Blockage - Please Help

[coldskyline]

We had an x ray done and it showed no blockage, just a lot of poop that was 'stuck'. The vet thinks his body is shutting down and it's stuck because of the kidney failure. I'm still holding out and hoping that the kidney failure is because of the poop build up.

 

[Tom]

First off, I want you to know that we're all pulling for you. I'm guessing that soon you will be given the gift of HUGE amounts of sulcata poop.

While racking my brain for a solution for you it occurred to me that they ALWAYS poop a lot in the car. I transported my 50 pounder in a Vari-Kennel dog crate once and he darn near filled the whole bottom. This was after a one hour soak before the ride and a TON of poop at the venue too. That was one smelly ride home. I know you already drove him to the vet, but I wonder if all the soaks, mineral oil and time have broken things loose enough that one more car ride will finish the job... just an idea.

 

[CtTortoiseMom]

Just yesterday I was outside the vet's office hosing mine down too. A car ride is a great idea if you could get someone to help you put him in a crate and put the crate in your car. I had trouble yesterday and mine only eight's 32 pounds!!

 

[coldskyline]

Thanks a lot for the ideas. Mine have always pooped a lot in the car as well but I just associated that with them being scared. It would be near impossible for me to get Herman into a car with the size he is now... When he went to the vet this week they had to come out with a stretcher to get him in and out of their van. If I can think of an easier way maybe I can try this as a last resort, but I think the experience would be really traumatizing for him (even just the whole lifting and getting him in there part).

 

[Jacqui]

I know I haven't been posting on this thread, but I have been reading it. I was hoping you had just come on to tell us you had some major movement.
This is so frustrating for us just reading about it, I can't imagine what all your going thru. *hugs*

 

[coldskyline]

Thanks Jacqui... Sadly no, not yet I think Herman is tired for the day. He's still out but he only moves around when I provoke him. Other than that he's just been sleeping...

By the way, what do you guys think about this: After Herman goes to sleep for the night I'm worried that if I don't wake him up every 2-3 hours he'll die in his sleep. Am I being paranoid and should I let him sleep through the night? I've been setting my alarm for every few hours to go check and make sure he's still breathing but I also don't want to annoy him?

 

[Tom]

I vote that you let him sleep.

 

[Torty Mom]

Darn, I was hoping he would be doing much better. I wouldn't wake him up every 2 hours, that's hard on the both of you. Did you get a chance to ask your vet about that medication?

Does he like Mazuri? I can send you some. It's really helping Lou put on some weight.

Hang in there we are hoping and praying for you both and of course POO!!!! WE WANT POO!!!!!

 

[coldskyline]

Darn, I was hoping he would be doing much better. I wouldn't wake him up every 2 hours, that's hard on the both of you. Did you get a chance to ask your vet about that medication?

Does he like Mazuri? I can send you some. It's really helping Lou put on some weight.

Hang in there we are hoping and praying for you both and of course POO!!!! WE WANT POO!!!!!

I don't have any Mazuri. Herman has had it in the past but not in a long time. He definitely lost some weight but I'm not sure how I could get him to eat it?

I will try to let him sleep all night then-- I wasn't fully waking him up before just making sure he was still alive/was responsive to me being there. I guess I'm just being paranoid though, I'll take your suggestions.

 

[Jacqui]

Remember rest can be just as much a part of recovery as a medicine, if not more.

 

[coldskyline]

I know, it's just that he sleeps so much of the day as well that he's getting twice as much sleep as he normally would. The vet told me him being active is the most important thing right now so even though I feel bad waking him up, I also just didn't want him to be sleeping 90% of the day/night. I wont check on him tonight though and I'll see how he is in the morning.

 

[RV's mom]

If Herman likes romaine lettuce, I make mazuri wraps... soak mazuri in water, add whatever you'd like to add (I added snipped hay, and mushed up peach this last batch). Load up a stiff inner leaf with the mix and hand feed. RV doesn't eat just mazuri but will happily chow a mazuri wrap..

hoping and praying still for Herman's turn around and walk back to health.

teri

 

[Torty Mom]

PM me your address and I will get some mailed to you tomorrow!!

 

[coldskyline]

Hmmm, these mazuri wraps sound really great, I will definitely try it. I will just soak the mazuri for a bit since I am going to have to force feed it to him. He won't choke on it right?

 

[ascott]

I am with Tom on this, if it were me, as hard as it would be, let him sleep dear...

