- Joined
- Sep 11, 2010
- Messages
- 66
Hi everyone,
I was going to answer the other thread titled 'help please (antibiotics, now ill)', but as my post was becoming very long I tought he started looking like thread hijacking so I decided to open my own thread... my questions are kinda similar tough. Forgive my unperfect english if I fail to filter every mistakes, it is not my native language.
Here's my story.
I pulled my tort out of hibernation 10 days ago and moved him in his terrarium.
I failed to check his plastron at the time, I did not want to annoy him and avoided handling him as everything seemed fine. I now regret that a lot.
After a week it seemed clear that, while the tortoise was eating a bit and basking, he was eating and moving a lot less than his usual self. (at first, I was not to worried since he was just waking up but as the days passed I became increasly worried) I finally checked him and his plastron was very red, very bad. No bleeding or damage but a red colour on the plastron, which seemed also a bit softer than usual. I was not sure if it was some bad shell rot or septicemia.
I took him to the vet, however there is no vet experienced with reptiles near my place (I am a bit in the middle of nowhere), only a couple of cat and dogs vets. The vet wasn't too sure but concluded on some kind of infection on the plastron, and I give him a baytril injection everyday since then (he got 2 injections so far, I am supposed to give it for 10 days). Baytril is something I have seen recommended for similar cases on other forums, so I was not sceptic about it, until I read the other thread at least. However the injection is a bad moment for both me and Koopa. Since I started injections my tort stopped eating altogether and seems kinda weak, he refuses to eat even if handfeeded, even fruits, even radish leaves and other sweets.
The tortoise moves out of his hide to bask under the light and comes back to the closest hide when the lights goes off. I considerably increased the duration of basking lamp compared to what I usually do at this period of the year. He doesn't roam like usually. I started giving mashed-carrot bath to try to compensate for the lack of food. I am worried because the tortoise did not eat much at all since is out of hibernation and have probably not much reserve.
If baytril is the cause of lack of appetite and weakness It puts me on a dilema...
Koopa is about 4 year old, 540g, male, about 14cm in size. I give 0.1ml of baytril 5% per day.
I 'd take any advice on how to encourage my baby to eat again. Is there anything that can be done to make sure he doesn't colapse from lack of nutriments?
Another question I would really like to know the answer is: how much does he suffers exactly? Torts being always quite, it is hard to tell.
I was going to answer the other thread titled 'help please (antibiotics, now ill)', but as my post was becoming very long I tought he started looking like thread hijacking so I decided to open my own thread... my questions are kinda similar tough. Forgive my unperfect english if I fail to filter every mistakes, it is not my native language.
Here's my story.
I pulled my tort out of hibernation 10 days ago and moved him in his terrarium.
I failed to check his plastron at the time, I did not want to annoy him and avoided handling him as everything seemed fine. I now regret that a lot.
After a week it seemed clear that, while the tortoise was eating a bit and basking, he was eating and moving a lot less than his usual self. (at first, I was not to worried since he was just waking up but as the days passed I became increasly worried) I finally checked him and his plastron was very red, very bad. No bleeding or damage but a red colour on the plastron, which seemed also a bit softer than usual. I was not sure if it was some bad shell rot or septicemia.
I took him to the vet, however there is no vet experienced with reptiles near my place (I am a bit in the middle of nowhere), only a couple of cat and dogs vets. The vet wasn't too sure but concluded on some kind of infection on the plastron, and I give him a baytril injection everyday since then (he got 2 injections so far, I am supposed to give it for 10 days). Baytril is something I have seen recommended for similar cases on other forums, so I was not sceptic about it, until I read the other thread at least. However the injection is a bad moment for both me and Koopa. Since I started injections my tort stopped eating altogether and seems kinda weak, he refuses to eat even if handfeeded, even fruits, even radish leaves and other sweets.
The tortoise moves out of his hide to bask under the light and comes back to the closest hide when the lights goes off. I considerably increased the duration of basking lamp compared to what I usually do at this period of the year. He doesn't roam like usually. I started giving mashed-carrot bath to try to compensate for the lack of food. I am worried because the tortoise did not eat much at all since is out of hibernation and have probably not much reserve.
If baytril is the cause of lack of appetite and weakness It puts me on a dilema...
Koopa is about 4 year old, 540g, male, about 14cm in size. I give 0.1ml of baytril 5% per day.
I 'd take any advice on how to encourage my baby to eat again. Is there anything that can be done to make sure he doesn't colapse from lack of nutriments?
Another question I would really like to know the answer is: how much does he suffers exactly? Torts being always quite, it is hard to tell.