Big Bertha Doing Great

[Lyn W]

Continued success. This morning while still inside her plastic tote she ate dog food and four blueberries.
I placed her in the outside isolation pen and she is eating Mazuri and purslane....even while being photographed!
It seems like the daily soaks have flipped a switch....
Wish us luck for this trend to continue.
This marks day 3 of her eating a real meal on her own. Not just a nibble.

Wonderful to see! Thanks for the pics Ed.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

The pipe has been surgically inserted into her stomach.

Good luck. Luck didn't come into it. It was your care for her thats done it. She looks a nice tort. Where exactly does the pipe feed into her.

 

[ShannonC]

I haven't been posting, but I sure have been keeping check on this thread!! I am SO glad she is doing better now!! I was sad when I got on here, after being off for a while, and found out she had declined so much!! I sure am glad she has such a devoted human!!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I haven't been posting, but I sure have been keeping check on this thread!! I am SO glad she is doing better now!! I was sad when I got on here, after being off for a while, and found out she had declined so much!! I sure am glad she has such a devoted human!!

Thanks..
She is doing her part now. I have higher hopes than ever at this point.
Hopefully no more set backs.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Even with the about 30 ml of Pedialite, she was getting more and more dehydrated every day. It is flat out amazing how much water she puts down each day. The water soaks and her drinking the water have really done wonders. She really is eating.

 

[Anyfoot]

Even with the about 30 ml of Pedialite, she was getting more and more dehydrated every day. It is flat out amazing how much water she puts down each day. The water soaks and her drinking the water have really done wonders. She really is eating.

It's ridiculous how much a tort can drink in one go. I've noticed this before. Like camels lol.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

....so with just injection feedings it would be very hard to keep a tortoise the size of Bertha hydrated.
Something I'll be sure to pass on.

 

[Anyfoot]

....so with just injection feedings it would be very hard to keep a tortoise the size of Bertha hydrated.
Something I'll be sure to pass on.

Sounds that way to me. In my hinge back torts I have several water holes. 1 is a cat water dish about 4" diameter and 1.5" deep. I once saw one of them drink at least half this dish full. Bearing in mind this is only 6" tort. Can you imagine all the torts out there as pets, dehydrating because of bad advice. I think I was guilty of this about 15yrs ago with 2 juvenile hermanns. Wet and torts didn't go together back then.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

My other tortoises spend part of the day soaking in their pools. Maybe drinking. Maybe cooling off. maybe both.

 

[Lyn W]

Even with the about 30 ml of Pedialite, she was getting more and more dehydrated every day. It is flat out amazing how much water she puts down each day. The water soaks and her drinking the water have really done wonders. She really is eating.

Another great news day! I am so so happy she is doing well.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Another great news day! I am so so happy she is doing well.

This isn't like before. This is some REAL eating.
Thanks!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

More "firsts."
She would never eat or drink out of bowls or off of plates, but for the last three days sh'e been eating out of plates and yesterday, she began to drink out of a shallow bowl, so soaking her whole body won't be as critical.
She ate another full rounded plate full of Mazuri with dog food. She still wont eat greens or fruit. She did eat a sprig of purslane.
Still no poop.
Next vet visit is the 23rd this month.

 

[Anyfoot]

More "firsts."
She would never eat or drink out of bowls or off of plates, but for the last three days sh'e been eating out of plates and yesterday, she began to drink out of a shallow bowl, so soaking her whole body won't be as critical.
She ate another full rounded plate full of Mazuri with dog food. She still wont eat greens or fruit. She did eat a sprig of purslane.
Still no poop.
Next vet visit is the 23rd this month.

Cool. At this point I wouldn't be to concerned of what she eats, aslong as she's eating its an improvement. All sounds good. Did you ever weigh her when she was at her lowest. Be interesting to see what weight she gets too as she starts pooping again.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

She was under ten pounds at her lowest. I'll get another weight at the vets. (My digital scale is malfunctioning.)
Her sister is over 17 pounds.

 

[Lyn W]

More "firsts."
She would never eat or drink out of bowls or off of plates, but for the last three days sh'e been eating out of plates and yesterday, she began to drink out of a shallow bowl, so soaking her whole body won't be as critical.
She ate another full rounded plate full of Mazuri with dog food. She still wont eat greens or fruit. She did eat a sprig of purslane.
Still no poop.
Next vet visit is the 23rd this month.

Fantastic!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Here's some news for those of you that have been supporting me in this matter...
Drum roll please: Bertha crapped.
It was the best looking thing I've ever seen, too!
She also ate two plates full of Mazuri and Nutro dog food and five blueberies.

 

[gingerbee]

Wow what a feat!! Congrats!!

 

[Lyn W]

Here's some news for those of you that have been supporting me in this matter...
Drum roll please: Bertha crapped.
It was the best looking thing I've ever seen, too!
She also ate two plates full of Mazuri and Nutro dog food and five blueberies.

That is brilliant - definitely not to be sniffed at!! Well done Bertha!!
Hopefully no turning back now Ed you have done a great job - as has Bertha!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I want a photo of the crap!

 

[Anyfoot]

Here's some news for those of you that have been supporting me in this matter...
Drum roll please: Bertha crapped.
It was the best looking thing I've ever seen, too!
She also ate two plates full of Mazuri and Nutro dog food and five blueberies.

Excellent news ed. I feel a positive mood about you. Time for a clean joke.