CDT Hatchling Fat Back leg

DesertHerd

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2021
Messages
57
Location (City and/or State)
Tustin, CA
Hey All,

Noticed Big Guy kicking out his back left leg a few times today so I picked him up to see what he was doing and noticed that his back left leg looks considerable “fatter” than the right. Other than the kicking it around a couple times while basking today he hasnt shown any other signs of discomfort, he still eats a ton, walks around, climbs, and poops. What could be causing this and what should I do to remedy it?
 

Attachments

  • 56181878-B4A5-4370-8268-212683DAA93F.jpeg
    56181878-B4A5-4370-8268-212683DAA93F.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 30
Last edited:

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,388
Hey All,

Noticed Big Guy kicking out his back left leg a few times today so I picked him up to see what he was doing and noticed that his back left leg looks considerable “fatter” than the right. Other than the kicking it around a couple times while basking today he hasnt shown any other signs of discomfort, he still eats a ton, walks around, climbs, and poops. What could be causing this and what should I do to remedy it?
It looks as though it may be a cyst or an abscess which tortoise can get for no apparent reason. The only treatment for them would be removal by a qualified exotics vet. There is a good one in LA who has treated my tortoises in the past when she was in GA if you wish to go there. I can give you her name if you are interested in seeing her.
 

DesertHerd

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2021
Messages
57
Location (City and/or State)
Tustin, CA
It looks as though it may be a cyst or an abscess which tortoise can get for no apparent reason. The only treatment for them would be removal by a qualified exotics vet. There is a good one in LA who has treated my tortoises in the past when she was in GA if you wish to go there. I can give you her name if you are interested in seeing her.
Do you happen to know if they are any threat to the tortoises health? like what would the best and worst case scenarios if I didnt get it removed. I will dedinitely check with my vet but just was curious if it was immediately life threatening or more of an annoyance if it is a cyst/absess.
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,388
Do you happen to know if they are any threat to the tortoises health? like what would the best and worst case scenarios if I didnt get it removed. I will dedinitely check with my vet but just was curious if it was immediately life threatening or more of an annoyance if it is a cyst/absess.
Not life-threatening unless it turned out to be a cancerous lesion rather than a simple abscess or cyst. The only way to tell for sure is to remove it and have a pathologist look at the tissue.

You can monitor it and wait to see if it gets bigger before having it removed, but then if it is cancerous, you have that much less chance of saving the tortoise because the cancer has had more time to spread.
 

DesertHerd

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2021
Messages
57
Location (City and/or State)
Tustin, CA
Not life-threatening unless it turned out to be a cancerous lesion rather than a simple abscess or cyst. The only way to tell for sure is to remove it and have a pathologist look at the tissue.

You can monitor it and wait to see if it gets bigger before having it removed, but then if it is cancerous, you have that much less chance of saving the tortoise because the cancer has had more time to spread.
That makes total sense, thank you!
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
What about the string I see in the picture? If you look a little higher, closer to the shell, you can see the string is even up that high. It's quite possible the string is wrapped tightly around the leg causing the swelling.
 

DesertHerd

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2021
Messages
57
Location (City and/or State)
Tustin, CA
What about the string I see in the picture? If you look a little higher, closer to the shell, you can see the string is even up that high. It's quite possible the string is wrapped tightly around the leg causing the swelling.
I see what you mean in the picture but after giving him a warm soak and looking again I dont see the string anymore. I have attached some more pictures. Any other thoughts to what it might be?
 

Attachments

  • 9FBECA70-352B-4E62-A1BF-621A163629A4.jpeg
    9FBECA70-352B-4E62-A1BF-621A163629A4.jpeg
    1.5 MB · Views: 12
  • 5917B28A-3752-4168-A467-78CF64E4EC86.jpeg
    5917B28A-3752-4168-A467-78CF64E4EC86.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 11
  • 762FF7E3-F228-4359-971A-CC310CAB52CE.jpeg
    762FF7E3-F228-4359-971A-CC310CAB52CE.jpeg
    908.6 KB · Views: 11
  • 629C866C-3EA2-4271-B8FA-2B12C2D1C11E.jpeg
    629C866C-3EA2-4271-B8FA-2B12C2D1C11E.jpeg
    949.1 KB · Views: 11
  • 775F5AAA-5D93-4211-916E-5AB11BAB74D9.jpeg
    775F5AAA-5D93-4211-916E-5AB11BAB74D9.jpeg
    942.9 KB · Views: 11

My5Sulcata

New Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2021
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
moving
Hey All,

Noticed Big Guy kicking out his back left leg a few times today so I picked him up to see what he was doing and noticed that his back left leg looks considerable “fatter” than the right. Other than the kicking it around a couple times while basking today he hasnt shown any other signs of discomfort, he still eats a ton, walks around, climbs, and poops. What could be causing this and what should I do to remedy it?
I would take it to a veterinarian.
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,388
I see what you mean in the picture but after giving him a warm soak and looking again I dont see the string anymore. I have attached some more pictures. Any other thoughts to what it might be?
If that swelling was indeed caused by the thread or string being very tightly wrapped around the "ankle" area of that leg, and the thread is now totally gone, I would expect the swelling to subside gradually over the next 7-10 days or so. I would soak the tortoise daily in lukewarm water to stimulate it to move the leg and thus increase the circulation to help reduce the swelling.

Keep us posted on the progress.
 

New Posts

Top