Baby tort taking antibiotic shots?

mamameg · Aug 16, 2017

Hi All-

My baby redfoot has taken a sudden turn for the worst. I received her likely unhealthy (she was very inactive and a bit of a picky eater) and have struggled with her since mid April now. I took her to the vet about a month ago when concerned about her inactivity and was told she was fine. My family and I went on vacation for a few weeks and the person watching her did not spray her habitat well and she developed two small shell rot spots on her underside which I have already started to treat. Two days ago she seemed to stop eating. That quickly turned in to her not being active AT ALL. Since returning home from vacation I realized she has not gone the bathroom in her morning soak and when asked the sitter they said that she never went the bathroom in her soak. SO...My wonderful husband rushed her to the vet for me today while I was at work. They could tell something is wrong, but do not know what so are treating her for everything. One of the treatments is an antibiotic shot we have to give her in her legs every morning for 14 days. Does anyone have any experience with this? I also have some vitamins to soak her in. Any ideas on what to feed her to jumpstart her eating? Should I put her outside at all? I have also increased her T5 to a 10.0 from a 5.0, although she does spend sometime outside while the weather is nice her. I have increased her heat to 85 degrees and her humidity is at 80%. At a loss and really afraid of losing my baby. Thanks in advance, Meg

wellington · Aug 17, 2017

Sorry to hear your little one is sick. You could try putting baby food carrots in her soaks. Important to keep her warm and hydrated.
Good luck and keep us updated.

mamameg · Aug 17, 2017

She is warm 85-87. She moved out of her T5 10.0 this morning after a few minutes so I think I will switch back to the 5.0 to see if she will withstand that. I was given a vitamin supplement from the vet to soak her in, and went to the pet store who gave me repashy to soak her in with the pedalite for a second, shorter soak. Should I add carrot juice to either do you think? Happy she is at least moving! We hopefully will only be going up from here. Thank you for your support @wellington

Bee62 · Aug 17, 2017

Tortoises often stop eating when they are on antibiotics. 14 days are a long time !
Can you show us some pics of your tort and her enclosure ?
What do you feed ?

mamameg · Aug 17, 2017

@Bee62 she has stopped eating for two days before her antibiotics. She ate twice today and swam a bit in her two soaks (both medicated). She was a tad bit more active today than she has been. I spoke with the vet today and we will be communicating often on her progress/meds. Still no poops.I am cautiously optimistic after today.

Her habitat:

40 gallon with two CHI lights on thermostats. A T5 5.0 on a timer over her food, water, etc.

Her diet:

Day 1: Greens and weeds (turnip, dandelions, kale, mixed greens, etc) with mazuri (which she doesn't really like)

Day 2: Greens and weeds with a fruit top (papaya, strawberries, mango, apple, blackberry, etc) with calcium on fruit

Day 3: Greens and weeds

Day 4: Greens and weeds with a veggie top (squash, zucchini, pepper, maybe carrot, etc)

Day 5: Greens and weeds with fruit and calcium top.

Day 6: Greens and weeds (maybe a veggie or a mushroom or mazuri)

Day 7: Greens and weeds with protein (hard boiled eggs, mushrooms, and worms are her favorites.) Still searching for protein she likes. We have also tried wax worms, butter worms, freezed dried shrimp.

Her habitat is normally at 80% humidity and 80-84 degrees. I have kicked it up a few degrees since she has been sick. Not going over 87.

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1503021100.606811.jpg

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1503021118.988412.jpg

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1503021149.445966.jpg

Bee62 · Aug 18, 2017

Thank you for your detailed answer.
All things that you tell and show are right for a redfoot tort.
The enclosure looks beautiful, for human and for torts eyes.
You are a perfect tort mummy. I can`t give you any new advices because you do all things right.
I hope your baby tort will recover soon. My fingers are crossed for your little one.

mamameg · Aug 18, 2017

@Bee62 thank you so much for the kind words! When she got sick I felt like how....?! Why...?! Hoping we will pull through or my heart will just break! Have a great day and will keep you updated on her improvements!

Bee62 · Aug 18, 2017

mamameg said:
@Bee62 thank you so much for the kind words! When she got sick I felt like how....?! Why...?! Hoping we will pull through or my heart will just break! Have a great day and will keep you updated on her improvements!

