Spear's vet UPDATE (concerned...thoughts?)

[Nameidea44]

Hello everyone! This is un update to my previous post, so please read that if you haven't for context! (https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/help-me-help-spear.226679/#post-2190095)

We're back from the vet! Here is everything we found out:

• She IS roughly 20 years old
• She IS female
• She weighs about 0.78kg
• Overall, she's healthy for her age
• The growth on her neck is a benign tumor of some kind. It isn't connected to her mouth in anyway and seems to be very loosely connected by a blood vessel or something similar (which makes sense, since it doesn't cause trouble for her while eating, drinking etc.)
• We've scheduled an operation in a little over a week
• She'll be given a painkiller, a sorta-sedative (not full on anesthesia from what I understand?), the tumor will be cut out, she'll get 1-2 stiches and then wake up on a heating mat under an infrared light. She'll be able to come home the same day (and maybe be given some antibiotics?)
• She also got her beak trimmed! Which seems to be helping her eat, she's been leaving part of her portions lately, but now she's eating like she did before.
• She was petrified during the car ride (poor thing!), didn't close her eyes for a second haha, but seemed to calm down on the way back home, she even peed.
• Grandma's.. of course.. saying she doesn't need "any of those fancy lamps or anything", but seems happy Spears is happy

Please keep in mind this is the only vet we where able to find that specializes in exotic animals (The zoo even suggested him when we called and asked if they have vets, which they do, but now don't take outside appointments anymore). However some things he said/suggested concerned me:

• He suggested a heating lamp and UVB lamp (which are good! He even suggested Arcadia, which is what I have ordered), but then he also suggested infrared lamps? Which I've read are harmful for their eyes.
• In the little info thing you're given at the end of the vet visit it had suggestions for diet...which mentioned broccoli, as well as fruit (although it said rarely)
• He also suggested adding Ca+D3 vitamins to her food (Zoo Med's Reptivite with D3)

Obviously his knowledge is a bit dated (as I've heard most vets are), but would it be safe for him to perform the operation on her? How big is the risk vs reward factor here?
Also obviously I'm not gonna buy the infrared lamp or feed her fruit, but is the Reptivite part worth considering? I'm already sprinkling her food with calcium, but I can also add/change it out for Reptivite if that's a good idea

(Added bonus: Spears having cut up chickweed for a snack, do her eyes look ok? The vet didn't mention them.

https://imgur.com/fCNtDzd

)

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

In my opinion the third eye lid looks swollen or irritated. Maybe @zovick or @Yvonne G can comment on this?

 

[Megatron's Mom]

most vets I know are more up to date of surgery and illness type of things. Even for cats and dogs. They are not up to date of other parts of care for animals. They get paid by big pharma just like our ppl doctors. They sure can help you feel better but know squat on actual nutrition and will just repeat what they are told.

In your case he seems to know what he is doing for the surgery. I would be ok with him doing it. Take the good advice he gave and ignore the bad. After the surgery if you want, send him a link to the newer updated information for tortoise care.

 

[COmtnLady]

You get a gold star for finding a vet through the zoo. That was a really good idea.

It sounds like the Vet is aiming for the least invasive possible to remove the growth, so that is a good thing. The lump needs to come off. The heat afterwards will help the healing. (Torts need the heat to come from above, but when coming out from under the trauma of surgery, warm all around will help a lot. And, as you said, you will pick her up soon after the surgery. Perhaps double check that they will monitor her closely so that she doesn't get too hot.)

Soak her every day for a half hour (keeping the water warm all the time she is in it) for the next few days until the surgery day. While the cut is fresh you won't be able to soak her (it could open in the water which would be a bed thing), so this will get her well hydrated before the surgery.

You're right about the infrared bulb not being good. She's not french fries - and that could hurt her eyes. A CHE would be much better (in my never-to-be-humble-opinion). Be nice to Grandma, but get the lights and such that you are planning on... she didn't have tortoises from other parts of the world... and she's Grandma, Grandmas are good to keep around.

Her eye does look swollen. Could it have been bumped while trying to hold her head to see the bump better?

Keep us in the loop as to how it goes.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Her eye does look swollen. Could it have been bumped while trying to hold her head to see the bump better?

Good call on the possible cause. How is the eye now?