What is normal breathing ?

[Liljae9263]

So Franklin has always whistled when he breathes. He also seems to breathe hard. However he does seem to breathe harder when I’m in his sight. (I’ve always thought this was a stress response. Idk y he’s still stressed when he sees me. I thought I would have gained his trust by now (. I think I also read that’s a sign they recognize u but idk how true that is)

The vet has checked him multiple times and didn’t say anything bad about the whistling, just made a note of it.

It doesn’t change with how hot or cold he is. I’ve heard when they’re fighting off an RI higher temps and humidity helps. He’s had that for multiple days b4 and nothing has changed. Same for colder lower humidity. There is nothing in his nose that I can see that could be blocking his airways. And he has never had any signs of an RI. No lack of appetite, lethargy, mucus in nose/eyes. I check him p much everyday.

I’ve seen people say that they’re tortoise just whistles when they breathe. Born that way. I assume it’s like people being born with a deviated septum or something and having trouble breathing but on a tortoise.

Anyways, just thought I would ask and see if there’s anything I should be doing or if anyone has any experience with this. Like I said he has ALWAYS done this since I got him. I’ve never heard him not whistle. Honestly he seems happy and healthy regardless of the heavy breathing. It just looks painful to me but then again yall no I overreact and get v paranoid about my boy. It could be perfectly normal breathing and I’m just freaking out for nothing.

Also additional thought, I hope he’s not like over weight and that’s causing this ?? Altho he’s had this since I got him and the vet told me he was underweight then and gaining good weight now that I had him (he wouldn’t eat at the pet store b4 I got him. Once I got him he finally starting burrowing, sleeping splayed out, came out of his shell more, and eating like a MONSTER! Little boy loves him yummies )

Mostly I think he was just born this way and everything is fine. I’m mostly just curious and that’s y I’m making this post !

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

Here are my two cents: I wouldn't rule out "born that way" scenarios, because some humans don't need to get into a fighting match to break a nose to snore and breathe differently. The nose wall just isn't sitting symmetrically. On the other hand, one of my teenagers is a heavy breather. At first, I was OMG she has a respiratory infection, which she didn't, then Oh, it's the dry AZ air she needs more humidity, which she did. Same as the rest of the siblings. So in the end, Trumpette is just a heavy breather, and gasps like a telenovella diva when eating. Some are just born that way.

This is for you, Franklin:

 

[boniroot]

So Franklin has always whistled when he breathes. He also seems to breathe hard. However he does seem to breathe harder when I’m in his sight. (I’ve always thought this was a stress response. Idk y he’s still stressed when he sees me. I thought I would have gained his trust by now (. I think I also read that’s a sign they recognize u but idk how true that is)

The vet has checked him multiple times and didn’t say anything bad about the whistling, just made a note of it.

It doesn’t change with how hot or cold he is. I’ve heard when they’re fighting off an RI higher temps and humidity helps. He’s had that for multiple days b4 and nothing has changed. Same for colder lower humidity. There is nothing in his nose that I can see that could be blocking his airways. And he has never had any signs of an RI. No lack of appetite, lethargy, mucus in nose/eyes. I check him p much everyday.

I’ve seen people say that they’re tortoise just whistles when they breathe. Born that way. I assume it’s like people being born with a deviated septum or something and having trouble breathing but on a tortoise.

Anyways, just thought I would ask and see if there’s anything I should be doing or if anyone has any experience with this. Like I said he has ALWAYS done this since I got him. I’ve never heard him not whistle. Honestly he seems happy and healthy regardless of the heavy breathing. It just looks painful to me but then again yall no I overreact and get v paranoid about my boy. It could be perfectly normal breathing and I’m just freaking out for nothing.

Also additional thought, I hope he’s not like over weight and that’s causing this ?? Altho he’s had this since I got him and the vet told me he was underweight then and gaining good weight now that I had him (he wouldn’t eat at the pet store b4 I got him. Once I got him he finally starting burrowing, sleeping splayed out, came out of his shell more, and eating like a MONSTER! Little boy loves him yummies )

Mostly I think he was just born this way and everything is fine. I’m mostly just curious and that’s y I’m making this post !

I was given a 7 year old, Greek Marginated tortoise 10 years ago that wheezes. I have taken him to 2 different veterinarians, treated him with 2 different series of antibiotics. He is healthy, eats like a BOSS, eliminates daily, and moves around a lot. I assume he developed his wheeze early on (likely from poor husbandry) but it does not seem to be causing him any harm.

 

[COmtnLady]

Could you get a nice close video showing exactly what you are concerned about when your tortoise breathes. You will have to host it somewhere like YouTube and then provide a link to it.


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