Did your vet tube feed him the mineral oil? If he thinks it is not beneficial, I would let your vet know that "you think it is beneficial and to just do it" ....sorry, I get so annoyed with vets that just say something won't work....if it is not harmful, the good ones are willing to try.....

 

[RV's mom]

Hmmm, these mazuri wraps sound really great, I will definitely try it. I will just soak the mazuri for a bit since I am going to have to force feed it to him. He won't choke on it right?

I take a small yogurt cupfull of mazuri and put it (the mazuri) in a tupperware~ So say maybe a quarter to half cup. Then I pretty much cover the mazuri with water. The mazuri will soak the water up and become mushy. I don't think Herman will choke at all. How are you force feeding him? Think you can use some sort of large bore syringe? If not, you'd have to have the very inner portion of the romaine, as the mazuri/water mix can bend the less sturdy leaves. If you have cactus, you could chop up the pad fine and add it to the mazuri with water. I'm thinking any moisture/sustanence is a good thing, right?

I hope it works for Herman.

 

[coldskyline]

Yeah, I am. I haven't checked on him tonight since he went to sleep. I feel like I should clarify: it's not like the last few nights I was waking him up all the time, it was just after he went to sleep around 6pm till around midnight I'd check him a few times, then from midnight to around 9 when he'd wake up it was completely undisturbed. Tonight though I did refrain from checking on him at all, so we'll see how he is tomorrow...


Yeah I am kind of annoyed with my vet, he keeps repeating to me that it's not a blockage and he doesn't think the mineral oil will help. He thinks that the main problem is the kidneys, which might be true, but he doesn't know for sure. Next time he comes I will ask him again but he seems to get annoyed with me quickly, like I'm second guessing him. I've been feeding him the mineral (not every day though) by either a non needle syringe or on a piece of fruit. I do think the vet is good, he just seems kinda by the book/old school. All the ideas that you guys have given me have really helped thought and I *so* appreciate it! (as I'm sure Herman does as well!)

 

[ascott]

the vet acts as though he is annoyed with you? hmmm, are you paying the vet for the treatments? whether yes or no, I believe that he has decided what he has decided, and in this case that could be hazardous to your tortoise....I know that it feels kinda awkward to "insist" on something when speaking with a doctor/vet....however, this is your tortoise and you are the one, as well as your Herman, that will gain or suffer....so, I would insist away....if he has renal failure that, in your vets opinion, can not be fixed...then what the hell is the harm?

and for the record, the reason I said to let Herman sleep was for your benefit..... peeking on him does not bother him I am sure however, if you are compelled to peek, do just that....you have to live with you and you have to know you are doing all that you can....peek but don't touch...LOL

 

[coldskyline]

Yeah I am definitely paying the vet, ha ha... it's $200 for each visit! Every three days. Not to mention the trip there and the xrays which were way more. He doesn't necessarily seem consistently annoyed it's just I can tell that when I keep pushing something like the mineral oil he gets irritated like he feels like he needs to explain to me yet again. Last time he was here he said something to the effect of "I don't know how else to say it again...". He doesn't necessarily think the renal failure is DEFINITELY irreversible, it's just that he's convinced that the poop build up is caused because of the renal failure and not the other way around (where as I'm hoping that if he poops it'll help his kidneys). There's really no way for him to know that though and since I know Herman has had a very healthy life and diet the last 20 years I find it hard to believe that his kidney's are failing as a primary condition (although it is of course possible). I don't know... when you've had an animal for so long you know things about them that a vet can't possibly gather in their limited exposure to them, you know?

Ha ha, I know, I just didn't want you guys to think I was torturing him and kept poking him all through the night or anything! I've been driving myself crazy over it and I think it's good if I don't check him tonight. Maybe both of us will feel better in the morning

 

[ascott]

LOL....

IF IT WERE ME, the next time the vet shows his face (to earn another 200.00 plus meds) I would politely (at first, of course) and tactfully (again, at first) share with him that while you know HE is the vet, that you have know Herman for 20 years and have grown rather attached to him, and suggest (in a lady like manner, at first) that you will not rest unless he does the mineral oil....then smile and re assure him that your request in no way implies he is not the best rockiness vet in the whole entire world but that this is your buddy and have to have this done so you can rest peacefully at night.....

and well, if he refuses, remind him that you can get another vet that will not be so damn combative with you on a simply harmless request of the heart (and at that point you may warn him that your politeness, tactfullness and lady like behavior is about to change ) LOL