Any medical advice on the following would be hugely appreciated ...
We have a small number of adult Hermann's rescued from development sites here in Montenegro and awaiting relocation to a reserve in the spring. Two of the females appear to have, to varying degrees, tissue infection in the caudal cavity. In one female, most of the visually affected area is in the soft tissue between the tail and the underside of the supracaudal. Additionally, there appears to be an aperture or puncture through this tissue where it meets the shell that possibly contains additional necrotic material beneath. Could this be a conduit into the body cavity? I ask this as there seem to be debris and maggots flushing out that are don't seem to be from the more visible external infected area. There are also raw patches on both hind legs (see photos) as well as a strong smell of infection. The tortoise is also noticeably light for its size.
The second female appears healthy and heavy and there are no obvious signs of infection. However there is a faint smell of corruption and there are fly eggs around the base of the tail.
In the absence of competent vets (or actually more or less any vets!) I have flushed the infected area of both individuals with 0.05% Chlorhexidine (in the form of antiseptic mouthwash ... I hope the flouride and menthol won't have a harmful effect!).
The wounds in both animals were initially flyblown and, in the case of the more seriously infected individual, contained a number of maggots. After several Chlorhexidine flushes there still appear to be one of two maggots remaining. I have on hand 0.1% gentamicin cream which I intend to apply as soon as the wound is fully clean (still some debris, discolored antiseptic and the odd maggot coming out).
At this point I'm guessing that the infection was a result of injuries sustained during reproduction. These rescue tortoises (4m / 2f) were housed in a 12x6 metre enclosure with semi-natural habitat. The enclosure was divided into two for most of the season with males and females separated, but there were times in the year when both sexes co-habited and matings were regular.
I should add that both animals are active, feeding and defecating, and that the more seriously affected individual has been brought into indoor accommodation with a view to overwintering.
Unfortunately there is no opportunity here in Montenegro for adequate veterinary treatment, and a limited availabilty of appropriate drugs (although I return to the UK every so often so it is possible to stock up on necessary supplies) so I am rather dependent on the experience and advice of the good folk of forums such as this!
Any advice regarding the cause / nature of the infection, as well as what I should be doing that I'm not, would be hugely appreciated.
Please note attached photos.
Thank you very much in advance.
We have a small number of adult Hermann's rescued from development sites here in Montenegro and awaiting relocation to a reserve in the spring. Two of the females appear to have, to varying degrees, tissue infection in the caudal cavity. In one female, most of the visually affected area is in the soft tissue between the tail and the underside of the supracaudal. Additionally, there appears to be an aperture or puncture through this tissue where it meets the shell that possibly contains additional necrotic material beneath. Could this be a conduit into the body cavity? I ask this as there seem to be debris and maggots flushing out that are don't seem to be from the more visible external infected area. There are also raw patches on both hind legs (see photos) as well as a strong smell of infection. The tortoise is also noticeably light for its size.
The second female appears healthy and heavy and there are no obvious signs of infection. However there is a faint smell of corruption and there are fly eggs around the base of the tail.
In the absence of competent vets (or actually more or less any vets!) I have flushed the infected area of both individuals with 0.05% Chlorhexidine (in the form of antiseptic mouthwash ... I hope the flouride and menthol won't have a harmful effect!).
The wounds in both animals were initially flyblown and, in the case of the more seriously infected individual, contained a number of maggots. After several Chlorhexidine flushes there still appear to be one of two maggots remaining. I have on hand 0.1% gentamicin cream which I intend to apply as soon as the wound is fully clean (still some debris, discolored antiseptic and the odd maggot coming out).
At this point I'm guessing that the infection was a result of injuries sustained during reproduction. These rescue tortoises (4m / 2f) were housed in a 12x6 metre enclosure with semi-natural habitat. The enclosure was divided into two for most of the season with males and females separated, but there were times in the year when both sexes co-habited and matings were regular.
I should add that both animals are active, feeding and defecating, and that the more seriously affected individual has been brought into indoor accommodation with a view to overwintering.
Unfortunately there is no opportunity here in Montenegro for adequate veterinary treatment, and a limited availabilty of appropriate drugs (although I return to the UK every so often so it is possible to stock up on necessary supplies) so I am rather dependent on the experience and advice of the good folk of forums such as this!
Any advice regarding the cause / nature of the infection, as well as what I should be doing that I'm not, would be hugely appreciated.
Please note attached photos.
Thank you very much in advance.