leopard tortoise head is stuck

[sjrrn]

Hello I am new to this forum and I have a bad girl, leopard tortoise. She is 1 year old and weights 8.3 ounces. Today she decided to pull her head all the way in and is unable to eat. She walks around with her head stuck. It is Friday afternoon and I can't find a reptile vet. Any help would greatly be appreciated. I feel she is getting weaker by the hour. Thanks
Sally

 

[Stephanie Logan]

RE: Gets her head stuck

WHAT??!!

Is this a joke? How horrible for your tortoise if it is true. Tortoises live a long time without food, though, so if this just happened today she should survive just fine until you can get her to the vet tomorrow or Monday...if that is all that ails her....???

 

[sjrrn]

RE: Gets her head stuck

It is not a joke. I have 7 tortoises and this one is requiring the most care. She has been deficient in calcium and stopped eating I finally got her calcium level up and she gained 2 ounces over a month. She has been a very good eater over the past month. So this afternoon, she decided to suck her head in and won't come out. In fact her head in back so far that I sometimes can only see her nose. Her mouth is out of site pointing toward her bottom. We have tried everything. I just don't know what to do., She wants to eat but can't. I am just in tears. Any ideas??

 

[Stephanie Logan]

RE: Gets her head stuck

I just PM'd some of the best and most experienced keepers on this forum...I am sure you will get an answer soon, so keep checking!

 

[Tom]

RE: Gets her head stuck

I don't understand this: "Her mouth is out of site and pointing toward her bottom". Could you explain it another way or better yet post a pic?

Has she pulled her limbs in too or just her head? Is she walking around this way?

 

[stells]

RE: Gets her head stuck

I have heard of this before... here... http://shelledwarriors.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=23435&highlight=head+stuck there is some advice on page 2 that may help...

 

[Yvonne G]

I've heard of this happening to leopard tortoises before too. There was a gal here in town who had a fairly large leopard tortoise who couldn't get its head out. I'm sorry to say that the only help for your tortoise is to find a reptile vet or a qualified tortoise rehabber. The tortoise needs immediate help because they have to have their head out in order to help their breathing process. I've never heard of it happening to such a small tortoise though. The vet might not have an easy time working on a baby. I wish I could offer you more immediate advice. Good luck with your baby. If you DO try the oil-on-a-Q-tip advice, please be careful and don't close up the baby's nostrils with oil.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Where do you live? I can try to find a Vet...there are Vet lists...

 

[Yvonne G]

I forgot to say, "WELCOME to the forum!!"

 

[reptylefreek]

I'm having this same problem. My leopard just needed a gentle pull on her head and it came out. But being so small it will be hard to get a good grip on her face. I put my thumb on the left side of her beak and my first finger on the right and gently wriggle and pull. Have you had any luck yet, or any help? How is she doing?