Intermitent wheezing from Lola the leopard

[Lyn W]

Hi everyone,
I recently noticed that when Lola was sniffing or picked up a scent there was a whistling sound coming from her nose. I have checked her nose but can't see anything stuck there.

Yesterday she seemed a bit wheezy breathing out and in but only for some of the time, not during the night or when she is basking and the wheezy inhaling seems to have stopped today, there's no runny nose, loss of appetite etc but I have also noticed today that when she is eating, every now and then she seems to stop and make a funny sound - something like a hissy gasp ( the best way I can describe it.)but it doesn't stop her eating.

Anyway I made an appt to see a reptile specialist vet today but they cancelled as she is ill. I tried other vets and believe it or not their specialists are all either on holiday or only work part time. They don't know when the sick vet will be back but I have rescheduled appt for Friday.

However I have the option of seeing a very well experienced vet this pm. but she is not s tort specialist do you think I should see her anyway or wait until Friday (hopefully)for the specialist. I am worried it could be the start of an RI

 

[Lyn W]

Sorry Just noticed I missed a 't' out of heading!

 

[AmRoKo]

It does sound like the start of RI maybe. I would go to the experienced vet today to get the meds that she needs to stop this. Have you tried using a saline solution in each nostril because that can help clear them of any bacteria that may be lingering.

Oh one more thing - make sure if you go to the vet don't let them give your tort any mystery shots. If they say a vitamin shot say 'no thank you' because there have been some horrible tort stories here where their torts are given to much vitamin a and then die later.

 

[Lyn W]

Hi AmRoKo
Thanks for your reply,
After prolonged careful listening to Lola while she was basking I decided to wait until Friday to see the specialist. She didn't wheeze or whistle at all during that time and there is no open mouth breathing so here were no symptons to show the vet, but I will monitor her closely tonight and if necessary will go tomorrow. It is almost dark here in the UK now and she has gone to bed but I will be keeping an eye (or ear) on her. Will let you know how we get on.
Best wishes
Lyn

 

[Lyn W]

Good morning (UK time)
Was listening throughout night to see if I could hear any wheezing/whistling while Lola was tucked up in her shelter but thankfully nothing. She was up really early this morning and on her grass tray when I called in on her. She has since eaten like a little horse and apart from an odd whistle when sniffing I couldn't hear anything, so hopefully it isn't anything drastic. I will still keep my appt tomorrow though to have her checked over and maybe they can show me how to clear her nose. I have also found a vets about 20 miles away from me who have a reptile 'wing' to their practice so I think we will be registering there.

 

[AmRoKo]

It sounds like whatever it was wasn't that bad, I would still use some saline solution in each nostril (can be bought from a store as solution for contacts) to wash out any bacteria.

Glad to hear she's doing better.

 

[Jodie]

My Leopard does this as well. My vet thought it was RI. Unfortunately Scarlett had to go to WSU for unrelated surgery. They did blood work and no RI, so i think the audible breathing is just breathing sometimes. Good luck, hope she is all good.

 

[Lyn W]

Thanks AmRoKo - yes so far so good today- just a whistle when sniffing for things. I will look out for saline solution. Do you just use a syringe and squirt it at nose? I don't know if I am confident enough to try to hold her head out of shell yet must be quite stressful for torts Maybe the vet will show me tomorrow. She did make a strange noise today when I was feeding her some dandies by hand and couldn't get them fast enough - a bit like a cat mewing! Her mouth looks nice and pink though.

Thanks for your good wishes too, Jodie. Do vets usually do blood tests to test for RI? That must be better than prescribing meds - just in case. Hpe your tort is OK after its problems.

 

[Jodie]

Thanks AmRoKo - yes so far so good today- just a whistle when sniffing for things. I will look out for saline solution. Do you just use a syringe and squirt it at nose? I don't know if I am confident enough to try to hold her head out of shell yet must be quite stressful for torts Maybe the vet will show me tomorrow. She did make a strange noise today when I was feeding her some dandies by hand and couldn't get them fast enough - a bit like a cat mewing! Her mouth looks nice and pink though.

Thanks for your good wishes too, Jodie. Do vets usually do blood tests to test for RI? That must be better than prescribing meds - just in case. Hpe your tort is OK after its problems.

I think they don't usually do blood tests, but i think unless an xray shows stuff in the lungs, that is the only way to positively identify an RI. When other symptoms are visible, then it is safer to assume. I am a long way from an expert, but my experience was that my tortoises audible breathing was not an RI despite a vet diagnosis that it was. Hopeful some of the experts will chime in on the blood test.

 

[Lyn W]

Well we had our visit to the vets and just as we arrived not very lady - like Lola decided to empty her bowels - started in her box and ended up pooping all over the vets table! The vet used the opportunity well though, and said that her pooh was just as it should be so her diet is obviously good which was great to know. She only usually goes every 3 or 4 days but maybe the new Arcadia mini D3 bulb is better for her digestion.

