pterry
New Member
Hi all,
My tortoise Abe has come down with the snifflies. The vet went through a general environment check with me and cannot determine anything particular that strikes as causing the runny nose. He is in good spirits and eats well and went for a good run around in the vet office too. But he has had the occasional runny nose and wet cough in the night for the past 5 or so days. So the vet has prescribed him some general medication for me to syringe feed him for a week.
Except, Abe is a 4.9kg little beast, who has always been extremely head shy. When I asked the vet how I was supposed to be able to do so by myself (as I live alone), her response was "with great difficulty."
And, well, the vet had pried his mouth open with me holding him steady to make sure nothing was wrong inside his gob, and that has decidedly made him predetermine any sort of approach to his head for the day, because I can't even get him to get his head out of his shell now. Any approach anywhere near his forelegs has him tightly sealed inside without moving. I've trapped my fingers for the last 2 hours trying to get any sort of leeway to getting to his neck to pull his head out (sounds barbaric but what else am I to do). I sat with him for another hour and no improvement. Won't even peek. How on Earth can I get his head out for 7 days worth of medication?? I'm so annoyed that the vet wouldn't do the first dosage while we were there.
My tortoise Abe has come down with the snifflies. The vet went through a general environment check with me and cannot determine anything particular that strikes as causing the runny nose. He is in good spirits and eats well and went for a good run around in the vet office too. But he has had the occasional runny nose and wet cough in the night for the past 5 or so days. So the vet has prescribed him some general medication for me to syringe feed him for a week.
Except, Abe is a 4.9kg little beast, who has always been extremely head shy. When I asked the vet how I was supposed to be able to do so by myself (as I live alone), her response was "with great difficulty."
And, well, the vet had pried his mouth open with me holding him steady to make sure nothing was wrong inside his gob, and that has decidedly made him predetermine any sort of approach to his head for the day, because I can't even get him to get his head out of his shell now. Any approach anywhere near his forelegs has him tightly sealed inside without moving. I've trapped my fingers for the last 2 hours trying to get any sort of leeway to getting to his neck to pull his head out (sounds barbaric but what else am I to do). I sat with him for another hour and no improvement. Won't even peek. How on Earth can I get his head out for 7 days worth of medication?? I'm so annoyed that the vet wouldn't do the first dosage while we were there.