White flesh

[zolasmum]

It's lovely to see her enjoying her food - I wonder how long it was before you got her that she last actually had the chance to eat proper food - poor little JoJo.
I can't help thinking about her a lot. When we first got Zola, he was with another similar baby Hermanns, but we just fell in love with his bright expression. Anyway, the other little one was bought by a well-known television personality who lived in the area - well, we went back to the shop months later, taking Zola, to show how well he was getting on - the owner of the shop said "wait a minute, I want to show you something" and he brought out this tiny lifeless-looking tortoise - it was Zola's companion ! He had been brought back, because the family who got him didn't think he looked well -it seems he had been kept in a metal cage on top of a cupboard, with no light or heating !!! The pet shop man was an ex Marine, and he was furious - he insisted on keeping it again, and in time, the little chap made good progress, but the tv guy was too ashamed, I think, to ask for it back. So JoJo reminds me a bit of that little tortoise - uncared for, and, as your wife said, probably really miserable, until being rescued.
Angie

 

[EppsDynasty]

UPDATE 11/21 614 grams 11/22 643 grams 11/22 654 grams So I don't know to be happy or not. Yesterday I looked at her eye in the sunlight and it's not just a black ball. It's just like the other eye, I mean it has different parts. Pupil with color difference from a lighter colored ring then the outer "black" part. So happy it's actually an eye but so sad there is no eyelid to speak of yet. Don't think the eye would survive her life without an eyelid. Can't dwell on it though, there is so much to look forward to for her. I've said it previously but it is amazing how much emotion we have for torts. and how fast that emotion blooms. We have had sun so she's been getting at least 2 hours of full sun a day. She chooses the full sun, there is shade. She does though protect that eye from the sun, by turning her head. My wife says that "this" tortoise will always be a special one....This said, every morning is filled with over a dozen hand washes, close to a dozen Tortoise washes, and then the rounds to let out, feed and check on our outside Tortoises. She's kidding herself with that, if anything happened to any of them it would be heart breaking. Not to mention the birds, dog or pig. It's so hard to say 1 is special, when we love all of them. I will say the journey with Jo Jo is filled with lots of emotion.

 

[zolasmum]

It will be very interesting to see what the vet thinks about JoJo's eye, and whether anything can be done to help her. I think, whatever you say, she will indeed be very special - one can't help admiring her after she has been through so much and managed to survive. You must be very proud of her, and it must give you and your wife great pleasure to see her moving around well and eating happily. I wonder if the vet will be able to judge approximately how old she is.
Angie

 

[EppsDynasty]

Tomorrow, Tomorrow....The Vet visit is here. UPDATE 11/24 634 grams 11/25 640 grams 11/26 653 grams. Apologize for not updating for a while. Life's been full of busy. I wanted to post this a couple days ago but are there any question's you all have for the vet? Seriously, are there any things I might not think of that you (can or are)...... I've been so excited for this visit but now find myself worried, very worried. Something I've not thought about, or it not going how I think it should, Is this Vet GOOD, all sorts of crazy things running through my head. We want more than the best for Jo Jo and I am letting Fear place crazy thoughts in my head. F.E.A.R. False Evidence Appearing Real. I know better dam it. Here I go letting emotion stand in front of fact. My entire family has saved ALL our pennies to save up for this day, I also fear it will be some outrageous amount. Never had a Tortoise surgery to pay for. I want to say a special Thank You to you all that have followed Jo Jo's story. It has been a comforting feeling knowing there are others that care.

 

[zolasmum]

There will be a lot of people sending love and good wishes to little JoJo, I'm sure - including me, of course.
I hope you will take the photos of her from when you first got her, and the weight record, to show the vet, as they might help.Of course, her weight varied a lot because of the heavy grit and stuff she was trying to get rid of, rather than growth at first . I would love to know if anything can be done about her eye - is it possible she has eyelids still there, but still fixed open ?
You have done a wonderful job so far with this little creature in a short time - if you are not satisfied with the vet's response, then you must say so ! I'm sure you would have no hesitation in doing that in any other situation !!!
Very very best wishes from Angie

 

[EppsDynasty]

There will be a lot of people sending love and good wishes to little JoJo, I'm sure - including me, of course.
I hope you will take the photos of her from when you first got her, and the weight record, to show the vet, as they might help.Of course, her weight varied a lot because of the heavy grit and stuff she was trying to get rid of, rather than growth at first . I would love to know if anything can be done about her eye - is it possible she has eyelids still there, but still fixed open ?
You have done a wonderful job so far with this little creature in a short time - if you are not satisfied with the vet's response, then you must say so ! I'm sure you would have no hesitation in doing that in any other situation !!!
Very very best wishes from Angie

THANK YOU

 

[TammyJ]

Who is the vet? How far away? I suppose this upcoming vet visit is going to be mainly about the eye. We will all be watching and thinking of you and this spunky little tortoise!

