Update on Michelle (constipated)

[TurtisTime]

My new 7" sulcata is constipated. She hasn't eaten for over two weeks. Her previous care and diet was poor. Fruit and store bought food etc. It took about a week after I brought her home, for me to realize why all she wants to do is sleep. At first, I thought maybe she wasn't used to the Texas heat. I realized she must be constipated when I found a long poo filled with blackberry seeds. A few days later she passed another poop with a small stone in it too. She sleeps all day but is still responsive and strong when she wants to be. When I put her in the kiddie pool (hoping to get her to eliminate) she runs in circles for a long time. It has been about 4 days since she last pooped. I feel like my kiddie pool, bathtub, and squash soup baths were helping but maybe she needs more help. Like I said this has been going on for almost 3 weeks.

My question now is, besides taking her to the vet, what can I do? I don't have the hundreds of $$ in funds to take her in for x-rays and possibly an enima etc.

So, in my desperation I am hoping for advice from all of you. I've been soaking her every day for up to two hours. I've read other posts on this forum of similar stories where people had success injecting a small amount of mineral oil into the cloaca. Another option I'm considering is fresh aloe juice into her mouth. I've tried everything else, I think. Any serious advice I could get would be deeply appreciated.


my previous post
https://tortoiseforum.org/search/28986487/

 

[TriciaStringer]

Give her lots of hydrating foods, cactus, iceberg lettuce, and aloe. If she will eat those things, it could help
get her moving. I think a vet visit with a reptile expert is needed. Also, if she is only 7”, put her in a much smaller container for a soak than a kiddie pool (I may have misunderstood that part). That way she feels confined and will try to climb out. It will usually get the bowels moving. I have a sulcata about her size. I use a drawer from an old refrigerator.

 

[TurtisTime]

Give her lots of hydrating foods, cactus, iceberg lettuce, and aloe. If she will eat those things, it could help
get her moving. I think a vet visit with a reptile expert is needed. Also, if she is only 7”, put her in a much smaller container for a soak than a kiddie pool (I may have misunderstood that part). That way she feels confined and will try to climb out. It will usually get the bowels moving. I have a sulcata about her size. I use a drawer from an old refrigerator.

She will not eat. Sorry if I wasn't clear. She won't eat and I don't have hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for a vet. I know she is backed up.
Sometimes I put her in smaller containers or the bathtub. She just naps in those. But she hates my bright blue kiddie pool and immediately does laps trying to escape, everytime. Her feet grip the bottom well. But it seems really stressful so I don't make her do it every time I soak her. Should I?

I've read other posts on this forum of similar stories where people had success injecting a small amount of mineral oil into the cloaca. Another option I'm considering is fresh aloe juice into her mouth. Would either of these options be good to get her insides moving?

 

[TriciaStringer]

She will not eat. Sorry if I wasn't clear. She won't eat and I don't have hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for a vet. I know she is backed up.
Sometimes I put her in smaller containers or the bathtub. She just naps in those. But she hates my bright blue kiddie pool and immediately does laps trying to escape, everytime. Her feet grip the bottom well. But it seems really stressful so I don't make her do it every time I soak her. Should I?

I've read other posts on this forum of similar stories where people had success injecting a small amount of mineral oil into the cloaca. Another option I'm considering is fresh aloe juice into her mouth. Would either of these options be good to get her insides moving?

Aloe juice might help. I’m not familiar with the mineral oil personally. Hopefully someone else will chime in. I’d soak twice a day. Most on here recommend carrot baby food in the soaks. Make sure it stays warm. Are her temps good? They need a high basking temp (95) to help with digestion.

 

[TriciaStringer]

I looked at your past postings. You are soaking enough.

 

[TurtisTime]

Aloe juice might help. I’m not familiar with the mineral oil personally. Hopefully someone else will chime in. I’d soak twice a day. Most on here recommend carrot baby food in the soaks. Make sure it stays warm. Are her temps good? They need a high basking temp (95) to help with digestion.

Thank you. She goes outside twice a day to bask in the hot Texas sun. I'd love to feed her aloe but force feeding seems tricky. Maybe even harder than the other end.

 

[TurtisTime]

I looked at your past postings. You are soaking enough.

Thanks! I am almost worried if it could be too much. I've noticed her eyes get sticky if she is wet a lot.

 

[TriciaStringer]

Thanks! I am almost worried if it could be too much. I've noticed her eyes get sticky if she is wet a lot.

