Possible mouth rot?

[Merry&Pippin'sMum]

I noticed my desert tortoise Merry was having trouble eating a couple days ago and he reacted to trying to take a bite of Kale by opening his mouth super wide like it was a shock/painful. Since it was Friday evening and no vets open by me till Monday, I've just been watching him. He is only eating a little bit of softened pellets and drinking fine. But he seems weak when trying to bite. Today I took a video to get a look in his mouth and wanted everyone's opinion. I'm taking him to a vet in the morning but was wondering if others thought it could be mouth rot. He definitely has a yellow, cottage cheese like thing on one side of his mouth. Also, what is the treatment usually like? And should I be concerned for his brother Pippin since they share an enclosure?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I can't really diagnose it for you, hopefully some more experienced members come along. But I can say that some forms are infectious, so I would quarantine the affected tortoise.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Could be, but hard to tell from pic. Has the cottage cheese look. It is contagious, so isolation would be wise.

I had a rescue russian tort with mouth rot once. Was fairly simple to treat.

Kept him in a clean environment and scrubbed his mouth out with a diluted chlorhexidine solution using a soft eyelash brush used in the makeup industry.

I rotated it around it get it all out.There was a little bleeding, but I got it all out then flushed his mouth with a syringe filled with the diluted solution; tilting him over, insuring he didn't ingest any into his system.

Made sure to keep his environment sterile and he was fine after a week and a half.

However, your dealing with a much larger tort. Hope this helped a little.

 

[Merry&Pippin'sMum]

Could be, but hard to tell from pic. Has the cottage cheese look. It is contagious, so isolation would be wise.

I had a rescue russian tort with mouth rot once. Was fairly simple to treat.

Kept him in a clean environment and scrubbed his mouth out with a diluted chlorhexidine solution using a soft eyelash brush used in the makeup industry.

I rotated it around it get it all out.There was a little bleeding, but I got it all out then flushed his mouth with a syringe filled with the diluted solution; tilting him over, insuring he didn't ingest any into his system.

Made sure to keep his environment sterile and he was fine after a week and a half.

However, your dealing with a much larger tort. Hope this helped a little.

Would a vet suggest the same treatment or do they prescribe antibiotics? I unfortunately have to take him to a VCA emergency vet so the cost is going to be higher than usual but they said they had an exotic vet specialist available in the mornings so that's why I'm taking him. I just want to make sure the vet doesn't try getting me to do a bunch of stuff. Regular vet won't be able to see him for another 2 weeks because she's a specialist that only comes in a couple times a month.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Would a vet suggest the same treatment or do they prescribe antibiotics? I unfortunately have to take him to a VCA emergency vet so the cost is going to be higher than usual but they said they had an exotic vet specialist available in the mornings so that's why I'm taking him. I just want to make sure the vet doesn't try getting me to do a bunch of stuff. Regular vet won't be able to see him for another 2 weeks because she's a specialist that only comes in a couple times a month.

They'd probably do the same thing, removing the infection and maybe giving some sort of injection, but I'm not entirely sure.

Be sure to ask them what would be the procedure to treating the mouth rot.

 

[Merry&Pippin'sMum]

They'd probably do the same thing, removing the infection and maybe giving some sort of injection, but I'm not entirely sure.

Be sure to ask them what would be the procedure to treating the mouth rot.

Thank you. I just need to create a sterile environment for him to heal in now. What did you do for a set up?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

If the mouth rot is bacterial, then the antibiotics would help, if it is viral or fungal there is no use trying antibiotics. But most veterinarians can't test which one it is.

 

[Merry&Pippin'sMum]

If the mouth rot is bacterial, then the antibiotics would help, if it is viral or fungal there is no use trying antibiotics. But most veterinarians can't test which one it is.

I'm still going to take him in, but I'm guessing what the other person said about cleaning out his mouth and keeping him in a clean environment is best. Should I not feed him until it's better? Or give him something specific?

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Thank you. I just need to create a sterile environment for him to heal in now. What did you do for a set up?

I believe I used a bin or kiddie pool with paper towel or newspaper.

You can also use diluted peroxide as well. Mouth rot can come from an infected injury in gums, bacterial/fungal infection, unsanitary conditions, maybe dirty water to an open wound etc. So you can't be 100% of the cause.

My tort was eating when I discovered the mouth rot which is why I acted so he wouldn't swallow the infection. It was after a brumation. The leaves i used weren't very sanitary in his house i believe.

He also ate after, you just don't want him eating off the ground or anything like that for a while that could host potential bacteria.