Re RI, thankfully she doesn't think that there's anything to worry about as no obvious symptoms - she watched her front leg movements and said there wasn't any sign of laboured breathing, She did hear a bit of whistling from nose and suggested trying putting her in a steamy room for a short while, but Lola wouldn't let her anywhere near her nose to have a good look herself - she was too busy trying to walk away from her poop! She did mention something especially for reptile steam treatment but I can't remember the name so will have to ring to ask tomorrow.

The only thing she commented on was her beak which is verging on being too long. I feed her on slate and have cuttlefish around so she said to see if she manages to file it herself in next month and if not they could shorten it there, but if anyone has any advice on helping her (Lola not the vet) it will be very welcome.

Lola has also put on over 1 kg since she was last weighed in August too - is that about average for 2 months? I think it's because I know more about her diet now than I did then thanks to all the help and advice in the threads on the forum, but if its too much too soon then please let me know - I generally feed her a bowlful the size of her shell each day and she leaves it when she's had enough.

Anyway thanks for all your help again, speak to you soon
Lyn x

 

[phebe121]

I just clipped my.leopards beak the other day it was easy how big is your tort

 

[Lyn W]

Hi Phebe, Lola is about 10 inches long and could be anything from 2 - 12 (different opinions I've been given from local vets to leopard keepers) Don't know if I'd be confident enough to do it myself yet - at least not without someone competent watching. Are there special clippers you buy?
Lyn

 

[wellington]

I don't think you need to see a vet. Sometimes they will make noises like that. Mine does it too. If your worried, bump the heat upto 85 for a couple days and just keep an eye on her for any changes. I'm all for vet care when it's really needed, not for it when it's probably nothing. Sometimes they can make things worse.

 

[phebe121]

Hi Phebe, Lola is about 10 inches long and could be anything from 2 - 12 (different cns I've been given from local vets to leopard keepers) Don't know if I'd be confident enough to do it myself yet - at least not without someone competent watching. Are there special clippers you buy?
Lyn

I was the same way worried i was going to hurt her i used nail clippers and if her beak is thicker then that im sure dog nail clippers would work with and a nail file clip the beak even or justa llittle under the the mouth on the sides and use the nail.file after to make sure there are no sharp edges its really easy and not as scary as it seams you have to think of it like this she cant eat proper and you took her on so you have to give her the best life possible

 

[Lyn W]

Hi Wellington,
Thanks for that and know what you mean, but think I needed to see vet for my own peace of mind really. This is my first torty and she's only with me because I couldn't find her original owners (she was found in a field), so this has been a very steep learning curve for me! I never dreamt I'd end up with a tortoise - I always wanted a dog - but now she's here I want to get it right and still have along way to go as far as enclosures and confidence etc. I probably do panic more than I should but £25 at vets well spent to put my mind at rest. Hopefully I will learn from experience and I really value the opinions and advice of members such as yourself - I learn something new everyday!

 

[Lyn W]

Hi again Phebe,
Yes I certainly do try to give her the best life possible and as much as I love her to bits, if I ever thought I couldn't met her needs properly I would try to find her a better home. It's all a matter of confidence really isn't it . I wouldn't ignore any problem and if I can't sort it out myself would happily pay someone who could. May need a vet to show me how to do beak first time though as I don't know any other tortoise keepers near me who could.
Thanks for explaining though.

 

[phebe121]

Hi again Phebe,
Yes I certainly do try to give her the best life possible and as much as I love her to bits, if I ever thought I couldn't met her needs properly I would try to find her a better home. It's all a matter of confidence really isn't it . I wouldn't ignore any problem and if I can't sort it out myself would happily pay someone who could. May need a vet to show me how to do beak first time though as I don't know any other tortoise keepers near me who could.
Thanks for explaining though.

I didnt think you where going to just ignore it i can see you care alot for her with the vet and all the worries just like i do with mine i hope my post didnt make you feel like i thought u where ganna just forget about her not what i ment i told myself that when i clipped her beak even know i was scared of doing it and by saying it i did it and it was clipping a finger nail if you lived near me id help

 

[AmRoKo]

Thanks AmRoKo - yes so far so good today- just a whistle when sniffing for things. I will look out for saline solution. Do you just use a syringe and squirt it at nose? I don't know if I am confident enough to try to hold her head out of shell yet must be quite stressful for torts Maybe the vet will show me tomorrow. She did make a strange noise today when I was feeding her some dandies by hand and couldn't get them fast enough - a bit like a cat mewing! Her mouth looks nice and pink though.

Thanks for your good wishes too, Jodie. Do vets usually do blood tests to test for RI? That must be better than prescribing meds - just in case. Hpe your tort is OK after its problems.

Well what I do for the saline solution is I just put a few drops in each nostril, I just squirt it into each nostril from the container it comes in, it's like a huge eye dropper.

 

[Jodie]

Glad to hear she is good and glad you didn't end up with a vet that does more harm than good.

 

[Lyn W]

Thanks all - saline solution on shopping list for today!
Best wishes
Lyn