Thank you too.
I can imagine how you feel, but it is not your fault that she`s got sick. Please don`t punish yourself.

mamameg · Aug 18, 2017

mamameg said:
Hi All-

My baby redfoot has taken a sudden turn for the worst. I received her likely unhealthy (she was very inactive and a bit of a picky eater) and have struggled with her since mid April now. I took her to the vet about a month ago when concerned about her inactivity and was told she was fine. My family and I went on vacation for a few weeks and the person watching her did not spray her habitat well and she developed two small shell rot spots on her underside which I have already started to treat. Two days ago she seemed to stop eating. That quickly turned in to her not being active AT ALL. Since returning home from vacation I realized she has not gone the bathroom in her morning soak and when asked the sitter they said that she never went the bathroom in her soak. SO...My wonderful husband rushed her to the vet for me today while I was at work. They could tell something is wrong, but do not know what so are treating her for everything. One of the treatments is an antibiotic shot we have to give her in her legs every morning for 14 days. Does anyone have any experience with this? I also have some vitamins to soak her in. Any ideas on what to feed her to jumpstart her eating? Should I put her outside at all? I have also increased her T5 to a 10.0 from a 5.0, although she does spend sometime outside while the weather is nice her. I have increased her heat to 85 degrees and her humidity is at 80%. At a loss and really afraid of losing my baby. Thanks in advance, Meg

UPDATE**** She HATED the 10.0 T5 and after 2 minutes of it being on went to hide. I immediately switched back to the 5.0 and she is much happier with that.

mamameg · Aug 22, 2017

@Bee62 and anyone else.. does her underbelly look ok?

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1503433365.313407.jpg

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1503433377.198518.jpg

Bee62 · Aug 22, 2017

Good evening,

I can`t see anything that could be wrong with her plastron.
Are there news? Is she eating and more active ?

mamameg · Aug 22, 2017

Bee62 said:
Good evening,

I can`t see anything that could be wrong with her plastron.
Are there news? Is she eating and more active ?

@Bee62 I was worried about the two spots on the sides of her sac scar. I can see a vein on the left side and am worried about MBD. I will post a pic of it inside, perhaps it's hard to see in the sun. She is a tad more active, has been eating, gained 8 grams, and is currently off her antibiotic shot per the vet's request. Still soaking in meds.

mamameg · Aug 22, 2017

@Bee62

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1503437786.955145.jpg

Bee62 · Aug 22, 2017

mamameg said:
@Bee62 I was worried about the two spots on the sides of her sac scar. I can see a vein on the left side and am worried about MBD. I will post a pic of it inside, perhaps it's hard to see in the sun. She is a tad more active, has been eating, gained 8 grams, and is currently off her antibiotic shot per the vet's request. Still soaking in meds.

Do these spots appear suddenly ? Are they red ?

mamameg · Aug 22, 2017

@Bee62 They have developed this past week. The brown has grown as well which is weird. The area I'm worried about is not red, more bluish.

Bee62 · Aug 23, 2017

mamameg said:
@Bee62 They have developed this past week. The brown has grown as well which is weird. The area I'm worried about is not red, more bluish.

I am no VET , I only know that red spots appear when the tortoise has a sepsis. Can you ask your VET what he thinks about these spots ? I am not sure if these spots are an issue.

mamameg · Aug 23, 2017

@Bee62 where are you seeing red spots? Are the just under her forearms on her shell?

Bee62 · Aug 23, 2017

mamameg said:
@Bee62 where are you seeing red spots? Are the just under her forearms on her shell?

I see no red spots.
I only said that red spots often go together with a sepsis. When your tort has no red spots there is not the danger of a sepsis.
Sorry, I don`t want to worry you.

mamameg · Aug 23, 2017

@Bee62 it's ok I'm glad you don't see red spots! I'm feeling like I take one step forward, two steps back with this lil tort. Hoping we are on the road to recovery. It is just shocking the difference in her shell in a week and it's unclear if it's good or bad (looking bad) after all the meds we've done this past week. Will keep you updated.

Bee62 · Aug 29, 2017

mamameg said:
@Bee62 it's ok I'm glad you don't see red spots! I'm feeling like I take one step forward, two steps back with this lil tort. Hoping we are on the road to recovery. It is just shocking the difference in her shell in a week and it's unclear if it's good or bad (looking bad) after all the meds we've done this past week. Will keep you updated.

Are there news about your Redfoot baby ?

Baby tort taking antibiotic shots?

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