Their first shots...

[Saleama]

I just gave my sick little ornates their first at home set of shots. I can't believe how HUGE the needle looks next to them! Its like I am stabbing them with a big ol' knife. They are getting 6 units of Baytril a day for three weeks to help with an RI. They are also getting 10 units of Vitamin A orally every other day for two weeks. I had no idea how hard it would be to administer the shots. They allow me to do it but they don't like it! The bigger one actually bit me when I went to massage the shot area! At least he is active now. After just two days of treatment they are all doing way better. The little ones have opened their eyes and they are all moving around a lot. One of them actually pooped this morning!

 

[ascott]

Progress....good stuff. Biting you is a good sign as well Where are you administering the shot at on the tort?

 

[AZtortMom]

I would have like to of bitten my doctor when he gave me my shot in my shoulder [POUTING FACE]

 

[terryo]

When my Ornate was sick I have to give shots for 7 days. The worst thing I ever had to do. By the fifth day she was back to her old self, and when she saw me coming she ran like hell. Be strong.

 

[AZtortMom]

Oh that's so sad!

 

[Saleama]

I am giving them on the left from leg near the top in the loose skin between the leg and the neck. I have to do 3 turtles! The needles he gave me are 27 gauge! They are huge! I am chunking them and using my needles I use on myself. They are 31. The only issue is they are hard to get through the tube of medicine. They already don't like me and it is only day 1. They used to eat out of my hand, now I think they will try and eat my hand. Not going to be a fun next few days/weeks.

 

[mike taylor]

They will get over it! I had to give my red foots shots they would hide but to no avail .

mike taylor

 

[Saleama]

LOL. I think it hurts me more than them. I don't know how parents of human babies stand it!

 

[TommyZ]

My tort didnt even blink when i have her a shot, seemed as though it didnt even happen...surprised me how calm she was. Gave her a nice strawberry treat after as a reward

 

[mike taylor]

Its hard not to hit the Doctor for hurting your kid, but you know they're trying to help them fill better .

 

[diamondbp]

we are pulling for these guys! I'm really hoping this ends up as a happy story for all TFO to smile about

 

[Saleama]

Me too. I don't know what went wrong. The other three in there with them went under for the winter and came out on Wednesday just fine. Gained weight even. The three ornate siblings all got sick. I am beginning to wonder if they came to me that way? The only reason I do not think so is they were piglets for almost two months and then got sick. Is it possible they got something from the super worms? The other three were under and didn't eat any from the last tub I bought and I bought it from a different Petsmart than usual.

 

[terryo]

Sometimes box turtles (tortoise too from what I hear) can be sick for along time before they show any symptoms, so they could have been festering something even before you got them, even though they were eating fine.
It's so hard to say why these things happen. My Ornate hibernated outside for 25 years with no problem, and after 25 years she started to get sick when she came out in Spring. Puffy eyes and RI. I did everything the same, so I don't have an answer why this happened. After that time she was fine. When she was about 32 years old, one day I went in the garden to feed the turtles and she was just sitting there and didn't come to eat. Never moved and then I realized she was gone. I have no idea why she died. I had her for all those years and she was never sick. I had to re-home her for a year with a close friend, and when I got her back, she was fine and then 6 months later she died.
Another thing...after a while they will forget about this and will start to eat from your hand again.

 

[Saleama]

Update... Yesterday everyone had at least one eye open. # One has both eyes all the way open and is looking bright. # Two has both eyes open but still looks a little sleepy. # Three has one eye open and bright and the other eye still closed. I am going to give them their shots and soak tonight and try to get them to eat something. Going to offer supper worms, crickets and red wigglers and see if they are willing to bite someting other than me when I give them their shots.