Big Bertha Doing Great

[ZEROPILOT]

It's been raining and I haven't wanted Berthas operation area to get dirty, so I've kept her in her 60 gallon tote for two days.
She ate this morning and I went out grocery shopping and came back to find her dead.
Apparently she tried to climb up the corner with her neck extended and slid back down.
I found her jammed into the corner with her head and neck up in the air.
She is limp with her eyes open. Arms dangling and no movement or reaction.
She's gone.
Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Oh, how sad!

 

[johnandjade]

i'm so sorry for your loss, it must be heartbreaking

 

[keepergale]

What a shame. I have been following the saga with high hopes.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Bertha has died. Not from illness or starvation. But from a freak accident inside her 60 gallon tote that was intended to keep her safe.
She must have tried to climb up the corner of her tote with her renewed energy and slid down with her neck extended and suffocated.
She was found jammed in the corner with her head looking straight up. Neck extended. Eyes open and very dead.
After all of this, she still didn't make it.
I'm quite sick about this.
Thanks for your support.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Oh for ****'s sake, the poor girl.
After all this, I actually feel physically sick myself.
So, so sorry Ed.
I think i'm going to cry.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Life is just not fair.

 

[Lyn W]

Ed I am devastated to hear this, she has been doing so well lately.
I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that you did all you could for her
and during her last few days she has been enjoying a relatively normal torty existence.
I am so very sorry for your loss, Take care.

 

[4jean]

What horrible news. I am so sorry for your loss. You took such incredible care of Bertha. You will be in my thoughts.

 

[Lyn W]

I am so upset for Bertha and you Ed, what a tragic turn of events.

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh Sxxxt! I just knew she was on the road to recovery. I'm so sorry to hear this. Dang it anyways!

 

[Gillian M]

Very sorry to have just read about Bertha's death. It reallly did break my heart, especially after all that you did for her.

We're all here to support you Ed, and if yo need to talk (though I have a feeling you don't want to talk to ANYONE), I am all listening ears.

Try to relax, and take care.

 

[leigti]

I am so sorry.

 

[domalle]

It's been raining and I haven't wanted Berthas operation area to get dirty, so I've kept her in her 60 gallon tote for two days.
She ate this morning and I went out grocery shopping and came back to find her dead.
Apparently she tried to climb up the corner with her neck extended and slid back down.
I found her jammed into the corner with her head and neck up in the air.
She is limp with her eyes open. Arms dangling and no movement or reaction.
She's gone.
Thanks again for everyone's help.

Very sorry to hear of your loss.
When a tortoise dies with its head and neck outstretched and propped up in a corner, it is usually trying to draw breath.
Were the problems possibly pneumonia related?
You should be commended for your heroic efforts on behalf of this animal.
Dan O

 

[wellington]

I am so very sorry. I too thought she was going to be fine.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

There was foam around her mouth and she is making some small movements. But they look involuntary. For example, she doesn't blink if I touch her eyes.
I fed her Pedialite because she lost a lot of liquid. (Poo)
I'll bury her in the morning if she doesn't move.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I don't want to raise hopes, as she's probably dead, but aren't tortoises supposed to go stiff and have shrunken eyes when they're dead?
i've heard of them going into shock and being seemingly dead and not reacting to a stimulus and then recovering.
if you are in any doubt at all then give her warm soaks and touch her feet .
I'm horrified by this, but would feel awful if I thought that you'd buried a live tortoise.
Sorry again, Ed, but I was fond of the little girl myself.
Sorry.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It's all very confusing.
She isn't completely dead. At least I don't think.
I've been washing her and her bedding. Her legs move.
This is the state that she was in before all of this ever happened. Before the surgery and tube.
I just don't get it

 

[newCH]

I am so sorry. That is so sad. I'm sure she appreciates how well you take care of her. Her legs move ?

 

[Yvonne G]

The foam at the mouth suggests she got too hot. Hopefully you can bring her around. I would use a CHE instead of a light for a while, with plenty of shelter for her to get away from the direct heat.