Respiratory infection

[Anastasia 22]

How long does it take to recover from a respiratory infection?
My tortoise is sick for two weeks and she's not showing any signs of getting better. She is very lethargic and doesn't want to eat. She has bubbles in her nose and sometimes foam comes from her mouth.
I keep the temperature in her enclosure at 86F.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Aw nois this your red foot? Has she been prescribed anything for it or?

 

[Anastasia 22]

Aw nois this your red foot? Has she been prescribed anything for it or?

It's my Greek.... it was all my fault. I left her in an outside enclosure, and the unpredicted storm came to the area that brought cold wind and heavy rain. Next day she got sick.
I am afraid to take her to the vet because here are no good vets here. At least, I didn't hear anything good about them.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Aw Im so sorry to hear this, it’s good you’ve kept her indoors with higher ambient temperatures for now.
Symptom wise is it decreased appetite&activity and those bubbles?
Anything else out of the usual for her?

Yeah it’s tricky when there’s no good vets nearby, I do think you can go in with a treatment in mind if you’re sure it’s respiratory though and request a certain course of medication, obviously they’d just need to do the weighing for dosage n such.

Let’s tag these guys and see if they would recommend getting her some antibiotics or what kind they’d try, @zovick @Yvonne G @turtlesteve @Tom

 

[Anastasia 22]

Symptom wise is it decreased appetite&activity and those bubbles?
Anything else out of the usual for her?

I believe it's a respiratory infection because she was exposed to the low temperature and cold rain.
She is breathing really heavily. I can hear it. I tried to wake her up but she just kept closing her eyes. I soak her in a very shallow water so she is not dehydrated.
I just want her to be well. That's it......

 

[Anastasia 22]

Her name is Pretty because she is so pretty.... and all those hearts on her shell....I love her too much. I love all my guys too much.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I believe it's a respiratory infection because she was exposed to the low temperature and cold rain.
She is breathing really heavily. I can hear it. I tried to wake her up but she just kept closing her eyes. I soak her in a very shallow water so she is not dehydrated.
I just want her to be well. That's it......

It sounds like it is, I’m sure others will be along with more in depth advice

Her name is Pretty because she is so pretty.... and all those hearts on her shell....I love her too much. I love all my guys too much.

she’s so beautiful!!

 

[turtlesteve]

If it’s gone on for this long and keeping her warm has not made her recover, in my opinion you need to get her on antibiotics. Fortaz / ceftazidime is preferred but baytril/ enrofloxacin is OK if that is what you can get.

Steve

 

[Anastasia 22]

If it’s gone on for this long and keeping her warm has not made her recover, in my opinion you need to get her on antibiotics. Fortaz / ceftazidime is preferred but baytril/ enrofloxacin is OK if that is what you can get.

Steve

Thank you Steve!

 

[zovick]

Thank you Steve!

I would recommend Fortaz (ceftazidime) over Baytril (enrofloxacin) if at all possible. The dose is 20 mg per kg of weight and you only need to give it every other day. Baytril needs to be given daily and frequently causes severe pain plus tissue necrosis at the injection sites.

Unfortunately, you probably can't get either one without going to a vet. Are you anywhere near El Paso? I know a good vet there who keeps tortoises himself and knows how to treat them.

I think you need to raise the temp in the tortoise's enclosure to 90F day and night also.

You could also try getting Neo-Poly-Dex Veterinary Ophthalmic drops and put a drop into each nostril and each eye twice a day for 10 days or so. These are also only available from a vet, though.

Good luck!

 

[Maggie3fan]

Have you looked at our Vet list? We have over 50 Vets listed in Texass, I know it's a big state, but have you looked at our list?
Can you say what town or city area you're close to?...I have lots friends in Texass, I maybe can find a Vet close to you...

 

[Anastasia 22]

I would recommend Fortaz (ceftazidime) over Baytril (enrofloxacin) if at all possible. The dose is 20 mg per kg of weight and you only need to give it every other day. Baytril needs to be given daily and frequently causes severe pain plus tissue necrosis at the injection sites.

Unfortunately, you probably can't get either one without going to a vet. Are you anywhere near El Paso? I know a good vet there who keeps tortoises himself and knows how to treat them.

I think you need to raise the temp in the tortoise's enclosure to 90F day and night also.

You could also try getting Neo-Poly-Dex Veterinary Ophthalmic drops and put a drop into each nostril and each eye twice a day for 10 days or so. These are also only available from a vet, though.

Good luck!

Thank you so very much!
I will be in town today and I will stop by every vet clinic to see if I could get the prescription.
Unfortunately I am almost 9 hours away from El Paso....

 

[Anastasia 22]

Have you looked at our Vet list? We have over 50 Vets listed in Texass, I know it's a big state, but have you looked at our list?
Can you say what town or city area you're close to?...I have lots friends in Texass, I maybe can find a Vet close to you...

I moved to a country side recently. I did it for my tortoises, so they have a lot of acres to roam. The closest city is Waco (about 50 miles), but I would never trust any vets there. I am going to go there anyway to see if I can get the prescription for the medication.

 

[Anastasia 22]

If I wouldn't be able to get the right medication ASAP, can I use that? My friend happened to have it and I can get it today.

 

[zovick]

If I wouldn't be able to get the right medication ASAP, can I use that? My friend happened to have it and I can get it today.

I would be hesitant to use the pills as there is really no good way of getting the proper dose into the tortoise. Also the amoxicillin may not be as effective as the ceftazidime, especially when the oral med is compared to the injectable one.

 

[Anastasia 22]

I would be hesitant to use the pills as there is really no good way of getting the proper dose into the tortoise. Also the amoxicillin may not be as effective as the ceftazidime, especially when the oral med is compared to the injectable one.

Thank you!!!!

 

[jaizei]

I moved to a country side recently. I did it for my tortoises, so they have a lot of acres to roam. The closest city is Waco (about 50 miles), but I would never trust any vets there. I am going to go there anyway to see if I can get the prescription for the medication.

Do you have any livestock yet, other than the tortoises? Making friends with a good country vet can help in the long run.

 

[zovick]

Do you have any livestock yet, other than the tortoises? Making friends with a good country vet can help in the long run.

Great idea! I lived in an extremely rural area for 30 plus years and had a really good vet there who treated large and small animals --- everything from cows and horses to hamsters, chinchillas, and birds for the local people.

I never had a problem getting any meds I ever needed from him, and he was also a fountain of knowledge which he willingly shared. He died at age 91 in May 2024, having practiced continuously in the town from 1957 until his death.

 

[Anastasia 22]

Do you have any livestock yet, other than the tortoises? Making friends with a good country vet can help in the long run.

I am thinking about getting goats maybe.... I am adjusting for the new life style. I don't know anything about farming or agriculture.
And I really need a good reliable vet

 

[zovick]

I am thinking about getting goats maybe.... I am adjusting for the new life style. I don't know anything about farming or agriculture.
And I really need a good reliable vet

As Jaizei said, try to find a good country vet, preferably one who treats large animals as well as smaller ones. They are usually pretty easy going and helpful.