What is this?!

[TebowHammer]

Thank you for the list Rob...

Called the Moultrie one (closest to my town) but they said they didnt work with reptiles. I was recommended to Paws and Claws in Tallahassee. So I'm going to call them first thing in the morning.

Why no vitamin injections?

 

[Robert]

Don't let the vet do any vitamin injections!!!

Sorry Marty, I mean no disrespect, but I disagree with this advice as a flat rule of thumb. Are vitamin injections necessary at every and all vet visits? No. Are there certain situations where a vitamin shot might be beneficial? I say yes.

Have there been any instances of vitamin shots causing harm? (This is an honest question, as I have not heard of any adverse effects other that cost.)

Tyler,

You have a potentially very sick tortoise. I recommend going into your vet with an open mind. The more info you can bring with you to the vet visit, the more quickly you will be able to build a relationship with your vet, not just for this visit, but hopefully for the life of your pet. Be open to his/her suggestions, but at the same time (and I think this is what Marty was getting at) feel free to questions his treatment plan. If the vet wants to provide a certain treatment, make sure you understand his reasoning. If you are comfortable with his reasoning, great. If not, explore further and be open and honest about your concerns.

Also, it is a good idea to be open and honest about your budget. Many people resist getting veterinary treatment because they are afraid of the cost. I find that being upfront about cost concerns can be very helpful. Your vet will want to help Tebow, and hopefully he can discuss payment options if necessary.

I do not recommend going into the vet and setting up an adversarial relationship. This will not benefit anyone, including Tebow.

Marty, I hope this did not come across in an offensive manner. I did not intend it that way. I understand where you are coming from with your suggestion. Nobody wants to pay for or subject their pet to unnecessary treatments of any kind. I just think each situation needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis and that it is important to trust your veterinarian.

 

[Yvonne G]

What Marty (Katerina) was alluding to was Vit.a,d,e. Some vets seem to always want to inject this into tortoises whether they need it or not. And some vets don't seem to understand the correct dosage. Over the years that I've been taking in turtles and tortoises, I've seen quite a number of pretty sick turtles and tortoises, with their skin sloughing off and when I ask if they had taken the turtle to the vet and if the vet gave an injection they always say, yes. Vitamin a is easy to get into a tortoise without an injection. But I THINK the vets think that this injection will stimulate appetite.

So Marty gave good advice, just incomplete advice. No Vit.a injection!

 

[Robert]

What Marty (Katerina) was alluding to was Vit.a,d,e. Some vets seem to always want to inject this into tortoises whether they need it or not. And some vets don't seem to understand the correct dosage. Over the years that I've been taking in turtles and tortoises, I've seen quite a number of pretty sick turtles and tortoises, with their skin sloughing off and when I ask if they had taken the turtle to the vet and if the vet gave an injection they always say, yes. Vitamin a is easy to get into a tortoise without an injection. But I THINK the vets think that this injection will stimulate appetite.

So Marty gave good advice, just incomplete advice. No Vit.a injection!

Point taken, but I still think it is important to set up the basis for a good relationship with ones vet, a team approach. To walk in and say, "Hi my tortoise is sick and just so you know I refuse vitamin injections." doesn't set the stage for a good team approach. (I'm not insinuating that is what Marty was suggesting.). This type of approach says to the vet, "Despite your years of schooling and expertise I am here for (antibiotic x for example) and I'm not interested in hearing your thoughts."

I think it is important to keep an open mind and discuss the pros and con's of all treatments. Yvonne, I think it is safe to say that you have much more tortoise experience than most. (Certainly more than I do!). Your experience allows you a much different perspective and a different role on the treatment team, so to speak. A new tortoise owner, myself included, might do himself and his tortoise a disservice by not keeping an open mind to a treatment plan proposed by a veterinarian.

This is another reason why, in my opinion, all pet owners should start their husbandry experience (no matter what type of animal) with a well visit at a local vet. It is important to have a good relationship with your vet, whether you are at my beginner experience level or Yvonne's master experience level. Building a trusting relationship with your vet will only serve to help your pet in the long run.

Tyler: I apologize if this deviated a bit from your original post. I hope for the best for Tebow. It sounds like you are moving in the right direction. Good luck.

 

[african cake queen]

hi there, sorry your friend is sick.please keep us posted as to what is is. looks like some form of infection , but am not a vet. well, best wishes for your friend & keep us posted. lindy

 

[Angi]

I am so sorry your tort is sick. Did I understand you right, you just got him 12 days ago? Where? From a store or did you rescus him?

 

[pdrobber]

Doesn't look good. Good thoughts your way.

 

[exoticsdr]

Just my 2 cents....but from the pics (closeups of the sides of the head would be better) but it looks like aural abscesses and if you don't get them taken care of quickly (it may already be too late) your are likely looking at a surgical procedure to remove the purulent (abscess) material. As for the suggestions on whether or not to give a vitamin injection,...give your vet a complete history of what and how you feed and any info that you have on the history of your tort and let them decide. Vitamin A injections for every little thing are out of style these days, as believe it or not, the problems of the past have syphoned down to the vets also...at least to those of us who attend continueing education classes geared toward reptile medicine....BUT, there are still cases in which I would have no problems giving a "vitamin" injection. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and Rob's suggestion of writing stuff down before and during the visit is first rate....I wish I had the chance to do that on many first visits with sick animals...many times it's after the fact and I make follow-up phone calls for questions after letting a case stew for a while in this mush that I call my brain. Final words from this tired and overworked brain (spoken loudly for effect but not meant to offend) GET TO THE VET!! Good luck and please keep us posted.

