My redfoot has bad RI. Please help and advise.

[justuszerg]

Hello,

I have 2 redfoot that are around one and half years old. One is a bit bigger and stronger (the bigfoot) than the other (the smallfoot). They share the enclosure. The small one now has terrible RI, here is a timeline for reference:

12/13 Monday: feeding and soaking day, noticed the smallfoot did not have much of appetite, but it looked normal and was still moving around.

12/14 Tuesday: a normal day, did not pay much attention to them and let them do their things.

12/15 Wednesday: feeding and soaking day, the smallfoot still did not eat much and occationally sneezed. I suspected it caught cold as winter in my area is tough for tortoise.

12/16 Thursday: noticed running nose and discharge from the mouth of smallfoot. I immediately seperated the bigfoot from the smallfoot. The bigfoot is now staying in my leopards enclosure. I cleaned the redfoot enclosure and raised enclosure temperature to above 80F during the day and around 70-75F in the hiding area during night.

12/17 Friday: started soaking the smallfoot for 15 minutes everyday since then. Still had running nose and mouth discharge.

12/18 Saturday: looked like the smallfoot was recovering and ate a bit.

12/19 Sunday: the smallfoot looked better and ate more.

12/20 Monday (today): early in the morning I was so surprised that the smallfoot looks terrible and started breathing with mouth. It has no strength at all and does not move. It stays still wherever I put it. I gave it a warm bath and put it near basking light where has shades and indirect heat. The temperature around is about 85F. The smallfoot is steady now but looks worrisome。

I am going to bring it to see a doctor this afternoon. I plan to keep the enclosure temperature steady above 80F from now on and give the smallfoot intensive care. I have been keeping tortoises for more than 3 years and this happens to me the first time. I am so afraid that I may lose the smallfoot. I appreciate if you can give me any suggestions to help me out. (One thing I can't figure out is that the bigfoot and the smallfoot are in the same environment but the smallfoot got sick and the bigfoot is fine. It is really because of individual differences?)

Jimmy

 

[TheLastGreen]

Them both being kept in the enclosure is bad, it leads to bullying and is the reason one is smaller. If I do remember the stress can cause illnesses like RI.
@ZEROPILOT @zovick
I think it should see a qualified vet, in the meantime raise the temperatures slightly, hopefuly other members can chime in soon

 

[Markw84]

First of all, Welcome to the Forum. You have found the best resource for good tortoise information anywhere!

A couple of observations:

Redfoot tortoises should be kept at 80° min for overnight lows. Where they come from is a very stable temperature and the ground temps year-round stay in the low 80°s range. That is where they get their heat as their plastron has maximum contact with the ground and they are pushed into a pallet, under brush, or under rock outcroppings. THey do best with an overall temperature in the 85° range.

I never will raise tortoises of any type in pairs. One will always be stressed because it is submissive. The other will also be stressed as it is dominant but cannot get the "interloper" out of its territory. The size difference is a key indicator that this is happening. There is often no overt signs of "bullying" but simply the stress that the other tortoise will not yield and find it's own place. Living under low grade, constant stress suppresses the immune system and can make them much more susceptible to illness. A tortoise by itself, or a small group is best. Never 2.

I would also provide a lot of plant cover in the enclosure to also reduce stress.

 

[zovick]

Hello,

I have 2 redfoot that are around one and half years old. One is a bit bigger and stronger (the bigfoot) than the other (the smallfoot). They share the enclosure. The small one now has terrible RI, here is a timeline for reference:

12/13 Monday: feeding and soaking day, noticed the smallfoot did not have much of appetite, but it looked normal and was still moving around.

12/14 Tuesday: a normal day, did not pay much attention to them and let them do their things.

12/15 Wednesday: feeding and soaking day, the smallfoot still did not eat much and occationally sneezed. I suspected it caught cold as winter in my area is tough for tortoise.

12/16 Thursday: noticed running nose and discharge from the mouth of smallfoot. I immediately seperated the bigfoot from the smallfoot. The bigfoot is now staying in my leopards enclosure. I cleaned the redfoot enclosure and raised enclosure temperature to above 80F during the day and around 70-75F in the hiding area during night.

12/17 Friday: started soaking the smallfoot for 15 minutes everyday since then. Still had running nose and mouth discharge.

12/18 Saturday: looked like the smallfoot was recovering and ate a bit.

12/19 Sunday: the smallfoot looked better and ate more.

12/20 Monday (today): early in the morning I was so surprised that the smallfoot looks terrible and started breathing with mouth. It has no strength at all and does not move. It stays still wherever I put it. I gave it a warm bath and put it near basking light where has shades and indirect heat. The temperature around is about 85F. The smallfoot is steady now but looks worrisome。

I am going to bring it to see a doctor this afternoon. I plan to keep the enclosure temperature steady above 80F from now on and give the smallfoot intensive care. I have been keeping tortoises for more than 3 years and this happens to me the first time. I am so afraid that I may lose the smallfoot. I appreciate if you can give me any suggestions to help me out. (One thing I can't figure out is that the bigfoot and the smallfoot are in the same environment but the smallfoot got sick and the bigfoot is fine. It is really because of individual differences?)

