Off to the vets :(

[Amanda :)]

Hello all,

Iv been doing some Uni work today so it's been nice and quiet but iv been hearing my little teeny making little noises so me being worried went to check on him and I saw his nose is a little runny and so is his eye... what could this mean? He makes little squeaky noises! I am taking him to the vets a little later on but I'm worried what the symptoms could be? And what I should ask the vet to look at? Money isn't a problem so should I ask for certain tests? I'd really appreciate some help and advise please,

Amanda

 

[*Amber*]

I'm sorry, I am new to tortoises, but I really hope he/she is soon better! Could it be runny nose syndrome, which is part of the herpes family?

 

[Amanda :)]

It could be I'm new to torts too so I'm a little useless at the moment, that's why I thought a trip to the vets would be the best idea! Fingers crossed they'll be able to make him/her better thank you for your reply.. X

 

[dmmj]

The squeaky noises, the runny nose, and eye suggest to me an RI.

 

[JoesMum]

Sounds like a respiratory infection to me. Joe had one this spring and had to have antibiotic injections. Are you OK for finding a reptile vet?

 

[kimber_lee_314]

Since it sound like a respiratory infection, you will probably get antibiotics for him. I don't think any other tests are necessary unless the vet suspects worms (which can sometimes cause a runny nose, but not the eye issue) then you would want a fecal test done. I'm sure he will be fine. Good luck@

 

[Amanda :)]

Sounds like a respiratory infection to me. Joe had one this spring and had to have antibiotic injections. Are you OK for finding a reptile vet?

Well the nearer reptile specialist vet us a 40-50min drive away so I'm taking them To a local vet that I rang and they said they have a fair amount of knowledge on tortoises so fingers crossed! I also have a poo sample for them to test just incase which antibiotics seemed to work for your torts?

Thank you all x

 

[Torty Mom]

Good luck at the Vet's, no vitamin shots! I hope your little guy is ok soon!!

 

[JoesMum]

Sounds like a respiratory infection to me. Joe had one this spring and had to have antibiotic injections. Are you OK for finding a reptile vet?

Well the nearer reptile specialist vet us a 40-50min drive away so I'm taking them To a local vet that I rang and they said they have a fair amount of knowledge on tortoises so fingers crossed! I also have a poo sample for them to test just incase which antibiotics seemed to work for your torts?

Thank you all x

I dug out the bill. He had "Ceftazidime - 6 x 30 unit injections", 1 given every 3 days. The vet showed me how to do them and did the first one and then I got to practise with saline injected into the other back leg.

They made up the syringes and I had to keep them in the freezer. They only took about 15 minutes to defrost max.

It sounds awful, but was surprisingly easy to do. The vet could do it on his own, but I preferred to have a helper holding Joe on his side while I concentrated on holding his leg and sticking a needle in it. It got harder as he got better because he struggled more! (While it's fine with a tortoise, I wouldn't want to inject a cat... far too many sharp things involved!)

I had to take Joe back for a blood test at the end of his course and returned the used sharps to the surgery for disposal then.

 

[Tony the tank]

Sounds like a respitory... But check your temps...My Sulcata will have a runny nose and eyes if they get to warm...

 

[Amanda :)]

Thank you so much guys. Iv just been and they have been prescribed baytril oral to be put on food once a day I was worried it would be an injection but as it's not tooo bad baytril should be okay! so fingers crossed they'll be okay after a week! Iv also sent off a poo sample for test for parasites just as a reassurance really will hear back by the end of the week! Whole bill came to £53 but they are so worth it

X

---

Sounds like a respitory... But check your temps...My Sulcata will have a runny nose and eyes if they get to warm...

What temps would you recommend? Through the day they are at 32degree under the heat light, they are in a tortoise table so the opposite end will be alot cooler... At night I reduce the temps to mid 20degrees and then put on the heat mat where they sleep! Do these temps seem okay? They also have the uv lamp on for 12-14hours a day

X

 

[JoesMum]

I've got a background (room) temperature of 26-30C and 35 under the basking lamps by day. At night the background temp drops to around 24C. The spot light goes off at night, but the Ceramic Heater stays on.

UV of 12-14 hours is perfect, but make sure the lamp is placed so that your tort gets maximum exposure. Make sure it's where your toirt hangs out most on he table!

 

[cemmons12]

Well it sounds like you have got your answer about it being a URI. My sully had that and he had to get a series of 4 shots in the legs every other day. I hated doing it but he got better real fast. I wish you the best of luck!!!