How to open tiny mouth

[Ardelle]

Hi all,
I am starting a new thread as desperate for advice, my tortoise has oral antibiotics however the reptile vet tried a few times and couldn’t open his mouth because of his size, I have tried and am really struggling, I can hold his head by holding behind his ears however his mouth is clamped shut and small then my nail.

Has anyone anything else I can try please?

He isn’t eating so food doesn’t work.

 

[zovick]

Hi all,
I am starting a new thread as desperate for advice, my tortoise has oral antibiotics however the reptile vet tried a few times and couldn’t open his mouth because of his size, I have tried and am really struggling, I can hold his head by holding behind his ears however his mouth is clamped shut and small then my nail.

Has anyone anything else I can try please?

He isn’t eating so food doesn’t work.

Is this medication needed for a respiratory problem? If not, why is it being given?

I would suggest getting the vet to switch the medication from oral to injectable. It is much easier and gives far more accurate dosing to give antibiotic medications by injection than by mouth.

That being said, DO NOT give your tortoise injections of Baytril. It is very painful and often causes tissue necrosis at the injection site. Ceftazidime is a much better injectable antibiotic.

 

[Ardelle]

Is this medication needed for a respiratory problem? If not, why is it being given?

I would suggest getting the vet to switch the medication from oral to injectable. It is much easier and gives far more accurate dosing to give antibiotic medications by injection than by mouth.

That being said, DO NOT give your tortoise injections of Baytril. It is very painful and often causes tissue necrosis at the injection site. Ceftazidime is a much better injectable antibiotic.

Hes no showing a respiratory infection no as no nasal issues or open mouth, he didn’t want to give a shot because of his small size.
He hasn’t eaten in 9 days now and is getting weaker, his eyes were staying shut but now opening at times when I bath him.

 

[Ardelle]

But vet said possibly another sort of infection thats stopping him eating

 

[Ardelle]

He only weighs 44g

 

[zovick]

But vet said possibly another sort of infection thats stopping him eating

Sounds like you need a different vet. Prescribing antibiotics simply because the tortoise is not eating is ridiculous. If there is no proof of a bona fide infection, antibiotics are unnecessary.

There are numerous reasons that a tortoise won't eat, and infections (especially ones other than respiratory) would be pretty low on the list. Temperatures and lighting would be the first things I would consider as possible reasons for lack of appetite.

 

[Yvonne G]

You might try soaking the baby daily in human babyfood carrots and water. You can use our 'search' feature to find threads about carrot soaks. If you do it faithfully at the end of the third day the swollen eyes will be open.

Baby tortoises won't eat if they can't see. When they don't eat their eyes swell shut.

Something is wrong with your husbandry or this wouldn't have happened in the first place. It's not something that will be fixed by antibiotics. What it needs is the correct husbandry.

Look for our care sheets explaining how to care for the type of tortoise baby you have.

 

[Ardelle]

You might try soaking the baby daily in human babyfood carrots and water. You can use our 'search' feature to find threads about carrot soaks. If you do it faithfully at the end of the third day the swollen eyes will be open.

Baby tortoises won't eat if they can't see. When they don't eat their eyes swell shut.

Something is wrong with your husbandry or this wouldn't have happened in the first place. It's not something that will be fixed by antibiotics. What it needs is the correct husbandry.

Look for our care sheets explaining how to care for the type of tortoise baby you have.

I did have another thread when this started and have sorted out the husbandry, this is day 9 and this was corrected a good 5 days ago, hes been also having baby food and CCF soaks for 7 days.

His eyes are opening now when bathing so I am offering food after the bath but he just crawls away.

 

[Ardelle]

I am soaking 3 times a day currently, just at a complete loss

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I understand your tortoise is almost three years old and weighing only 44g? And this has happened every fall? @zovick what do you think about the overall situation?

 

[Ardelle]

That is correct however the last time it happend a few carrot soaks or a CCF soak seemed to sort it out. It has never happened any other time of year.

I have tried upping the temps and putting a led daylight bulb in to trick him into thinking its summer incase it was to do with the time of year

 

[zovick]

I understand your tortoise is almost three years old and weighing only 44g? And this has happened every fall? @zovick what do you think about the overall situation?

Sorry to say this, but obviously there is something terribly wrong with the care this tortoise has received. I am personally rather surprised that it is still alive.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Sorry to say this, but obviously there is something terribly wrong with the care this tortoise has received. I am personally rather surprised that it is still alive.

This is the thread on everything OP has done:

Horsefield eyes shut and stops eating at the end of every summer

Have you been following his weight gain? How much did he weigh when you got him? How much has he lost weight now that he is sick. As you know, he is really small for a tortoise his age. Just wondering, don't know if they are connected though.

tortoiseforum.org

Do you think something else should be tried? Should OP prepare for the worst?

 

[zovick]

This is the thread on everything OP has done:

Horsefield eyes shut and stops eating at the end of every summer

Have you been following his weight gain? How much did he weigh when you got him? How much has he lost weight now that he is sick. As you know, he is really small for a tortoise his age. Just wondering, don't know if they are connected though.

tortoiseforum.org

Do you think something else should be tried? Should OP prepare for the worst?

Tortoise should be maintained in a closed chamber with correct temps, lighting, and humidity. Soaked 1X daily and fed whatever it will eat. The extremely low weight for its age is very concerning.

At this point, preparing for the worst is most likely a good idea. If the tortoise miraculously recovers, so much the better.

 

[Ardelle]

Sorry to say this, but obviously there is something terribly wrong with the care this tortoise has received. I am personally rather surprised that it is still alive.

When I purchased him he was half the size of the rest in the tank, I was also given incorrect advice when purchasing the set up. He was in a a table and initially I was told to but the uv strip and just rest it over the table.

This was light I changed the time his eyes shut up.

He is normally very active and eats well.

The reptile vet said he has a hard healthy shell and someone on here mentioned new shell growth being visible.

I just can’t understand why he has had issues every fall and is healthy the rest of the year.

 

[Ardelle]

Tortoise should be maintained in a closed chamber with correct temps, lighting, and humidity. Soaked 1X daily and fed whatever it will eat. The extremely low weight for its age is very concerning.

At this point, preparing for the worst is most likely a good idea. If the tortoise miraculously recovers, so much the better.

I understand, its hard when shops are giving incorrect instructions and also the recommendations do seem to change regularly for example MVs were considered ok years ago and now its a no.

 

[Ardelle]

I understand, its hard when shops are giving incorrect instructions and also the recommendations do seem to change regularly for example MVs were considered ok years ago and now its a no.

Is there anything else I can try?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think what zovick means is that you basically need to set up him like he was still a fragile baby. Keep the temperatures and humidity up. I would raise the ambient temperature to 85F day and night. Try to keep him as comfortable as possible. Remind me, is he currently in a closed chamber?

 

[Ardelle]

Hes now in a vivarium yes, I have raised the temps and am keeping it at 80% humidity.
Ive got a 12% uv arcadia strip and a 75w heat. CH at night set to 21 degrees. Am carrot soaking 3 times a day also.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Hes now in a vivarium yes, I have raised the temps and am keeping it at 80% humidity.
Ive got a 12% uv arcadia strip and a 75w heat. CH at night set to 21 degrees. Am carrot soaking 3 times a day also.

I would carefully try raising the ambient temperature now that he is unwell. Many people recommend 29c day and night for sick tortoises.