 

[EppsDynasty]

Who is the vet? How far away? I suppose this upcoming vet visit is going to be mainly about the eye. We will all be watching and thinking of you and this spunky little tortoise!

The vet is Dr. Rakow in Bakersfield CA about 80 miles away. She is a member of the American, California, and Kern County Veterinary Medical Associations, as well as the Veterinary Information Network and the California Ferret Association. She is Board President of the Bakersfield SPCA and is an adjunct professor at Bakersfield College.
I think your right, it will be about her eye 1st and then the cracked shell. No matter how it goes though the EPPS family will be there for her.

 

[Yvonne G]

No vitamin injections! You can get vitamins into her better with the food you feed her. I've seen many a turtle and tortoise over the years of my doing rescue that had vitamin overdose.

 

[Tanksmamas]

If your vet doesn’t work out and you want to take a LONG drive for one of the 12 certified reptile specialists in the US (and one of the best vets for torties). I take mine to Dr Boyer (the owner) of Pet Hospital of Penasquitos. I have two desert tortises (rescues) and am fostering a newborn sulcata. I’m sending positive energy for your baby.

 

[Yvonne G]

If your vet doesn’t work out and you want to take a LONG drive for one of the 12 certified reptile specialists in the US (and one of the best vets for torties). I take mine to Dr Boyer (the owner) of Pet Hospital of Penasquitos. I have two desert tortises (rescues) and am fostering a newborn sulcata. I’m sending positive energy for your baby.

I've heard good things about Dr. Boyer.

 

[EppsDynasty]

No vitamin injections! You can get vitamins into her better with the food you feed her. I've seen many a turtle and tortoise over the years of my doing rescue that had vitamin overdose

Thank you

If your vet doesn’t work out and you want to take a LONG drive for one of the 12 certified reptile specialists in the US (and one of the best vets for torties). I take mine to Dr Boyer (the owner) of Pet Hospital of Penasquitos. I have two desert tortises (rescues) and am fostering a newborn sulcata. I’m sending positive energy for your baby.

Thank you. I had to explain to my wife that we are going to this vet for answers we can't get here. Like the pain medicine or the scrapping of the shell. I have a "good" confidence in knowing if she b#ll shi%%ing us. This is from this forum. I told my wife that if she contradicts this forum it's a no go.

 

[EppsDynasty]

Who is the vet? How far away? I suppose this upcoming vet visit is going to be mainly about the eye. We will all be watching and thinking of you and this spunky little tortoise!

Thank You Tammy!!!!!! couldn't sleep at all last night, today's the big day. My wife and I agreed, (well my wife decided) we will not leave Jo Jo at the vets. I've been married over 20 yrs., see how that conversation worked. Maybe go and get lunch or something but no way in H@ll are we leaving her overnight. We really want this Vet to be good but are so afraid she's not. Is this normal for a tort owner going to the Vet? Gotta get stuff ready for the 100 mile journey each way. Be back in a little bit to take a pic before we go.

 

[TammyJ]

We are with you guys and Jo Jo all the way!

 

[zolasmum]

Thank You Tammy!!!!!! couldn't sleep at all last night, today's the big day. My wife and I agreed, (well my wife decided) we will not leave Jo Jo at the vets. I've been married over 20 yrs., see how that conversation worked. Maybe go and get lunch or something but no way in H@ll are we leaving her overnight. We really want this Vet to be good but are so afraid she's not. Is this normal for a tort owner going to the Vet? Gotta get stuff ready for the 100 mile journey each way. Be back in a little bit to take a pic before we go.

The first time we took Zola to the vet(who had tortoises himself) to have his beak trimmed we were terrified, and walked up and down the nearby roads for nearly an hour, as the vet said he would just do a tiny bit at a time, with rests in between - when we got back, the vet was practically exhausted, as Zola was so strong, and fought back so much. We were rather proud of him ! (Zola was maybe 4 or 5 inches long at the time !)
Angie

 

[EppsDynasty]

We’re here…..put her in her favorite… one of my shirts, clean of course.

 

[TammyJ]

We’re here…..put her in her favorite… one of my shirts, clean of course.

That's Love for ya!

 

[Tanksmamas]

We’re here…..put her in her favorite… one of my shirts, clean of course.

That's Love for ya!

We use our kids’ old baby blankets, so I’m with you there

 

[TammyJ]

Waiting to hear more...!

 

[zolasmum]

We’re here…..put her in her favorite… one of my shirts, clean of course.

Zola likes to rest his head on one of his dad's old socks (clean) when basking.
Angie