Well, I've owned tortoises for about two years with my girlfriend. It all started with just one (She thought our little redfoot was just the most adorable little thing ever)
Well, that one little redfoot has turned into 7 redfoots in the past two years. I do my best to take care of them all, but a visit to the vet yesterday left me feeling lower than the grass they eat
One of my females didn't eat yesterday morning (Very rare, through up a red flag). I paid a little more attention to her during feeding,she seemed to be hissing at me which isn't too uncommn for this one. When I came back out about an hour later to try and get her to eat, she seemed to be coughing and weezing.
I knew what it was immediatly. I lost a RF last year because I didn't act fast enough. I immediatly called the vet who got her in.
The vet saw her, and got her X-Rays taken care of. He said he couldn't see the infection, so that was a good sign but did say he saw what appeared to be dirt(She'd be eating it =X). He gave her Fortax(?) instead of baytril. I don't know the difference, but I've heared baytril was better?
He then proceeded to get all over me about her pyramading and how she appeared to be a very unhealthy tort.
This angered me alot, because most of my RFs were in horrid shape when I got them. Her pyraids are all very hard, not hollow at all. I assured him she's alot better since being in my possesion. Then he lectured me about getting sick animals... Theres nothing I can do, he's the only good herp vet within 2 hours from me.
I've got to go back for another fortax shot on saturday, and then a final shot and office visit on tuesday.
I went home to look up more about a respiratory infection, only to find out about something called "Shell Rot". Before last night, I had never heard of it. I went out and check my torts, and theres nothing on any of their shells. However, the bottoms of their shells all have something on it :-(.
I found a few sources of treatment (Betadine, and lotrimine cream?). Any other suggested treatments?
I'm so upset about the shell rot. I thought I was a good owner. I've included pics of some of my torts and their enclosure.
Any advice helps.
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Well, that one little redfoot has turned into 7 redfoots in the past two years. I do my best to take care of them all, but a visit to the vet yesterday left me feeling lower than the grass they eat
One of my females didn't eat yesterday morning (Very rare, through up a red flag). I paid a little more attention to her during feeding,she seemed to be hissing at me which isn't too uncommn for this one. When I came back out about an hour later to try and get her to eat, she seemed to be coughing and weezing.
I knew what it was immediatly. I lost a RF last year because I didn't act fast enough. I immediatly called the vet who got her in.
The vet saw her, and got her X-Rays taken care of. He said he couldn't see the infection, so that was a good sign but did say he saw what appeared to be dirt(She'd be eating it =X). He gave her Fortax(?) instead of baytril. I don't know the difference, but I've heared baytril was better?
He then proceeded to get all over me about her pyramading and how she appeared to be a very unhealthy tort.
This angered me alot, because most of my RFs were in horrid shape when I got them. Her pyraids are all very hard, not hollow at all. I assured him she's alot better since being in my possesion. Then he lectured me about getting sick animals... Theres nothing I can do, he's the only good herp vet within 2 hours from me.
I've got to go back for another fortax shot on saturday, and then a final shot and office visit on tuesday.
I went home to look up more about a respiratory infection, only to find out about something called "Shell Rot". Before last night, I had never heard of it. I went out and check my torts, and theres nothing on any of their shells. However, the bottoms of their shells all have something on it :-(.
I found a few sources of treatment (Betadine, and lotrimine cream?). Any other suggested treatments?
I'm so upset about the shell rot. I thought I was a good owner. I've included pics of some of my torts and their enclosure.
Any advice helps.
the rest of the attachments are here
added rest of the attachments
), but it seems to be very common for them to got off food a bit. I kinda think of it like if you are having breathing issues, would you want to be chowing down? Plus she did get a trip to the vet and meds all of which no doubt gave her a bit of stress to top her day off. 
