Still issue with danny!

[philipgreece]

Hello all of you my friends! 30 days have past and my danny still have issues after calcium and vitamins injections! I give him soaks everyday and when I see sun i take him out! Today I saw a better movement but the last 3 days has no interest for food! He take some bites of cucumber and hawkbits and he goes immediately to dig and sleep! I wonder if still injections bother him or the 2 big stones he has inside him! I have seen that he lost some gramms too! In the meantime I have an appointment with my vet! My vet is 7 hours away from the place I live! I have to take bus and boat! Should I go for a check or do you have other suggestions?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

What have you tried to get the stoned out? Any special foods like cucumber?

 

[philipgreece]

What have you tried to get the stoned out? Any special foods like cucumber?

Soaks everyday! Cucumber is the only food he eats these days! Should I try mineral oil too?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Soaks everyday! Cucumber is the only food he eats these days! Should I try mineral oil too?

I don't think it would do any harm. I have fed it rolled up in lettuce. Maybe you could coat the cucumber with it?

 

[philipgreece]

I don't think it would do any harm. I have fed it rolled up in lettuce. Maybe you could coat the cucumber with it?

I try! He only takes some bites! He cares only to go and hide and sleep! I have never seen him before like this!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Maybe @zovick has some advice. It is of course concerning knowing that there were rocks on the x-ray. Have you seen him poop or pee at all?

 

[philipgreece]

Maybe @zovick has some advice. It is of course concerning knowing that there were rocks on the x-ray. Have you seen him poop or pee at all?

Yes he pees and poop but poop not so often! Here the xray! The one with less stones but a little bit big! Do you think he can pass them? Or he needs surgery?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Yes he pees and poop but poop not so often! Here the xray! The one with less stones but a little bit big! Do you think he can pass them? Or he needs surgery?

I can't really say, hopefully some one else can comment here.

 

[zovick]

I can't really say, hopefully some one else can comment here.

The tortoise may be able to pass those stones if you keep soaking it daily for about 30 minutes in lukewarm water, plus feed it lots of lubricating foods (cactus pads, lettuce, cucumbers, etc.). You could also try putting mineral oil on its food to help lubricate the gut.

Also you need to stop putting the tortoise outside where it can eat more stones.

 

[philipgreece]

The tortoise may be able to pass those stones if you keep soaking it daily for about 30 minutes in lukewarm water, plus feed it lots of lubricating foods (cactus pads, lettuce, cucumbers, etc.). You could also try putting mineral oil on its food to help lubricate the gut.

Also you need to stop putting the tortoise outside where it can eat more stones.

I take him with me now and put him somewhere with no stones! I have to give him sun! The issue here that he doesn't eat! Only a little! I wonder if that's ok to travel with tortoises at my capital to see the vet! Can they travel or I will give them stress?

 

[philipgreece]

This morning!

I can't really say, hopefully some one else can comment here.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

This morning!

Good to hear!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I talked to the vet about Danny today. Unfortunately, not very informative (she needed more details: what calcium medication was injected, dosages and more to give a more definite recommendation).

1. Calcium injections sometimes can cause issues (there are a few types of calcium for injections, some cause side effects).
2. There are very rare individiual reactions to any kind of injection. This could be the case as well.

These two can be treated with Dimexide ointment (enchances blood flow around injection site and slightly reduces inflammation).

3. If limping isn't related to injection but is a joint/muscle problem (e.g. leg was pulled too hard), usually a pain relief and anti-inflammatory drug is used to speed-up recovery. The most common is Meloxicam (while effectiveness is questionable it's the only medication that can be administered at home).

Of course, you need to consult a vet to get drug prescriptions, dosage and such.

Soft shell (and calcium deficiency) usually have underlying problem and blood biochemistry can help to understand the cause.

My vet also does online consultations for keepers and guidance for non-reptile vets. You can send me a private message if interested, I'll give you contacts.

 

[philipgreece]

I talked to the vet about Danny today. Unfortunately, not very informative (she needed more details: what calcium medication was injected, dosages and more to give a more definite recommendation).

1. Calcium injections sometimes can cause issues (there are a few types of calcium for injections, some cause side effects).
2. There are very rare individiual reactions to any kind of injection. This could be the case as well.

These two can be treated with Dimexide ointment (enchances blood flow around injection site and slightly reduces inflammation).

3. If limping isn't related to injection but is a joint/muscle problem (e.g. leg was pulled too hard), usually a pain relief and anti-inflammatory drug is used to speed-up recovery. The most common is Meloxicam (while effectiveness is questionable it's the only medication that can be administered at home).

Of course, you need to consult a vet to get drug prescriptions, dosage and such.

Soft shell (and calcium deficiency) usually have underlying problem and blood biochemistry can help to understand the cause.

My vet also does online consultations for keepers and guidance for non-reptile vets. You can send me a private message if interested, I'll give you contacts.

Ok thank you so much! I was afraid about this that maybe he needs antibiotics for the pain! Its totally sure that I will visit my vet for exams! Thank you again! Is this biochemistry blood test expensive?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Ok thank you so much! I was afraid about this that maybe he needs antibiotics for the pain! Its totally sure that I will visit my vet for exams! Thank you again! Is this biochemistry blood test expensive?

Usually, it's more expensive than X-ray. You can ask your local vet if they can do it (however, they have to get a blood sample and this could be challenging without prior experience with tortoises).

 

[TammyJ]

Ok thank you so much! I was afraid about this that maybe he needs antibiotics for the pain! Its totally sure that I will visit my vet for exams! Thank you again! Is this biochemistry blood test expensive?

Antibiotics are not pain killers, they are for bacterial infection.
My thoughts on this is stop the vet visits and just keep doing what you are doing unless you see it getting worse in some way.

 

[philipgreece]

Usually, it's more expensive than X-ray. You can ask your local vet if they can do it (however, they have to get a blood sample and this could be challenging without prior experience with tortoises).

I will go no matter what but the travel is long! We are talking about 7 hours trip! I remember the first year my vet took blood sample and she told me we have to give them injections for inflammation! So I have to ask a different analysis for the biochemistry? The problem is that I don't have vet here and the vet that did the injections here she has occupation for sea turtles! She did the injections and my danny limps! I don't trust her! Also I checked his weight and he has lost some weight? Could it be from the rocks he poops these days?

 

[philipgreece]

Antibiotics are not pain killers, they are for bacterial infection.
My thoughts on this is stop the vet visits and just keep doing what you are doing unless you see it getting worse in some way.

He stills limps but not like the first time! He wants to lift his body but he can't due to limping! 33 days have past and he still limps! He still eats but not so much! Also fortunately he poops these 2 days rocks! Do you think he lost some gramms cause rocks he had inside him? Should I go to my main vet to check them? Because I'm afraid if they have something else! Like bacterial infection or inflammation!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Also I checked his weight and he has lost some weight? Could it be from the rocks he poops these days?

It could be. How much weight has he lost and in what time frame? I also remember that he has been eating less, ist that right?

 

[philipgreece]

It could be. How much weight has he lost and in what time frame? I also remember that he has been eating less, ist that right?

Yes now that the weather changed they eat less both of them! Maybe I didn't weight them right! They have lost almost 40 gramms in 2 weeks! Is this a concern? They are both 4 and a half years old! My male weights 777 grams from 820 and the female now 607 from 644!