, so far, but so glad you care enough to go all out.

One vet suggested an enema, another said to keep soaking him in very warm water, which I have been the past 12 days and keep him moving.
Minus 1 or 2, can't get him in his tub when he won't go in. But once he's there, he stays for 1.5 to 2 hours.. I'm opting for the warm soaks first.
He is also getting mineral oil on his food. 3 vet bills so far... $1,600.
I'll take any donations... LOL