Doc

 

[TebowHammer]

I am so sorry your tort is sick. Did I understand you right, you just got him 12 days ago? Where? From a store or did you rescus him?

Hi Angi,

I got him from TortoiseShack.com...the same company as TurtleShack.com.

I had an excellent experience with them when I got my two Peninsula Cooters and my Ouichita Map...they were as healthy as could be.

However, little Tebow doesn't share the same luck. Pretty sure he was sick when I got him - well, I pretty much knew he was.

But I'm one of those types where you deal with the cards you dealt. There was no way I was going to ship him back. As soon as I saw him, I fell in love with him (my fiance still jokes on me about the way I acted when I got him).

So...we're gonna take it day-by-day. Take him to the vet tomorrow and see what they say.

I'm an optimistic person by nature...and because of that, most things tend to work out for me. (at least that's my belief). So I'm definitely not giving up on my boy!!

Question...do pretty much all vets take walk-ins? Could I consider this an emergency?

 

[CtTortoiseMom]

Yes this is an emergency and since there are fewer exotic vets they are usuually pretty booked, may travel between practices or only work certain day's. One thing I know from my experience as a mother is that when our kids/creatures are sick it is ALWAY's an emergency and the squeaky wheel get's the grease so be persistent. Best of luck, we are here for you.

 

[TebowHammer]

Just my 2 cents....but from the pics (closeups of the sides of the head would be better) but it looks like aural abscesses and if you don't get them taken care of quickly (it may already be too late) your are likely looking at a surgical procedure to remove the purulent (abscess) material. As for the suggestions on whether or not to give a vitamin injection,...give your vet a complete history of what and how you feed and any info that you have on the history of your tort and let them decide. Vitamin A injections for every little thing are out of style these days, as believe it or not, the problems of the past have syphoned down to the vets also...at least to those of us who attend continueing education classes geared toward reptile medicine....BUT, there are still cases in which I would have no problems giving a "vitamin" injection. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and Rob's suggestion of writing stuff down before and during the visit is first rate....I wish I had the chance to do that on many first visits with sick animals...many times it's after the fact and I make follow-up phone calls for questions after letting a case stew for a while in this mush that I call my brain. Final words from this tired and overworked brain (spoken loudly for effect but not meant to offend) GET TO THE VET!! Good luck and please keep us posted.

Doc

Hey Doc,

Here are some more pics. I tried to get them as close as I could and keep the focus on Tebow:



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I felt them and they feel callous. Be honest with me Doc...what would be an estimate for surgery if needed?

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

How long has he been like this? He looks very uncomfortable! Hope the appointment is early in the morning.

 

[TebowHammer]

How long has he been like this? He looks very uncomfortable! Hope the appointment is early in the morning.

Ever since I got him really...12 days ago. I've got a list of vets in my area I'm going to call first thing in the morning.

If none of them work with reptiles, I'm going to call a vet in Tallahassee and head that way.

I just want him to be ok. It really hurts to think otherwise.

 

[exoticsdr]

From those angles, it looks like chronic (didn't happen in the last 12 days) aural abscesses that have moved into the subcutaneous tissues of the jaw. I would imagine that there is a lot of thickened scarred tissues present...nice pics.

 

[Kristina]

I am sickened and disgusted that you were SOLD a tortoise in this condition. That company has lost all respect as far as I am concerned.

Best wishes for you and your little guy.

 

[Yvonne G]

If Dr. Todd's correct about the ear abscesses, then there is something else going on with the tortoise. The swelling that shows up in the ear area is because of problems elsewhere in the body. And in such a young tortoise, its hard to think of what that might be.

Good luck at the vet. I'll be thinking about you and your little guy.

---

Tebow is still lethargic and his eyes are still only opening when you soak him.

Tebow's still not eating either. Should I start incorporating some vitamins and calcium? And if so, what is the best way to do it with him not eating?

I know he has to have something in his system. At least some kind of nutrients. What do you recommend as sources for these nutrients, vitamins, and calcium?

You're not going to be able to get him to eat. He's pretty sick. You can add a few drops of liquid bird vitamins to his soaking water every time. You can also try the baby food soaks (Gerber strained carrots, sweet potatoes or squash mixed with water)

 

[Robert]

Good luck at the vet. I'll be thinking about you and your little guy.

I second that. Good luck and please keep us posted!

 

[Marty333]

Im not insulted I just always hear that you shouldn't let the vet give vitamin a injections So I thought I would pass it on.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

I am sickened and disgusted that you were SOLD a tortoise in this condition. That company has lost all respect as far as I am concerned.

Best wishes for you and your little guy.

I SO AGREE KYRYAH.

 

[Kristina]

I feel so bad for that baby. As an owner of two young Sulcatas, and as a tortoise owner in general, my heart is breaking for that poor baby. Thank you for being willing to do whatever needs to done.