Prenchpries
Member
Hi all,
It's been a tough week since Ube started acting sick. We went to a different vet today to get a better diagnosis, thanks to the reco of a family friend who's owned torts for a long time. Sadly, the vet’s diagnosis is yellow fungus, which could’ve come from many sources. I reckon it was his substrate, either in his indoor or outdoor enclosure, though it was never wet wet. They said it probably hit him harder because his immune system was already weak... The prognosis is guarded, because not a lot of babies make it. He has no symptoms of RI yet but he could soon develop this because of his compromised immune system.
Symptoms Ube is experiencing:
- Lack of appetite (his last actual bite that I've seen was last Thursday)
- Lethargy (he doesn't walk around at all)
- Irregular poop & pee (no poop since Thursday; only saw 1 very small urate today)
- Flaking skin with yellow spots and splotches on hind legs and neck area (the fungus)
Suggested treatment:
- For fungus: Betadine and then Canesten Cream on affected areas 1x a day for 2 months. They also injected him today with antibiotics, we have another appointment scheduled for Wednesday. Before we went to the vet today, I only noticed his hind legs, and was topically applying Laurin MCT Coconut Oil on them (it has anti-fungal properties). I didn't see it under his neck... so the affected area in his hind legs seems to have dried out, while his neck has not. I will continue the MCT oil treatment 1x a day and include his neck area too. This helped loads for one of our ball pythons who had red bumps on her whole body.
- For possible onset of RI: Morning soak in warm water, with fresh or dry oregano to help him breathe. 5-10 minute nebulizer once a day using 1/2 Liter PNSS (0.9% sodium chloride solution for IV fluid) for 7-10 days.
- For overall immunity boosting: Afternoon soak in Pedialyte (locally manufactured electrolyte drink for children) for 7-10 days. Torts can apparently soak up some nutrients via their butts, so hopefully this helps.
- For lack of appetite: Extract of blended veggies (1-2 droppers a day, throughout the day); Yakult (probiotic drink, 1 drop a day only — not dropper). For now, they recommended against carrot soaks since he's too small, as well as tempting him with red fruits (e.g. watermelon) since he might get diarrhea. They taught me a simpler way to feed without forcing/prying his mouth open... you hold the tortoise so it's "standing up" and it's mouth naturally opens a bit; you can line one side of his mouth with the liquid food and let it absorb, then do it on the other side.
- For dehydration: Pet Reboost syrup (1 dropper a day, throughout the day) for 2 weeks.
Other things:
- They recommended using plain paper towels as substrate for now, just to be super clean about it.
- 60% humidity level for now, since fungi thrive in high humidity.
- Maintain steady temps throughout enclosure (33-35C), no need for CHE at this time. Summer is scorching here.
- Outdoor basks from 6-8AM.
We'll be monitoring very closely and visiting the vet as needed. Really really trying to keep him alive and okay. I'm devastated and guilty for doing this to him, but am determined to make him better with as little stress as possible...
If anyone here has ever experienced anything similar, it would be nice to hear from you.
It's been a tough week since Ube started acting sick. We went to a different vet today to get a better diagnosis, thanks to the reco of a family friend who's owned torts for a long time. Sadly, the vet’s diagnosis is yellow fungus, which could’ve come from many sources. I reckon it was his substrate, either in his indoor or outdoor enclosure, though it was never wet wet. They said it probably hit him harder because his immune system was already weak... The prognosis is guarded, because not a lot of babies make it. He has no symptoms of RI yet but he could soon develop this because of his compromised immune system.
Symptoms Ube is experiencing:
- Lack of appetite (his last actual bite that I've seen was last Thursday)
- Lethargy (he doesn't walk around at all)
- Irregular poop & pee (no poop since Thursday; only saw 1 very small urate today)
- Flaking skin with yellow spots and splotches on hind legs and neck area (the fungus)
Suggested treatment:
- For fungus: Betadine and then Canesten Cream on affected areas 1x a day for 2 months. They also injected him today with antibiotics, we have another appointment scheduled for Wednesday. Before we went to the vet today, I only noticed his hind legs, and was topically applying Laurin MCT Coconut Oil on them (it has anti-fungal properties). I didn't see it under his neck... so the affected area in his hind legs seems to have dried out, while his neck has not. I will continue the MCT oil treatment 1x a day and include his neck area too. This helped loads for one of our ball pythons who had red bumps on her whole body.
- For possible onset of RI: Morning soak in warm water, with fresh or dry oregano to help him breathe. 5-10 minute nebulizer once a day using 1/2 Liter PNSS (0.9% sodium chloride solution for IV fluid) for 7-10 days.
- For overall immunity boosting: Afternoon soak in Pedialyte (locally manufactured electrolyte drink for children) for 7-10 days. Torts can apparently soak up some nutrients via their butts, so hopefully this helps.
- For lack of appetite: Extract of blended veggies (1-2 droppers a day, throughout the day); Yakult (probiotic drink, 1 drop a day only — not dropper). For now, they recommended against carrot soaks since he's too small, as well as tempting him with red fruits (e.g. watermelon) since he might get diarrhea. They taught me a simpler way to feed without forcing/prying his mouth open... you hold the tortoise so it's "standing up" and it's mouth naturally opens a bit; you can line one side of his mouth with the liquid food and let it absorb, then do it on the other side.
- For dehydration: Pet Reboost syrup (1 dropper a day, throughout the day) for 2 weeks.
Other things:
- They recommended using plain paper towels as substrate for now, just to be super clean about it.
- 60% humidity level for now, since fungi thrive in high humidity.
- Maintain steady temps throughout enclosure (33-35C), no need for CHE at this time. Summer is scorching here.
- Outdoor basks from 6-8AM.
We'll be monitoring very closely and visiting the vet as needed. Really really trying to keep him alive and okay. I'm devastated and guilty for doing this to him, but am determined to make him better with as little stress as possible...
If anyone here has ever experienced anything similar, it would be nice to hear from you.