Hi,
Brand new here, first post and thank for such a great forum!
I have had a tortoise for about 38 years, it really has been a super pet. Over the last 2 - 3 weeks "he" has stopped eating. "His" diet was strawberries, tomatoes, dandelions and favorite was banana ! I know this isnt strictly a tortiose diet, but for over 38 years we have seen no problems.
This lack of eating led me down the path of "special" tortiose food, vitamin suppliments etc, all to no avail. I even sprinkled on the vitamin powder onto a banana, but was sussed out and then he refused to eat anything.....
In desperation, I took "him" to a vet who specialises in tortoise'. The vet checked every obvious thing (mouth, eyes, soft shell, tested leg strength, weight etc). Turns out "he" is actually a "She" and is a greek spur thighed tortoise !
Vet gave her a clean bill of health, apart from blood tests to check kidney, liver functions etc
I've read a few other posts about refusal to eat, seems almost commonplace, at somepoint in a tortoise' life.
Should I be worried?
Will it pass ?
Do they really get that moody and stubborn ?
Maybe because "he" has a male name !
She lives outside and has done forever, historically very active, always trying to climb up patio door to get into the house, terrific escape artist, always eat loads, but its all changed over the past 3 weeks.
She comes out of her house, sits on the patio, (head out but down on ground) and goes in at asbout 2pm and thats it....... walks away from ALL fresh food of ANY type.
Any help or advice would be welcomed
Brand new here, first post and thank for such a great forum!
I have had a tortoise for about 38 years, it really has been a super pet. Over the last 2 - 3 weeks "he" has stopped eating. "His" diet was strawberries, tomatoes, dandelions and favorite was banana ! I know this isnt strictly a tortiose diet, but for over 38 years we have seen no problems.
This lack of eating led me down the path of "special" tortiose food, vitamin suppliments etc, all to no avail. I even sprinkled on the vitamin powder onto a banana, but was sussed out and then he refused to eat anything.....
In desperation, I took "him" to a vet who specialises in tortoise'. The vet checked every obvious thing (mouth, eyes, soft shell, tested leg strength, weight etc). Turns out "he" is actually a "She" and is a greek spur thighed tortoise !
Vet gave her a clean bill of health, apart from blood tests to check kidney, liver functions etc
I've read a few other posts about refusal to eat, seems almost commonplace, at somepoint in a tortoise' life.
Should I be worried?
Will it pass ?
Do they really get that moody and stubborn ?
Maybe because "he" has a male name !
She lives outside and has done forever, historically very active, always trying to climb up patio door to get into the house, terrific escape artist, always eat loads, but its all changed over the past 3 weeks.
She comes out of her house, sits on the patio, (head out but down on ground) and goes in at asbout 2pm and thats it....... walks away from ALL fresh food of ANY type.
Any help or advice would be welcomed