Sulcata Gas

[sweetjune]

Its been few days since my sulcata wont eat. He became less active and tend to stay even theres rain. After we went to doctor and did some xray, he said my sulcata has alots of gas buildup on his intensine but theres nothing that blocking. Then doctor told me to force feeding it to make the gas going out. Is that right thing to do or should i just soak him high enough to make him swim? Oh yes, its rare to have tortoise vet in our city thererore the equipment are limited and not big enough to xray our sulcata

 

[COmtnLady]

I'm sorry you are having this problem.

I am not as good of an expert as you need, so will ask . @Yvonne G @Tom @Maggie3fan to come tell how to deal with this.

It seems to me that if the gas can't move out in the direction it normally would want to go, force feeding it to go that direction could tear things inside. But, I am not an expert, so let's ask some of the more experienced members here before you do anything.

 

[Megatron's Mom]

If he will swim that would help. Walking also helps. If he won't swim or walk you can always use a bucket. Put him on in it in the water to help support him but make him think he needs to swim. Do not leave him alone in case he manages to tip over.

Hopefully, he can get past this quickly.

 

[sweetjune]

I put him on large container to get him soak on warm water in hope he would pass all gas from his intensine. Should i add more water in order to make him swim? I just came back from vet and do another xray check. We didnt found any BS or Foreign Objects. So Vet advised me to force feed my tortoise with papaya juice so it can help him pass the gas out. But im still trying to give him long soak before deciding to follow vet advice. If theres some suggestion from you guys just let me know

 

[COmtnLady]

The point of having your tortoise swim is that moving his legs works muscles that will help move the gas along. So the water needs to be deep enough that only the back feet can touch the bottom of the plastic tank. You will have to really pay attention because its possible that it hurts too much to move enough to keep his head above water. Be ready to support the front a bit so that he doesn't get water in his face or tip over, but make him move his legs, swim. The water needs to be deeper than in the picture - and warm.


.

 

[sweetjune]

The point of having your tortoise swim is that moving his legs works muscles that will help move the gas along. So the water needs to be deep enough that only the back feet can touch the bottom of the plastic tank. You will have to really pay attention because its possible that it hurts too much to move enough to keep his head above water. Be ready to support the front a bit so that he doesn't get water in his face or tip over, but make him move his legs, swim. The water needs to be deeper than in the picture - and warm.


.

Hes floating now on water. How to make him swim? I saw he pass some urates on the container. Is that good sign?



Updated :

Ok i managed to make him swim by pressing him down on water that forces him to make some swimming movement. But how long should i make him do this?

 

[COmtnLady]

Till he farts.

But it might take more than once or twice to get things moving inside. If the vet couldn't see anything blocking his intestines with the x-ray, its hard telling how many times it might take. It could be a twisted intestine that won't allow stuff to pass. Or it could be that there is something (like a piece of clear plastic bag) that is blocking but isn't substantial enough to show up on an x-ray.

 

[COmtnLady]

Perhaps, if he's moved his legs quite a bit, it might be good to see if he either needs to rest or will eat something. How long have you had him swimming in the warm water, and how is he acting?

 

[sweetjune]

Till he farts.

But it might take more than once or twice to get things moving inside. If the vet couldn't see anything blocking his intestines with the x-ray, its hard telling how many times it might take. It could be a twisted intestine that won't allow stuff to pass. Or it could be that there is something (like a piece of clear plastic bag) that is blocking but isn't substantial enough to show up on an x-ray.

Okay, so i will just make him swim everyday till his appetite back to normal? Or maybe i could add something like carrot juice be mixed on their water? I tried to force feeding him with papaya juice but have no success

 

[sweetjune]

Perhaps, if he's moved his legs quite a bit, it might be good to see if he either needs to rest or will eat something. How long have you had him swimming in the warm water, and how is he acting?

About 1 hour now. Well all he does aside from being floating is doing nothing, so i have to press down his body to make him moving in water.

 

[COmtnLady]

Its not good about the force-feeding. When did you do that? Most Vets don't know tortoises very well and this could be exactly the wrong thing to do. Force Feeding is harsh.

Wait until the more experience members comment in the next 24 hours.

The swimming was something that could help without hurting. The force-feeding is not. Did he pass any gas yet while swimming?
How long since he ate? Is he moving around yet?

