Sulcata on his back

[Wpagey]

Hi, Everyone,

So today I went outside to find our 15 year old, 100+ lb sulcata lying on his back in the middle of our grassy yard and not moving! I immediately ran out and turned him back on his belly. He couldn’t have been there long as I had seen him cruising around eating grass like always maybe an hour before. His eyes were open, and after just a few minutes he was going about as if nothing happened. This is a flat grassy area, with nothing to climb on at all. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I can’t imagine someone came into our yard and did that, but don’t know how in the world this happened. We’ve had him four years without anything like this happening.

 

[RandyTortoise]

Hi, Everyone,

So today I went outside to find our 15 year old, 100+ lb sulcata lying on his back in the middle of our grassy yard and not moving! I immediately ran out and turned him back on his belly. He couldn’t have been there long as I had seen him cruising around eating grass like always maybe an hour before. His eyes were open, and after just a few minutes he was going about as if nothing happened. This is a flat grassy area, with nothing to climb on at all. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I can’t imagine someone came into our yard and did that, but don’t know how in the world this happened. We’ve had him four years without anything like this happening.

That is a mystery. Wow I have no idea.

 

[seanbaker1]

Hi, Everyone,

So today I went outside to find our 15 year old, 100+ lb sulcata lying on his back in the middle of our grassy yard and not moving! I immediately ran out and turned him back on his belly. He couldn’t have been there long as I had seen him cruising around eating grass like always maybe an hour before. His eyes were open, and after just a few minutes he was going about as if nothing happened. This is a flat grassy area, with nothing to climb on at all. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I can’t imagine someone came into our yard and did that, but don’t know how in the world this happened. We’ve had him four years without anything like this happening.

No other tortoises in the yard that he might have been fighting with?

 

[Wpagey]

No other tortoises in the yard that he might have been fighting with?

No, he’s a solo out there. The more I’m looking at this, there are some rocks on the perimeter that he’ll try to climb sometimes…they’re about 15-20 ft from where I found him, but I guess he could have upended himself over there, and scooted along the ground for a distance trying to get righted before getting gassed and rested where I found him. There’s no marks in the grass but it’s the only thing I can think of that makes sense! Oh well, I saw it in time and he seems ok…thank God!

 

[Marko_UK]

I have cameras watching my tortoise with motion detection which sends a notification to my phone so I can keep regular checks on him..they also have motion tracking too and also live streaming to a local pc or over the net..they are cheap enough nowadays and may help keeping an eye on yours

 

[RandyTortoise]

I have cameras watching my tortoise with motion detection which sends a notification to my phone so I can keep regular checks on him..they also have motion tracking too and also live streaming to a local pc or over the net..they are cheap enough nowadays and may help keeping an eye on yours

I have the same set up! Great idea.

 

[EppsDynasty]

@Wpagey .....
You are correct to suspect the rocks, that's where and why this happened. We have dozens of large Sulcata and when flipped on their side they can 'Scoot' or 'Claw' quite a distance. They are trying to flip back over and use their legs to try, in the effort it moves them a few inches at a time. You need to address the rocks or you will lose your tort. The camera mentioned above is your best bet to save his life ..... this will happen again.

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't know the science of it, but animals like horses, and yes, large tortoises, are prone to intestinal torsion when flipped. Here's what my friend Google has to say about it:

Intestinal torsion, also known as volvulus, is a serious condition in animals where the intestine twists on itself, obstructing the flow of food and blood. This can occur in various animals, including pigs, cattle, and dogs, and can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly.

Causes and Risk Factors:

• Diet:
  Rapid ingestion of large amounts of food or water, particularly after a period of fasting, can increase the risk. Diets high in fermentable ingredients can also contribute to gas buildup and potential torsion.
  
  
• Overcrowding:
  In pigs, stress and competition for food in overcrowded pens can lead to rapid eating and increased risk.
  
  
• Exercise after eating:
  Rigorous activity after meals can predispose some animals, like dogs, to torsion.
  
  
• Breed predisposition:
  Certain dog breeds, especially deep-chested breeds, are more prone to gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), a specific type of torsion involving the stomach.
  
  
• Age:
  In cattle, intestinal torsion is more common in calves 3-6 weeks old.
  
  
• Abnormalities in the mesentery:
  The mesentery is the tissue that supports the intestines, and abnormalities can increase the likelihood of twisting.
  

Symptoms:

• Sudden death: In some cases, intestinal torsion can cause sudden death, particularly in pigs.
• Abdominal pain: Signs include restlessness, pacing, and signs of colic.
• Bloating: Swelling of the abdomen is a common symptom.
• Retching and vomiting: Especially in dogs with GDV.
• Rapid heart rate: Tachycardia is often present.
• Difficulty breathing: Dyspnea (labored breathing) can occur.
• Protruding rectum: In some cases, the rectum may protrude from the anus.
• Pale carcass: A pale carcass can be seen after death.

So be careful flipping tortoises, especially when they are larger. Be gentle.