Backstory: My red foot tortoise usually stays indoors, except to go for long walks in a big corral every other day. The other day, he was outside and the weather dropped dramatically in just a couple of hours. It got down to maybe 50 degrees before I figured it out and got him inside. The next two days, he hid under his log in the indoor habitat and didn't eat. He finally ate this afternoon and was walking around tonight.
But tonight, he started making this crazy little sound, like a cough or sneeze or hiccup or something. He did them one after the other for about ten minutes (not the mating sound, I know that one). I put him in my lap and pet him, and it seemed to calm him down. At first I though he might have a respiratory infection because his breathing sounded "off" too - kinda wheezy, not like his usual squeaking when he wants a treat. But then he stopped with the little coughing sound and I'm wondering if tortoises can get hiccups? Anyone heard of that before?
His breathing still doesn't sound right to me, but I can't take him to a vet till tomorrow. Wondering if I need to set up a special habitat for him overnight. If I do need to do something, any suggestions on what will help a RI before I can get to meds?
But tonight, he started making this crazy little sound, like a cough or sneeze or hiccup or something. He did them one after the other for about ten minutes (not the mating sound, I know that one). I put him in my lap and pet him, and it seemed to calm him down. At first I though he might have a respiratory infection because his breathing sounded "off" too - kinda wheezy, not like his usual squeaking when he wants a treat. But then he stopped with the little coughing sound and I'm wondering if tortoises can get hiccups? Anyone heard of that before?
His breathing still doesn't sound right to me, but I can't take him to a vet till tomorrow. Wondering if I need to set up a special habitat for him overnight. If I do need to do something, any suggestions on what will help a RI before I can get to meds?