chunky urates?

[RumBrave13]

Hello, our Dimitri has been doing great, he has a healthy appetite (waits at his food dish every morning) and has become really comfortable with us. Recently it has been getting pretty cold so we don't take him out unless its warm.

Recently, after a soak, we let him wander around and let him do his business. He is pretty regular but we started noticing that when he pee's, his urates are not liquid, but seem to come out chunky (chalky?) like cottage cheese. Is this normal?

His diet consists of radicchio (his favorite) endive, escarole, collard greens (seems to dislike this now), hibiscus flowers (& leaves) & petunias. Although the last two only every now and then.

Could his diet be affecting his urates? Or is this something else? His visit to the vet went great and the vet said he was healthy.

Thank you for any assistance.

 

[cemmons12]

Hello, our Dimitri has been doing great, he has a healthy appetite (waits at his food dish every morning) and has become really comfortable with us. Recently it has been getting pretty cold so we don't take him out unless its warm.

Recently, after a soak, we let him wander around and let him do his business. He is pretty regular but we started noticing that when he pee's, his urates are not liquid, but seem to come out chunky (chalky?) like cottage cheese. Is this normal?

His diet consists of radicchio (his favorite) endive, escarole, collard greens (seems to dislike this now), hibiscus flowers (& leaves) & petunias. Although the last two only every now and then.

Could his diet be affecting his urates? Or is this something else? His visit to the vet went great and the vet said he was healthy.

Thank you for any assistance.

I would just make sure your tort has water at all times, that's what I do for both my torts and everything is fine for me. Good luck!

 

[JoesMum]

Make sure your tort is getting enough water. A daily soak for 20 minutes in luke warm water until he is back to normal and then regular soaking after that every 2 or 3 days.

 

[ascott]

Soak him every day in warm water only deep enough to come to where the top shell meets the bottom shell...he may or may not love it but he will get use to it...also you can spray water lightly on his food before giving to him....his water intake increase over time will help him get the chalky stuff out and bring him to clear urine....

 

[Laura]

you can also feed Spring Mix greens and try pumkpin and butternut sqaush chunks as a treat as well.

 

[RumBrave13]

Thank you all for your advice, we normally soak him every 2-3 days but will do it daily until he's back to normal.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Sounds like either dehydration, or a diet that is too rich in protein, or both. Make sure the tortoise is only eating greens, and is getting plenty of moisture. Russian tortoises are adapted to semi-arid or arid environments, but they still need a moist microclimate and moist plants to eat in order to stay well-hydrated. Providing a shallow drinking dish is a good idea in captivity, although a well-hydrated tortoise rarely drinks. Also, if tortoises eat too much protein-rich food, like beans or animal matter, then they can develop kidney and joint problems from a build-up or purines and urates in their system. Make sure your guy is eating low-protein foods and is staying well-hydrated.

 

[RumBrave13]

Hello, his diet consists of only greens, and we have a water dish available for him. So far soaking him every other days helping. Thanks again!

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Hello, his diet consists of only greens, and we have a water dish available for him. So far soaking him every other days helping. Thanks again!

What's the substrate? Does he have a moist (but not wet) place to burrow into?

 

[RumBrave13]

Hi, his substrate consists of cocoa cor & play sand. He has a half log hide that he loves to burrow in, & his humidity is at 60,

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Hi, his substrate consists of cocoa cor & play sand. He has a half log hide that he loves to burrow in, & his humidity is at 60,

Ambient humidity sounds good, but tortoises still need a moist microclimate to minimize water loss. Is your coco coir a bit moist to the touch? If not, then maybe that is why your tortoise is getting dehydrated.

 

[RumBrave13]

Sounds good, we will make sure that the substrate stays a little moist. Thanks for all of the help! our first tort so we are still learning