 

[sweetjune]

Its not good about the force-feeding. When did you do that? Most Vets don't know tortoises very well and this could be exactly the wrong thing to do. Force Feeding is harsh.

Wait until the more experience members comment in the next 24 hours.

The swimming was something that could help without hurting. The force-feeding is not. Did he pass any gas yet while swimming?
How long since he ate? Is he moving around yet?

I dont have idea of how he pass any gas because i waa going upstairs to fill bucket with warm water and go down to fill warm water on his container so he might pass the gas without i saw him. But all i knew, he did pass his urates. He havent ate since 29th January. He didnt move around, as soon as i put him back to his enclosure, he just walk to his tortoise house. I will keep you guys updated, thanks for advice

 

[sweetjune]

Its not good about the force-feeding. When did you do that? Most Vets don't know tortoises very well and this could be exactly the wrong thing to do. Force Feeding is harsh.

Wait until the more experience members comment in the next 24 hours.

The swimming was something that could help without hurting. The force-feeding is not. Did he pass any gas yet while swimming?
How long since he ate? Is he moving around yet?

I tried to forced feed but not success. So all good

 

[COmtnLady]

Lets wait until some of the more experience members can respond.

Its only been a couple days since he ate, right?

 

[sweetjune]

Lets wait until some of the more experience members can respond.

Its only been a couple days since he ate, right?

Yes last day he ate was about 3-4 days ago. Actually i changed his diet from water spinach to mustard greens because i read that tortoise arent suppose to eat water spinach. And the fact i raised this tortoise for 10 yrs with water spinach. Maybe it was diet change that caused the gas build up

 

[Tom]

Where are you?
How is this tortoise housed?
What are the temperatures where the tortoise lives?
What is the overnight low temperature?

So you were feeding nothing but water spinach for years, and then one day switched to mustard greens? If yes, this is likely your problem. The gastro intestinal tract is full of flora and fauna that live there and help the tortoise digest its food. If this tortoise has been eating only one thing for years, all of the GI tract got used to that food. Switching foods instantly would upset that balance and certainly cause gas and a host of other problems.

You need to get this tortoise walking. Put it out in the hot sun so that it has to move to shade, but watch it closely so that it doesn't over heat if it isn't able to move to shade. Go back to the water spinach, and gradually introduce a wide variety of new and better foods in small amounts.

 

[TammyJ]

What else does he eat usually? He needs a varied diet.

 

[sweetjune]

Where are you?
How is this tortoise housed?
What are the temperatures where the tortoise lives?
What is the overnight low temperature?

So you were feeding nothing but water spinach for years, and then one day switched to mustard greens? If yes, this is likely your problem. The gastro intestinal tract is full of flora and fauna that live there and help the tortoise digest its food. If this tortoise has been eating only one thing for years, all of the GI tract got used to that food. Switching foods instantly would upset that balance and certainly cause gas and a host of other problems.

You need to get this tortoise walking. Put it out in the hot sun so that it has to move to shade, but watch it closely so that it doesn't over heat if it isn't able to move to shade. Go back to the water spinach, and gradually introduce a wide variety of new and better foods in small amounts.

We lived in Indonesia but not in capital city where you can find everything. In my city, you can find few food options such as water spinach, mustard greens, chinese cabbage which is common. Yes all this time we feed him Water Spinach since he was little and never feed mazuri even once. I am planning to plant Hibiscus Flower and Cactus for him to eat. If there is another good alternatives please let me know.

The temperatures during the day relative stable around 29-34 and during the night the temperatures should be around 24

We put the tortoise on outdoor enclosure with house made of brick for 10+ years..We dont install any heater because of hot weather but i am considering to install one to turn it on during heavy rain seasons. But i still need expert advice on this one.

And last thing, i want to expand the enclosure and put pond in there for tortoise to soak in.

Here is the enclosure picture, We want to expand it even more and add pond in there for him to soak in.

 

[sweetjune]

What else does he eat usually? He needs a varied diet.

All this ten years..only water spinach, i did tried to add mustard green few days ago and my tortoise suddenly refuse to eat everything even water spinach. I will try to get him walk and swim today. If you have another good food/fruit alternatives just please let me know

 

[COmtnLady]

DO NOT feed him fruit, Sulcatas can't digest it. Warm him up, make him move (swim).

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