Bladder Stone advice

[sabggg]

okay currently he's on Fortaz, the vet told me that helps reduce any type of infections. Also the vet surgeon told me that he reduced 50% of the stone, does that look 50% to anyone?

 

[zovick]

Hello everyone this is the before and after x-rays of bladder stone. View attachment 392413View attachment 392412

It looks possibly 25% to 33% smaller. I would not say it is 50% smaller. Are you taking the tortoise back to the vet tomorrow? If really lucky, he/she will be able to grab onto it with a hemostat and pull it out this time. If not, the vet can use a hemostat and try to break the stone into a bunch of small pieces which could be passed more easily.

Please note that I have done this procedure myself, so I know it is possible, but it takes a lot of patience (and some good luck).

 

[sabggg]

It looks possibly 25% to 33% smaller. I would not say it is 50% smaller. Are you taking the tortoise back to the vet tomorrow? If really lucky, he/she will be able to grab onto it with a hemostat and pull it out this time. If not, the vet can use a hemostat and try to break the stone into a bunch of small pieces which could be passed more easily.

Please note that I have done this procedure myself, so I know it is possible, but it takes a lot of patience (and some good luck).

Yes I am. They let me know that someone would respond to me over the weekend but no one has. I'm taking him there first thing in the morning. I paid around 800 for the last procedure for the vet to say that it should be able to pass and they later said based on his body structure it just wont let him now. They also said there was a slight chance he wouldn't make it but gladly he did. He's a strong resilient tortoise. Overall this past month the medical bills for him have been over 1k for issues that not have been dealt with properly. After this I'm hoping to him to move him to a different vet location.

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes I am. They let me know that someone would respond to me over the weekend but no one has. I'm taking him there first thing in the morning. I paid around 800 for the last procedure for the vet to say that it should be able to pass and they later said based on his body structure it just wont let him now. They also said there was a slight chance he wouldn't make it but gladly he did. He's a strong resilient tortoise. Overall this past month the medical bills for him have been over 1k for issues that not have been dealt with properly. After this I'm hoping to him to move him to a different vet location.

Who is the vet?

 

[RandyTortoise]

Anesthesia is good for your tortoise in this case. Pain causes contraction, which makes relaxing to open the pathway a lot more difficult. How would you do with invasive actions taken on your body without anesthesia? The anesthesia would make this whole traumatic experience easier on your tortoise.

Breaking the stone into MUCH smaller pieces should be done as soon as possible! Don't wait. Your tortoise is in pain AND can't pass toxic excremental material past the stone. Every minute this goes on, the toxic material sits there getting making your tortoise sicker and sicker.

Think of how crummy you have felt when seriously constipated.

Then add in that as everything backs up it puts excessive pressures and stresses on the tortoise's intestinal tract - to the point that the intestine can rupture. That will kill your tortoise unless you can afford thousands in vet fees and also have a vet that can clear it before peritonitis sets in. If that part of the intestine gets permanently distended (stretched out) your tortoise will have problems the rest of its life with crap collecting in the "pocket" that has been created and poisoning its system.

Get the stone out as soon as possible, with anesthesia.

Absolutely!!

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Hey everyone this my first every post on here. I'm hoping to get some immediate advice or recommendations. I own a sulcata tortoise that is around 4 years old. He had a surgery last thursday to get his bladder broken down into smaller pieces through his butt. They were able to break it down as much they could, before they released him to me they told me that the bladder stone size is now smaller and he should be able to pass it. Today has come and he finally wants to push it out as well as the poop that has been there for a week or so. Any advice on what to do for him, I've given him pieces of watermelon, bell pepper, smash sweet potato, smash squash, cactus pads to loosen up his stomach. I want any advice on what I can do now since he is struggling to remove the bladder stone. The vet had previoulsy told me that he would be uncomfortable removing it but I've recently updated them through message and no response. They wanted me to update them through message but yet have gone back to me. Any advice on what I can feed him or put on his butt to soften the push a bit?

Soak..
Soak…
Soak him in a warm bath tub!!!!
For a while…
Then change the water but make sure it’s warm not hot water and soak again.

 

[sabggg]

Who is the vet?

the vet is Dr. Alfaro and Francisco are the current people that are helping me.

 

[Yvonne G]

the vet is Dr. Alfaro and Francisco are the current people that are helping me.

I'm not familiar with those names. What's the name of the Veterinary Hospital?

 

[sabggg]

I'm not familiar with those names. What's the name of the Veterinary Hospital?

San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital

 

[sabggg]

Hello everyone FINAL update: I was able to get him in for surgery this morning. They removed all of the stone now. I just got him less than an hour ago. He does need to poop. So ill be bathing in warm water tomorrow. As for the peritonitis symptoms they said I should look out for discharge from his cloaca. If anyone has any advice on what else to look out for. He's currently on Fortaz for any infections to be reduced. Also side note he's walking unusual/different than normal (like limping/dragging on his right side feet). I'm not sure if its due to being under anesthesia and its just wearing off. Any advice for aftercare would be nice.

 

[COmtnLady]

With the stone gone, once the inflammation from the problem goes away there shouldn't be much of any concern with Peritonitis. That only happens when there is a tear in an intestine or duct that lets the contents into the abdominal area.

Your tort will be sore for a while since the stone went on so long and then needed a necessarily harsh treatment to correct. The Fortaz should keep any infection under control until he's healed.

As to the walking differently - they probably had him on his back with his legs tied stretched out so that they had access to his insides. Its possible he's still sore from that. Give him a week or so to get over it.

 

[sabggg]

Hey everyone, my sulcata tortoise has had surgery this past Monday. We got him back Monday afternoon, he was walking a bit once we brought him back but my family and I saw that he was dragging/limping his right leg. Its gotten better but hes still dragging it a bit but thats not whats causing me to worry. On my first forum I spoke about the bladder stone itself and the journey surrounding the removal if yall would like to take a look at that. Thursday has came and I've seen no poop and possibly no urinates. I've given him foods that may loosen his stomach (that usually do) but nothing. I havent given him mineral oil, should I? He also hasnt pooped in around 3 weeks now (the bladder stone has been blocking his cloaca for around 2 weeks). I'm giving him water/watermelon to hydrate him. As well as baths and he does walk around but very minimal not like he used to. What should I do? Anyones' tortoise gone through bladder stone removal through there cloaca if so how long is the recovery time?

 

[Yvonne G]

Anesthesia is hard on tortoises. It takes them a long time to shake it off.