Our vet said that you cannot soak too much.

 

[TurtisTime]

Our vet said that you cannot soak too much.

Thank you for that info!

 

[Melis]

I feel as though if the advice people have given you hasn’t worked, a vet trip is going to be necessary. My sulcata stopped eating and pooping and it turns out she had a large bladder stone and no home remedy would have solved the problem. It is not normal for a sulcata to go that long without eating. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but it is your responsibility as a pet owner to get medical treatment if necessary. I understand that it is not ideal to have a big unexpected bill, but you should realize that that could happen whenever you take on the responsibility of caring for a living thing. Maybe find a vet that offers a payment plan? If you find out what the issue is, you will be able to make a more educated decision on what your next steps should be

 

[TurtisTime]

I feel as though if the advice people have given you hasn’t worked, a vet trip is going to be necessary. My sulcata stopped eating and pooping and it turns out she had a large bladder stone and no home remedy would have solved the problem. It is not normal for a sulcata to go that long without eating. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but it is your responsibility as a pet owner to get medical treatment if necessary. I understand that it is not ideal to have a big unexpected bill, but you should realize that that could happen whenever you take on the responsibility of caring for a living thing. Maybe find a vet that offers a payment plan? If you find out what the issue is, you will be able to make a more educated decision on what your next steps should be

Thanks for your help.

 

[TurtisTime]

After soaking, sunning, then soaking again she pooped this morning! It was soft and nothing weird in it. She's sleeping now.

 

[Jay Bagley]

After soaking, sunning, then soaking again she pooped this morning! It was soft and nothing weird in it. She's sleeping now.

Congratulations on your tortoises bowel movement. That's got to be a huge relief for you.

 

[TriciaStringer]

After soaking, sunning, then soaking again she pooped this morning! It was soft and nothing weird in it. She's sleeping now.

Awesome!!!! Now you need to get her eating.

 

[TurtisTime]

Thanks! She has had bowel movements every few days. At first they were long, full of blackberry seeds and a small rock once. The past couple have gotten smaller and more normal looking. I hope she starts eating soon! Do you guys think she will eat immediately or maybe rest for a day first? This has been exhausting for her. I might try to get some aloe into her if it keeps going the way it has been.

 

[TurtisTime]

Awesome!!!! Now you need to get her eating.

Thank you! If she doesn't eat in the next few days, what's your opinion on the idea of using a syringe to feed her liquid aloe? (Fresh from the plant)

 

[TriciaStringer]

Thank you! If she doesn't eat in the next few days, what's your opinion on the idea of using a syringe to feed her liquid aloe? (Fresh from the plant)

What are you offering her to eat? Romaine is like crack to them. Maybe put her in a smallish Rubbermaid container and just pile up a bunch of romaine in front of her to get her eating. That way it is in her face a lot. She can’t go too far away from it in the container. The aloe will still grease the intestines but not offer a lot of nutrition (I think). Def keep with the baby food carrot soaks.
Hopefully others will offer help. I’m not the best to give advice. Rubbermaid idea may be crazy.

 

[TriciaStringer]

What are you offering her to eat? Romaine is like crack to them. Maybe put her in a smallish Rubbermaid container and just pile up a bunch of romaine in front of her to get her eating. That way it is in her face a lot. She can’t go too far away from it in the container. The aloe will still grease the intestines but not offer a lot of nutrition (I think). Def keep with the baby food carrot soaks.
Hopefully others will offer help. I’m not the best to give advice. Rubbermaid idea may be crazy.

I’m also going to tell you again that I think she needs to go to the vet.

 

[TurtisTime]

I’m also going to tell you again that I think she needs to go to the vet.

Like I said unfortunately I don't have the funds. I know I'll probably be crucified for this if I don't but it's simply not an option right now. This tortoise was found by someone I know and I'm doing my best to help her. It's either something small enough for her to pass or it's not. If not I can't afford the surgery anyway. If surgery for the worst case scenario is not an option, why put her through the extra stress?

 

[TurtisTime]

What are you offering her to eat? Romaine is like crack to them. Maybe put her in a smallish Rubbermaid container and just pile up a bunch of romaine in front of her to get her eating. That way it is in her face a lot. She can’t go too far away from it in the container. The aloe will still grease the intestines but not offer a lot of nutrition (I think). Def keep with the baby food carrot soaks.
Hopefully others will offer help. I’m not the best to give advice. Rubbermaid idea may be crazy.

I've been offering her romaine.