Does my tort have a RI?

[LParkey]

Laying in bed this evening I've heard what I would describe as a "hack" about 5 times in the last 2 hours. Upon closer examination I noticed my older/larger sully has watery eyes. I haven't been home much the last 5 days but was home this morning and never heard it once, but all of a sudden this evening it's happened several times. She is approx 5 years old, she has had a lot of environment changes in the last 3 months as we were displaced for a bit before moving into our new home. Her eating habits and activity levels are all the norm. I held her for about 5 minutes and never heard/felt wheezing. I've never experienced a sick tort, so I'm not sure if it's a RI or if I'm over reacting. I have another younger/smaller sully roaming the same area, should I be worried about him as well?

 

[dmmj]

Water eyes actually mean dehydration, or over heating not an RI. It is prob. dehydrated.

 

[LParkey]

Even with the hack? I could understand dehydration as I haven't been able to bathe them as regularly as I normally do over the last few weeks due to moving.

 

[dmmj]

Yes, even with the hack. Is it constant? Runny nose? Open mouth breathing? Those are the signs of an RI. What temps is he at?

 

[LParkey]

I'm not sure of temp because I haven't ffound my temp gun yet but I've got a heat bulb placed directly above their dog bed and they're warm to the touch. No open mouth breathing, bubbles or runny nose, wheezing, etc. As far as constant I would say no, but like I said it wasn't happening this morning but I've heard it probably 7 times now in the last 3 hrs.

 

[dmmj]

A hacking sound can also be something stuck in it's throat. I wouldn't start to worry unless those symptoms show up. Also watch for a loss of appetite.

 

[Tom]

No harm in raising the temps in their enclosure a bit.

What do you mean "... a heat bulb placed directly above their dog bed..."? Are they just living loose in your house with a dog bed and a heat lamp? If yes, then you very well might have an RI starting. Floors are too cold. Normal house air in winter is too cold. A dog bed might help an animal that is generating its own heat stay warmer, but it doesn't help and ectotherm. What about night time? You don't have a light bulb running 24/7 over them do you?

If you have them living as a pair, then stress could be a factor too.

 

[LParkey]

Haven't heard any hacking since that night and I've been off for the last 2 days monitoring. Think maybe dmmj was right and maybe she was choking on her food!