Urgent advice needed!

Sheldon 101

New Member
Joined
May 25, 2022
Messages
1
Location (City and/or State)
United Kingdom
We took our 9yr old Horsefield Tortoise, Sheldon to the vets today as he has been off his food for also two weeks and only really nibbling on occasion.

They have carried out bloods, x-rays and fluids. X-rays are clear however bloods showed signs of infection. Possibly in the bile duct as liver enzymes were high. He has had an antibiotic injection and back Saturday for another.

His home now for fluids and to encourage feeding at home. If his not feeding by Saturday they have said we will need to place a feeding tube.

Has anyone had a similar infection in their tortoise? Any long term effects.

If he needs a feeding tube placed, what's the realistic side of this? They said tortoises can have feeding tubes places for a few weeks but ultimately if he isn't eating by himself in a few weeks, then what?

Am I just prolonging the worse? What's the best thing to do for Sheldon ?

What are your experiences with tortoises and feeding tubes?
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,120
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
We took our 9yr old Horsefield Tortoise, Sheldon to the vets today as he has been off his food for also two weeks and only really nibbling on occasion.

They have carried out bloods, x-rays and fluids. X-rays are clear however bloods showed signs of infection. Possibly in the bile duct as liver enzymes were high. He has had an antibiotic injection and back Saturday for another.

His home now for fluids and to encourage feeding at home. If his not feeding by Saturday they have said we will need to place a feeding tube.

Has anyone had a similar infection in their tortoise? Any long term effects.

If he needs a feeding tube placed, what's the realistic side of this? They said tortoises can have feeding tubes places for a few weeks but ultimately if he isn't eating by himself in a few weeks, then what?

Am I just prolonging the worse? What's the best thing to do for Sheldon ?

What are your experiences with tortoises and feeding tubes?
A simple application of a basic requirement that has not been met for this tortoise may be the only thing you need to do to make him start thriving again. Basic needs must be met in terms of temperature, humidity and diet. Any wrong thing with any of these needs will soon cause him to be sick. Secondly, very few vets will really be able to help, and those that are not experienced with tortoises will do more harm than good and may cause him to die. He may need a qualified and experienced reptile vet, or he may just need a few simple adjustments to his husbandry. Please let us have details of how he is being kept - diet, temperatures, humidity, enclosure details, substrate etc. and any type of lights you are using for him. He may not need antibiotics or feeding tube. We have very helpful, very experienced and very caring people here to help you. @Tom @Yvonne
 

Jacqui

Wanna be raiser of Lemon Drop tortoises
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
39,941
Location (City and/or State)
A Land Far Away...
I have not personally had to do a feeding tube. I have heard of one's who have and have gone back to eating normally. It's good to be researching, but breathe deep and let the panic out. Take each step one at a time. Keep positive thoughts. You and Sheldon may become somebody's positive outcome to look up to. Tortoise health care is improving rapidly.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,269
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
We took our 9yr old Horsefield Tortoise, Sheldon to the vets today as he has been off his food for also two weeks and only really nibbling on occasion.

They have carried out bloods, x-rays and fluids. X-rays are clear however bloods showed signs of infection. Possibly in the bile duct as liver enzymes were high. He has had an antibiotic injection and back Saturday for another.

His home now for fluids and to encourage feeding at home. If his not feeding by Saturday they have said we will need to place a feeding tube.

Has anyone had a similar infection in their tortoise? Any long term effects.

If he needs a feeding tube placed, what's the realistic side of this? They said tortoises can have feeding tubes places for a few weeks but ultimately if he isn't eating by himself in a few weeks, then what?

Am I just prolonging the worse? What's the best thing to do for Sheldon ?

What are your experiences with tortoises and feeding tubes?
Tortoises live for decades and possibly centuries. When they get sick there is a reason. Treating the symptoms without doscovering and correcting the CAUSE of the sickness is futile.

If the tortoise is not eating, there is a reason. They know when they should not be eating. Forcing food into them with a feeding tube when their systems are not prepared to deal with it could be fatal. Remember that this species is only active and eating for 6 weeks in spring and another 6 weeks in fall in some parts of its range. Not eating for a couple of weeks is no big deal to them. Not eating for 20 weeks is their norm in the wild when conditions are too hot or too cold.

Your climate is terrible for tortoises that like warm sunny weather, so the indoor enclosure must be set up very well with all the proper lighting and temperatures, and it must be very large. At least 122x244 cm.

Let's try to find the problem:
Can you tell us your four temperatures? Warm side, cool side, basking area ad overnight low?
Enclosure size and type?
What heating and lighting are you using? What type of UV bulb?
What substrate? Is it damp?
What foods have you been offering?
How often do you soak?

The answers to these questions may show us the problem, or they may lead to a few more questions, but we will get it figured out. Pictures of the enclosure and tortoise will help too.

Most of the care info and products recommended for this species are all wrong. UK pet shops tend to offer small open topped enclosure, and sandy soil based substrates, along with the wrong lighting, and little to know temperature recommendations, according to what we've seen here in the past. Here is the correct care info:

Your questions are welcome.
 
Top