Jimmy

Your tortoise needs injections of ceftazidime every other day for about 14 days or so to fight this URI. Do not get Baytril injections. They are painful and don't work as well as the ceftazidime does.

Good luck.

 

[justuszerg]

Hello,

I have 2 redfoot that are around one and half years old. One is a bit bigger and stronger (the bigfoot) than the other (the smallfoot). They share the enclosure. The small one now has terrible RI, here is a timeline for reference:

12/13 Monday: feeding and soaking day, noticed the smallfoot did not have much of appetite, but it looked normal and was still moving around.

12/14 Tuesday: a normal day, did not pay much attention to them and let them do their things.

12/15 Wednesday: feeding and soaking day, the smallfoot still did not eat much and occationally sneezed. I suspected it caught cold as winter in my area is tough for tortoise.

12/16 Thursday: noticed running nose and discharge from the mouth of smallfoot. I immediately seperated the bigfoot from the smallfoot. The bigfoot is now staying in my leopards enclosure. I cleaned the redfoot enclosure and raised enclosure temperature to above 80F during the day and around 70-75F in the hiding area during night.

12/17 Friday: started soaking the smallfoot for 15 minutes everyday since then. Still had running nose and mouth discharge.

12/18 Saturday: looked like the smallfoot was recovering and ate a bit.

12/19 Sunday: the smallfoot looked better and ate more.

12/20 Monday (today): early in the morning I was so surprised that the smallfoot looks terrible and started breathing with mouth. It has no strength at all and does not move. It stays still wherever I put it. I gave it a warm bath and put it near basking light where has shades and indirect heat. The temperature around is about 85F. The smallfoot is steady now but looks worrisome。

I am going to bring it to see a doctor this afternoon. I plan to keep the enclosure temperature steady above 80F from now on and give the smallfoot intensive care. I have been keeping tortoises for more than 3 years and this happens to me the first time. I am so afraid that I may lose the smallfoot. I appreciate if you can give me any suggestions to help me out. (One thing I can't figure out is that the bigfoot and the smallfoot are in the same environment but the smallfoot got sick and the bigfoot is fine. It is really because of individual differences?)

Jimmy

Hello,

I have 2 redfoot that are around one and half years old. One is a bit bigger and stronger (the bigfoot) than the other (the smallfoot). They share the enclosure. The small one now has terrible RI, here is a timeline for reference:

12/13 Monday: feeding and soaking day, noticed the smallfoot did not have much of appetite, but it looked normal and was still moving around.

12/14 Tuesday: a normal day, did not pay much attention to them and let them do their things.

12/15 Wednesday: feeding and soaking day, the smallfoot still did not eat much and occationally sneezed. I suspected it caught cold as winter in my area is tough for tortoise.

12/16 Thursday: noticed running nose and discharge from the mouth of smallfoot. I immediately seperated the bigfoot from the smallfoot. The bigfoot is now staying in my leopards enclosure. I cleaned the redfoot enclosure and raised enclosure temperature to above 80F during the day and around 70-75F in the hiding area during night.

12/17 Friday: started soaking the smallfoot for 15 minutes everyday since then. Still had running nose and mouth discharge.

12/18 Saturday: looked like the smallfoot was recovering and ate a bit.

12/19 Sunday: the smallfoot looked better and ate more.

12/20 Monday (today): early in the morning I was so surprised that the smallfoot looks terrible and started breathing with mouth. It has no strength at all and does not move. It stays still wherever I put it. I gave it a warm bath and put it near basking light where has shades and indirect heat. The temperature around is about 85F. The smallfoot is steady now but looks worrisome。

I am going to bring it to see a doctor this afternoon. I plan to keep the enclosure temperature steady above 80F from now on and give the smallfoot intensive care. I have been keeping tortoises for more than 3 years and this happens to me the first time. I am so afraid that I may lose the smallfoot. I appreciate if you can give me any suggestions to help me out. (One thing I can't figure out is that the bigfoot and the smallfoot are in the same environment but the smallfoot got sick and the bigfoot is fine. It is really because of individual differences?)

Jimmy

I just came back for the vet. The smallfoot needs 3 days of hopitalization. Further action may be taken till it is stabilized. I hope the poor little thing get recovered soon. It is in the incubator now:

 

[justuszerg]

First of all, Welcome to the Forum. You have found the best resource for good tortoise information anywhere!

A couple of observations:

Redfoot tortoises should be kept at 80° min for overnight lows. Where they come from is a very stable temperature and the ground temps year-round stay in the low 80°s range. That is where they get their heat as their plastron has maximum contact with the ground and they are pushed into a pallet, under brush, or under rock outcroppings. THey do best with an overall temperature in the 85° range.

