Cloaca Swelling - cause for concern? minor prolapse?

[KingInCulver]

I noticed that there is some swelling at the cloaca on my sulcata. He is about 18 months old and around 7 inches plastron length - I don't know if this is normal, or if this should be something I should have the vet look at. I tried searching on here for prolapse info and pictures for comparison, but I cant tell if that is what this is because its simply not so severe as some of the other cases presented here. Basically it just seems a little swollen. He is having already in the tub having an extra long soak... any information or reassurances would be appreciated. I don't know when the last BM was, but also any info on that to help it along would be useful too. Thank you!

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm pretty sure that's a little girl.

It might just be that she's a tad constipated. You can offer her some aloe vera, or canned pumpkin (Not pie mix), or put her in your human bath tub with warm water. I say the bath tub because it offers plenty of space for the tortoise to walk, and scrambling to escape the tub sometimes loosens the bowels.

If its not constipation, she might have some eggs pushing on the veins in there and causing them to swell.

 

[KingInCulver]

I'm pretty sure that's a little girl.

It might just be that she's a tad constipated. You can offer her some aloe vera, or canned pumpkin (Not pie mix), or put her in your human bath tub with warm water. I say the bath tub because it offers plenty of space for the tortoise to walk, and scrambling to escape the tub sometimes loosens the bowels.

If its not constipation, she might have some eggs pushing on the veins in there and causing them to swell.

thanks yvonne! should i be concerned with eggs pushing already? at this age and size? is there a thread i should be reading about this? "so you have a female tortoise - egg-bound 101" or something like that? *she* (this will take some getting used to) is my only tort and i don't have plans on breeding.

 

[T33's Torts]

I don't think she is old's enough to bare eggs.

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Ryan may need to be called Rion from now on

 

[KingInCulver]

so in the past 12 hours or so, she's had a long soak, a bunch of cactus, some mazuri, and she's produced some successful poops, pee, and urates. BMs are a little watery, but a few firm ones towards the end. would there be any other cause for the swelling that i haven't considered?

 

[T33's Torts]

According to your IG pictures, you haven't any sand available, so you can rule out impaction. Maybe perhaps a piece of undigested hay got caught and nipped a piece of skin causing some irritation. If its not better (or got worse) in a week then I'd take more drastic measures.. Otherwise it is most likely just slight irritation.