Persistent URI?

[devsharkey]

Hi everyone, I have a Golden Greek Tortoise, and ever since I bought her, she's had a URI.

I've taken her to the vet twice, and I've only had her since August, and both times they've told me its a URI. I've been prescribed "Ofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution, 0.3%" each time. The bottle tells me 1 drop into each nostril, after I clear it, every 12 hours, and I've done that both times!

This URI just doesn't seem to be going away. Any suggestions? I'm kind of to the point where if she doesn't get better, I want to sell her to someone who can care for her and hopefully get some of my money back.

 

[devsharkey]

Hi everyone, I have a Golden Greek Tortoise, and ever since I bought her, she's had a URI.

I've taken her to the vet twice, and I've only had her since August, and both times they've told me its a URI. I've been prescribed "Ofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution, 0.3%" each time. The bottle tells me 1 drop into each nostril, after I clear it, every 12 hours, and I've done that both times!

This URI just doesn't seem to be going away. Any suggestions? I'm kind of to the point where if she doesn't get better, I want to sell her to someone who can care for her and hopefully get some of my money back.

 

[lismar79]

What are your temps in her enclosure?

 

[devsharkey]

She's outside. I live in Arizona, and even now, during the days it's in the 90's, and at night it's maybe 70, at the lowest. I've always kept my tortoises outside, and the vet I took her to said it'd be good to keep her outside so she gets some good sunlight.

 

[lismar79]

Maybe bring in during the night until symptoms go away. I wouldn't let her get below 80 with a uri.

 

[ascott]

Did the vet do an actual test or did they do a visual diagnosis?

 

[Abdulla6169]

My Greek hates cool temperatures and will get a runny nose when they are low, maybe that's the issue?

 

[Jabuticaba]

Do you think perhaps it's too dry and dusty outside, for her? Maybe she needs higher and more stable humidity?


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[Yvonne G]

Like Ascott alluded to, unless the vet performed a nasal swab and smear and actually looked at it under the microscope, they're just guessing. It may not be an actual INFECTION at all. Tortoises have bubbly/runny noses when stressed and it has nothing to do with an infection. As long as the tortoise is eating and acting normally, I wouldn't worry about a wet nose. Set it up in a habitat, whether outdoors or inside, and leave it alone to be a tortoise.

 

[ascott]

Like Ascott alluded to, unless the vet performed a nasal swab and smear and actually looked at it under the microscope, they're just guessing. It may not be an actual INFECTION at all. Tortoises have bubbly/runny noses when stressed and it has nothing to do with an infection. As long as the tortoise is eating and acting normally, I wouldn't worry about a wet nose. Set it up in a habitat, whether outdoors or inside, and leave it alone to be a tortoise.

Thanks Yvonne, yup....just what she said I would also provide a bit warmer area that remains no less than 80 degrees for a couple of weeks and see how the tort likes that.....

 

[devsharkey]

Thanks everyone!