Limping after injection

[agintz]

My little Ginger has an RI After seeing some pretty severe shell damage on some torts at the herp society here in Phoenix, the tour guide said you should never have a CHE closer than two feet from the shell. Because I do use the 150 watt for her outdoor night box, I backed it off and do think that is how she got sick. Night temps were getting down into the 60s in her enclosure. We noticed some weezing in her breathing, bubbles from her nose, and a weapy eye. I took her to the vet on Thursday (two days ago) After detecting flagellated parasites, they took her into the other room to force down the deworming medicine. When he brought her back he mentioned they had a hard time giving her the med, said it took 3 people. She was tucked far into her shell and did not come out until that late that evening. They recommended enrofloxacin injections every other day and daily warm water soaks for two weeks for the RI, showed me how to do the injection in her armpit, and sent us home. Yesterday I took her out into the grass (she didn't seem to want to do it on her own) She didn't want to eat, so I gave her a good, long soak which she seemed to enjoy. After that, she did eat a healthy portion of grass and zucchini. It wasn't until after that when i noticed her limping...BAD! In fact, she moves only a few feat and then sits back down. I carried her to her heated house Is it normal for them to be this soar from the injection? I am supposed to do another one today on the other side and am worried about her not moving at all. I am also worried that her arm may have been damaged when wresling with the vet and techs. She is not very big yet, 4 years old and about 10 pounds. I know she needs the medicine, but it hurts my heart to see her walk this way. They also want me to bring her back in two weeks for another parasite treatment. UGH.

 

[Linhdan Nguyen]

Maybe you should call the vet and ask if this is normal for her to be limping where she was injected, or ask if there was force when they dewormed her (of course they wont admit they hurt her but i think its good to put it out there).
Sometimes i hear some not so good things about people that take their pets to the vet (usually its not dogs or cats they take to the vet). I have a somewhat similar problem with my male russian.
Im sorry your tortoise isnt feeling well. Im a new tortoise owner so I cant really answer your question but maybe you can ask to be there when they deworm her. I asked to see it with my vet & she was okay with it. Max did struggle some and I do feel a tortoise could easily be hurt during this process but we hope the vet and vet techs know what they're doing.

 

[agintz]

I called them as soon as I noticed the limping, they said it was normal for her to be soar. I understand that, but it is to the point were her shell is thumping on the ground with every step. It's so sad

 

[Kasia]

My little Ginger has an RI After seeing some pretty severe shell damage on some torts at the herp society here in Phoenix, the tour guide said you should never have a CHE closer than two feet from the shell. Because I do use the 150 watt for her outdoor night box, I backed it off and do think that is how she got sick. Night temps were getting down into the 60s in her enclosure. We noticed some weezing in her breathing, bubbles from her nose, and a weapy eye. I took her to the vet on Thursday (two days ago) After detecting flagellated parasites, they took her into the other room to force down the deworming medicine. When he brought her back he mentioned they had a hard time giving her the med, said it took 3 people. She was tucked far into her shell and did not come out until that late that evening. They recommended enrofloxacin injections every other day and daily warm water soaks for two weeks for the RI, showed me how to do the injection in her armpit, and sent us home. Yesterday I took her out into the grass (she didn't seem to want to do it on her own) She didn't want to eat, so I gave her a good, long soak which she seemed to enjoy. After that, she did eat a healthy portion of grass and zucchini. It wasn't until after that when i noticed her limping...BAD! In fact, she moves only a few feat and then sits back down. I carried her to her heated house Is it normal for them to be this soar from the injection? I am supposed to do another one today on the other side and am worried about her not moving at all. I am also worried that her arm may have been damaged when wresling with the vet and techs. She is not very big yet, 4 years old and about 10 pounds. I know she needs the medicine, but it hurts my heart to see her walk this way. They also want me to bring her back in two weeks for another parasite treatment. UGH.

If Your tort had protozoa it's likely that RI is caused by the parasites. After deworming (what medicine was used?) do a fecal test to confirm that all parasites are gone. Flagellate often don't give up that easy and one dose will not make them disappear. Check that out because maybe antibiotic is not needed. Injection made correctly should not cause limping. If the Vet and other people were fighting with Your tort its more probable that they hurt it while trying injecting medicine. I've injected my 40 gram leopard tort with baytril and he never limped (but always peed on me ). I've made injections every day for 3 weeks or so. If You have any doughs about work that Your Vet does seek advise from another specialist.

 

[agintz]

I brought her back to the vet this afternoon and they did say that her limping may be from the struggle, but that she still seems to have a lot of strength in both arms...and she does. I do bring her again in two weeks for another parasite treatment and they will test again after that. I hope her arm gets better soon cause she hardly moves now, but seems okay other than that. Good appetite and stools

 

[Linhdan Nguyen]

Its great she still has some strength and still eats and poo's hope she feels better soon