I never will raise tortoises of any type in pairs. One will always be stressed because it is submissive. The other will also be stressed as it is dominant but cannot get the "interloper" out of its territory. The size difference is a key indicator that this is happening. There is often no overt signs of "bullying" but simply the stress that the other tortoise will not yield and find it's own place. Living under low grade, constant stress suppresses the immune system and can make them much more susceptible to illness. A tortoise by itself, or a small group is best. Never 2.

I would also provide a lot of plant cover in the enclosure to also reduce stress.

Thank you for your suggestions. I will adjust their enclosure accordingly.

 

[justuszerg]

Your tortoise needs injections of ceftazidime every other day for about 14 days or so to fight this URI. Do not get Baytril injections. They are painful and don't work as well as the ceftazidime does.

Good luck.

The vet presribed 3 days of hospitalization. The treatment includes inhaling nebulized Baytril 100 and tube feeding. I do asked about ceftazidime and they said this may be used for injection. They included injection and pain medication in their treatment plan. I can only trust them and hope this will not suffer my tortoise to much.

Can you comment if their treatment is reasonable?

 

[mark1]

you may find this worth reading

Respiratory Conditions in Reptiles

about the author

 

[zovick]

The vet presribed 3 days of hospitalization. The treatment includes inhaling nebulized Baytril 100 and tube feeding. I do asked about ceftazidime and they said this may be used for injection. They included injection and pain medication in their treatment plan. I can only trust them and hope this will not suffer my tortoise to much.

Can you comment if their treatment is reasonable?

It sounds plausible, but you did not specify what injectable antibiotic they wanted to use. Was ceftazidime named as the injectable antibiotic in the treatment plan? If not, and it was Baytril injections in their plan, I would not agree to it.

Also the injections need to be given every other day for 10-14 days. Three days alone will not cure it.

 

[Lyn W]

I just came back for the vet. The smallfoot needs 3 days of hopitalization. Further action may be taken till it is stabilized. I hope the poor little thing get recovered soon. It is in the incubator now:

View attachment 337810

Is your vet a tort specialist? What meds is he on - please see zovick's post above .
I hope he is better soon and that you can set up a second enclosure asap.

 

[TammyJ]

How is your beautiful little one doing? The photo almost made me cry. He really is ill!
Never keep them together again, if he recovers. Please. Also keep an eye on the bigger one in case he also gets the RI. Keep your temperatures at the correct 85 degree level or as close as possible. Good luck!

 

[justuszerg]

It sounds plausible, but you did not specify what injectable antibiotic they wanted to use. Was ceftazidime named as the injectable antibiotic in the treatment plan? If not, and it was Baytril injections in their plan, I would not agree to it.

Also the injections need to be given every other day for 10-14 days. Three days alone will not cure it.

Our dearest little one has left us...the vet tried the best to help it last night, but the littlefoot was too weak to make it. We brought it home this morning...My wife and I are in deep grief as it has happened so fast. It only takes a week between we sensed some abnormal and RI took away our little one. It is a tough lesson and we have learned from it hard. We are now paying close attention on the bigfoot and I am building new separate enclosures for each of our tortoises. Winter is tough for our shelled friends and we wish everyone can have their beloved tortoises better prepared for the season.

I really appreciate your help and suggestions on the treatment plan. Thank you so much.

 

[justuszerg]

Is your vet a tort specialist? What meds is he on - please see zovick's post above .
I hope he is better soon and that you can set up a second enclosure asap.

Our little one is no longer with us...it did not make it overnight.

I have started building separate enclosures for each of our tortoises. My wife and I have learned hard from the incident...

 

[justuszerg]

How is your beautiful little one doing? The photo almost made me cry. He really is ill!
Never keep them together again, if he recovers. Please. Also keep an eye on the bigger one in case he also gets the RI. Keep your temperatures at the correct 85 degree level or as close as possible. Good luck!

I really appreciate your concerns on our little redfoot, but he did not make it overnight...

My wife and I are paying close attention on the big one, he seems to be fine at this point. I am building separate enclosures that have better temperature control for all of our tortoises. Again, thank you for your concerns.

 

[Jan A]

I really appreciate your concerns on our little redfoot, but he did not make it overnight...

My wife and I are paying close attention on the big one, he seems to be fine at this point. I am building separate enclosures that have better temperature control for all of our tortoises. Again, thank you for your concerns.

I'm so sorry. Big hugs to you & your family. And best wishes for a better holiday.

 

[Mrs.Jennifer]

I really appreciate your concerns on our little redfoot, but he did not make it overnight...

My wife and I are paying close attention on the big one, he seems to be fine at this point. I am building separate enclosures that have better temperature control for all of our tortoises. Again, thank you for your concerns.

I’m so very sorry for your loss. Please know that I am holding you all close to my heart.

 

[Lyn W]

I am so sorry, he looked very ill but it is still very sad.