Leopards rear legs

[Lyn W]

Could anyone please post me a picture of what an approx. 2 year old leopard torts rear legs look like when they are lifted and they extend them down.

I'm a bit worried that Lola's good rear right leg/hip is giving her trouble, maybe because of the shorter left leg or injury, so I could really use a pic to compare the shape of joints . It doesn't look swollen or puffy. She has calcium on her food a few times a week and cuttlebone but she rarely bothers with that and her mvb is only a couple of months old

The last two mornings she hasn't made any attempt to get up as soon as lights are on and food is put down as usual, Yesterday she was still in her bed 3 hours later and this morning I got her out after 1.5 hours. After a warm soak she is mobile, active and eating well, but I'm worried there could be a problem stopping her trying to reverse or turn to get out of her hide.

I have a vets appointment tomorrow p.m. to have the nails clipped in case they are affecting her and maybe they can x-ray the leg but would like to be able to explain properly. Many thanks in anticipation of your help.

 

[Lyn W]

Well unfortunately no one has been able to help with a picture of a torts rear legs, but maybe someone can answer a few questions for me.

The vet I saw wasn't unduly worried when I explained I was concerned that Lola doesn't seem to be able to get out of her hide in the morning but is active when she is up and about. She didn't think there was any swelling or puffiness but did say that if I wanted they could give an anti inflammatory jab in case it is the joints in his good leg under stress from the shorter one - but they didn't like to over medicate. As I have read about some torts having jabs in their rear legs with disastrous results I wasn't too keen either as it may be not be necessary, but opted to keep an eye on things. Was I right to wait?

I have also noticed a squeaky creakiness when he is walking which is something I have noticed many times since I have had him but thought this was normal as there has been no cause for concern. This morning it looked as if the shorter leg was stuck under the shell - not the good one. So I am going to request an x-ray just to make sure there's no damage to that leg. Does this sound like the right course of action to take?

Could this be a sympton of something more serious than joints trouble and should I restrict Lola's walking space to try to get him to rest or will he just carry on walking around a smaller area?

All thoughts greatly appreciated.

 

[Jodie]

Can you post some pictures? My large female makes squeaky noises when she is in her soak.
I don't know the background story on your tortoise.

 

[Jodie]

I am not a fan of let's medicate and see what happens, so I would have waited too.

 

[Lyn W]

Hi Jodie thanks for your reply. I don't have any up to date pics of Lola as no camera but I will try to find the ones I took last summer of his rear legs. He has a foot missing off his left leg just below the 'knee' (?) joint so it is about an inch shorter. He was found in a field and unclaimed so I don't know his full story myself.

The squeaking happens after Lola's soak so maybe it is just when he is wet.

 

[wellington]

My leopards like to sleep a lot and I have to put them outside in the mornings, or they would stay in their she'd just about all day if I let them. Once out though, they are pretty active. I think mine is due to I need to add more lights to the shed to brighten it up, could this be the same with yours? As for walking, I think the more yours gets exercise, the better it will probably be. I rehabbed a leopard that couldn't walk by holding her in water and making her move in swimming motions. She now walks great and fast too. Maybe that would help yours.
I am always against medicating unless needed. I would not do a let's see if this helps type medication with no know reasons. An X-ray would probably be a good thing to do. See if there is anything obvious to work on or if all looks fine.
As with most living things, when one limb is different, they have to make up for it with the others. It could cause the good leg to become different then normal, in the way it has to use it, to make up for the other. It may not always be a bad thing, just what it has to do to make up for the handicap of the other, but in tortoises, it's hard to say.
@Yvonne G has done a lot of rehabbing, maybe she can help you here.

 

[Lyn W]

Thanks Wellington, I just found it strange that there was a sudden change of routine last weekend. Usually as soon as I put the light on and food down Lola surfaces, so I have been getting him up and soaking him before I go to work as I don't want to come home and find he has been in his hide all day unable to get out, but I will leave him to his own devises on the weekend and see what happens.

He has been very active this evening and eating really well and weeing and pooping OK too, but I will request an x ray to be on the safe side. She did say that some torts have wheels fitted if whole legs are missing but that would mean amputating the rest of his leg so I am hoping there is a way around the imbalance without resorting to that - like a built up boot maybe( ?)

The shower/tortoise room is quite bright with a large window so a lot of natural light in it plus the mvb when its put on so I don't think its that, maybe its because its been much warmer this week.

 

[Jodie]

Good for you taking him in. I think I would just watch since once out of his hide he is active and seems ok. Mine are lazy in the morning too. I have q male who almost thinks he is nocturnal sometimes. It comes and goes no matter what I do to try to get him on the schedule everyone says he should keep.

 

[Lyn W]

@Jodie Eventually managed to find a pic.
He has gone back to his old routine now, but looking for a possible way to balance the legs up
to take some pressure off the good leg/hip.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Think you were right to not medicate.
vets and doctors just like sticking needles in things, I reckon.
Tidgy goes through phases of up really early, or lets sleep in every morning, or siesta, or get up in the middle of the night.
They just seem to get something into their little heads and later revert to the norm.
Odd little things.

 

[Lyn W]

Think you were right to not medicate.
vets and doctors just like sticking needles in things, I reckon.
Tidgy goes through phases of up really early, or lets sleep in every morning, or siesta, or get up in the middle of the night.
They just seem to get something into their little heads and later revert to the norm.
Odd little things.

Think he must have been having the tortoise equivalent of a teenage moment.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Think he must have been having the tortoise equivalent of a teenage moment.

And I doubt they ever grow out of them.
Like me, really.

 

[Lyn W]

And I doubt they ever grow out of them.
Like me, really.

Growing old is compulsory
Growing up is optional
(Bob Monkhouse)

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Growing old is compulsory
Growing up is optional
(Bob Monkhouse)

Bob Monkhouse is optional?

 

[Lyn W]

Bob Monkhouse is optional?

Definitely - he's not everyone's cup of tea

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Definitely - he's not everyone's cup of tea

I thought he was great, myself.

 

[Lyn W]

I thought he was great, myself.

Me too. There aren't many modern comedians I like, but the golden oldies can still make me chuckle.

 

[Jodie]

Glad he is doing good again. I think mine like to change their habits and behavior just to cause me stress trying to figure out what's wrong. My oldest female hates change and refuses to move or eat for days. Currently she has been moved outside full time for summer. It is a great enclosure with everything she needs. She won't leave the night box unless I take her out. She won't stay out and won't eat outside unless hand fed. It has been over a month. My male occasionally throws the same kind of fit. His go to though is super active and trashing his enclosure. He can completely pack a large water dish with dirt in about 6 hours.
It would be neat if you could find a vet that could attach some kind of artificial foot. I think he probably is just fine without it though. I really like the unique survivors.

 

[Lyn W]

I was watching Lola walking earlier and I noticed that his good leg catches on the pointy bit at the back of his plastron - possibly because of his lopsided balance. So I was wondering if it would be ok to file the point with a nail file to round it off to make it a bit more comfortable for him.

I have done a search but no results were found.
Thanks

 

[Jodie]

I am not sure. It seems like I read somewhere recommending just that, but common sense tells me no. It is bone and has nerves, so it seems like it would be painful and have to heal. @Yvonne G, is this a good solution?