RubyandSquirt
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She's very lucky to have you. Wishing you the best with her.
Bubbles Galore
- Thread starter Alaskamike
- Start date
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
Thanks
The water therapy seems to be getting her back legs stronger she moves them allot now.
Still eats well , pooping okay
Here RI is better. Just a bit of discharge first thing in morning
Now if her bones get stronger maybe she can walk again one day
Great news!
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
Bubbles with her morning chopped up chow , it's different everyday , today she has ....
- a bit of wet Mazuri
- hibiscus leave+ a flower
- purslane
- clover
- mulberry tree leaf
- rasberry leaf
- a small bit of calcium powder
She likes it. Hahaha
Feeding her on paving tiles has begun to wear down her underbite , I still may have to grind some off
My GF asked how long I would be doing water therapy with her for her back legs and what if she never walks again. I don't know answer to either question. Rehab takes time.
She loves to eat - so that's a positive. And struggling on her raft for water therapy now. Pumping back legs some.
She hasn't been blowing bubbles for several days now - no nasal discharge.
Plastron still too soft
My friends call her " Differently Enabled" politically correct yes ?
I'm pulling for her.
- a bit of wet Mazuri
- hibiscus leave+ a flower
- purslane
- clover
- mulberry tree leaf
- rasberry leaf
- a small bit of calcium powder
She likes it. Hahaha
Feeding her on paving tiles has begun to wear down her underbite , I still may have to grind some off
My GF asked how long I would be doing water therapy with her for her back legs and what if she never walks again. I don't know answer to either question. Rehab takes time.
She loves to eat - so that's a positive. And struggling on her raft for water therapy now. Pumping back legs some.
She hasn't been blowing bubbles for several days now - no nasal discharge.
Plastron still too soft
My friends call her " Differently Enabled" politically correct yes ?
I'm pulling for her.
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
Here she is eating View attachment ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1439215024.839832.jpg
Go Bubbles! She certainly has the spirit of a fighter. Hopefully her back legs will get the memo.
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I just adore this tortoise!!
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
Bubbles on her water therapy platform in large terra cotta dish.
Depth perspective is off , but her legs can barely rich bottom. She usually just sits there for awhile before she starts struggling and kicking her back legs. I let her kick for awhile and then take her off.
Trying to get her back legs strong again. Hopefully this way the muscles won't atrophy while her sunlight / calcium good food intake can do some repair to weak bones.
View attachment ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1439217259.595468.jpg
Depth perspective is off , but her legs can barely rich bottom. She usually just sits there for awhile before she starts struggling and kicking her back legs. I let her kick for awhile and then take her off.
Trying to get her back legs strong again. Hopefully this way the muscles won't atrophy while her sunlight / calcium good food intake can do some repair to weak bones.
View attachment ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1439217259.595468.jpg
Those legs! I'd love to see x-rays of her compared to x-rays of a tortoise raised appropriately.
Some how i think I missed this thread. When I had to rehab one of my leopards, I too did the hydrotherapy. What I found to work really well, was a deep wash tub and filling it full enough that she had to swim. This way it gets them to having to move their legs a lot, not really be able to rest more then working out. Then I would place my hand under her every so often to give her a rest. Sometimes I would hold her up from just under her front two legs to give her a rest too, but she could still move her back legs. Did this once to two times a day. Between that and her having an appropriate size enclosure to actually move around in it didn't take long before she was walking normal. Maybe 3 months? Not quite sure. Seems like it was less. Now she roams around all day and boy can she move fast. If yours can swim, I would try it. It may take less time the more they have to work thise legs. Just a suggestion that work really well for me. Good luck.
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
Sounds great. Glad it worked out well.
I tried to get her to swim first. But she just sinks or tips over. I don't really know why. I've had other torts who floated and were well balanced so I thought this one would be the same. Maybe it has something to do with how her shell formed? I hope she can transition to swimming soon. I'll keep testing her now and then. That would be best.
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
Okay .... So I tried the swimming again and it worked ! She swam like a champ. Woo hoo !
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
Here she is swimming View attachment ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1439221240.564284.jpg
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Awesome
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
A 10 sec video of her rehab
Oh, man...those legs are working great!
One of my Aldabran tortoises suffered MBD before I realized what was going on. He can't raise up and support his weight, so he basically drags himself along. It's been over 2 years since I've been getting more calcium into him and he's now able to raise up a bit higher than 'drag,' but it seems to be taking a very long time. My vet thinks there may be nerve damage and what I see might be as good as it's going to get.
I just wanted to put that out there for you to keep in mind with your tortoise. (Mine weighs almost 200lbs, so the raft wouldn't work for me)
One of my Aldabran tortoises suffered MBD before I realized what was going on. He can't raise up and support his weight, so he basically drags himself along. It's been over 2 years since I've been getting more calcium into him and he's now able to raise up a bit higher than 'drag,' but it seems to be taking a very long time. My vet thinks there may be nerve damage and what I see might be as good as it's going to get.
I just wanted to put that out there for you to keep in mind with your tortoise. (Mine weighs almost 200lbs, so the raft wouldn't work for me)
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That's fantastic!!
Wow great improved !
Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
@yvonne
Thanks. I do know it can be a long haul. It didn't happen overnight , so can't be expected to Repair overnight either.
She does have her light weight and young age going for her. Maybe that will help.
I really don't want to spring for x-Rays or other tests on this one
I'll do the best I can , if she makes it great !
I know a man who had extensive nerve damage in his legs as a pre teen. Doctors told his family he would always be in a wheel chair no matter what.
His Uncle from Sweden asked if he could come stay with him - so parents sent him. The uncle everyday had him in a home sauna. Then carried him out to ice cold lake in front and soaked him , then back in the sauna. Many times a day.
in 6 months he was standing , a month later taking steps , in less than a year he was walking as well as anyone , and helping on the farm.
Who knows why. Can't tell for sure. But bodies do sometimes fix themselves because of us ( or in spite of us )
I won't give up as long as she's eating
Thanks. I do know it can be a long haul. It didn't happen overnight , so can't be expected to Repair overnight either.
She does have her light weight and young age going for her. Maybe that will help.
I really don't want to spring for x-Rays or other tests on this one
I'll do the best I can , if she makes it great !
I know a man who had extensive nerve damage in his legs as a pre teen. Doctors told his family he would always be in a wheel chair no matter what.
His Uncle from Sweden asked if he could come stay with him - so parents sent him. The uncle everyday had him in a home sauna. Then carried him out to ice cold lake in front and soaked him , then back in the sauna. Many times a day.
in 6 months he was standing , a month later taking steps , in less than a year he was walking as well as anyone , and helping on the farm.
Who knows why. Can't tell for sure. But bodies do sometimes fix themselves
because of us ( or in spite of us ) I won't give up as long as she's eating
Great work mike , when seller sell their tortoise should give all the info about how to raise tortoise ,will be less sad story like this .
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