ANYONE HAVE TO USE OXYTOCIN ON TORTOISE

Neal

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Apr 15, 2010
Messages
4,967
Location (City and/or State)
Arizona
Thanks Neal, Lucy does sound a lot like her mother. I have kept Lucy from the males this spring/summer so far, except a couple days when someone, pushed their way through the fence, darn boys. However, they were on the side of her not where they were suppose to be LOL. If my memory is correct, lots going on here, she has not had any eggs yet this year until the ones laid last week and now the ones she's carrying. Not sure when egg laying season is. Her very first two every clutches were in the first June 2015 they were both surface dropped and about 2-3 weeks apart. Then she nested and laid in August and again in September and again October all in dug nest. Then she had some surface eggs twice during the winter and she didn't have a proper nesting spot. Didn't think she would lay in the winter. That was all in 2015. Finally found my records of 2015. Can't find last years. I'm bad at record keeping. Last year, 2016 she did have 4-5 clutches but none were fertile. All dug and nested. Not sure of the months though.
Her nesting ones all seemed about a month or so apart. The surface ones were all closer together, but came out a few at a time and about 2 weeks apart.

Are you sure none were fertile, or just none hatched? Did you candle the eggs? I have always had poor luck with incubating the mother's eggs, but when I leave them in the ground over winter the hatch rates jump from the low teens to 60% to 70%.

I can't speak to leopards in all areas of the US, but with most in AZ the egg laying season is in sync with the monsoon season. Mid-June is when it starts, but usually extends beyond monsoon season to November and December. So it sounds like yours began developing in (what I would consider) the normal season.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Are you sure none were fertile, or just none hatched? Did you candle the eggs? I have always had poor luck with incubating the mother's eggs, but when I leave them in the ground over winter the hatch rates jump from the low teens to 60% to 70%.

I can't speak to leopards in all areas of the US, but with most in AZ the egg laying season is in sync with the monsoon season. Mid-June is when it starts, but usually extends beyond monsoon season to November and December. So it sounds like yours began developing in (what I would consider) the normal season.
I had one hatch from her first clutch. Then from that same clutch two were developed one completely, one almost, but both dead. The rest of the eggs I incubated never developed anything. I have one baby that will be 2 in November.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
@wellington Do you have any news from the vet as of yet?
No, she is now eating like a pig and has had her back legs out. She did walk in the tub during a soak today. Not sure how much cuz she clamps up as soon as she knows I'm near, but I seen her up on them. The calcium med didn't come in yet either. She also has moved in her enclosure from side to side just not sure if she's up and walking then too or not.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Update. Lucy seen a different vet today. New set of X-rays showed eggs same size and in same position. The odd unidentified object in the graphs has moved and appears to be in her stomach/intestines. Not sure yet what it is. Will be keeping an eye on it to see if it passes.
Oxytocin injection given. Approximately 2 hours later and a nice warm soak at home, all eggs have been laid. Will post new X-rays when I receive them.
 

Shaif

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
438
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsburgh, PA
there does appear to be a small concretion (stone) possibly blocking the egg which seems to be the closest egg to the vent, depending upon which way the intestines is going. You can't see any soft tissue with this x-ray. Although it seems small enough to pass, and smaller than the egg, maybe combined with the egg it creates a "sticking point".??

Doesn't look like pressure on the spine. Tend to agree with Bill - discomfort is likely causing her not to want to lift up.


Human radiologist here, I agree with Mark. There is a fairly large left renal stone (remember left is on the right for imaging). I agree this is likely the cause of pain.
 

Shaif

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
438
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sorry. I must learn to read the entire thread before I post. I get awfully excited if I think I can help.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
image.png image.png For a close comparison, I will post both X-rays
The first one is from today.
The second one us from approx. 3 weeks ago.
 

Shaif

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
438
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsburgh, PA
So the eggs have moved. Minimally, but absolutely.
And so has the calcification.

That's very good news.

But I would expect more movement over 3 weeks.

I hope the oxy will help. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some changes/discomfort as this all passes.

Best wishes!
 

Shaif

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
438
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsburgh, PA
Also, decent amount of stool on the newest film. Maybe try some cactus and succulents? I think the whole system is slowing down.

Just my opinion though. I'm not a vet. Just want to help,
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
So the eggs have moved. Minimally, but absolutely.
And so has the calcification.

That's very good news.

But I would expect more movement over 3 weeks.

I hope the oxy will help. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some changes/discomfort as this all passes.

Best wishes!
You do need to read post first. The eggs have already passed. The "calcification" doesn't seem to actually be that, according to the vet. Whatever it is, the vet says its in the stomach/intestines. We are to be keeping an eye on it. No mention of a bunch of poop as you say. She isn't eating her normal self, even though she has been eating a lot and just had two huge stools just this week. Her diet has consisted of lots of hydrating foods, Mazuri and cactus. Thanks anyway.
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,387
Glad the oxytocin produced the eggs for you.

Regarding the radiopaque object in the intestine, is it possible that she might have ingested a pebble or two while eating? Did either vet say what they thought those items might be? In the first radiograph, it appears it might be one larger object, but in the newer one, it seems it could be 3 separate pieces. Maybe that is good and a possible sign that it is going to be passed out sooner or later.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Glad the oxytocin produced the eggs for you.

Regarding the radiopaque object in the intestine, is it possible that she might have ingested a pebble or two while eating? Did either vet say what they thought those items might be? In the first radiograph, it appears it might be one larger object, but in the newer one, it seems it could be 3 separate pieces. Maybe that is good and a possible sign that it is going to be passed out sooner or later.
The first vet wasn't concerned about it at all and said nothing of it.
The vet today thought maybe she had eaten something. The only thing I can think of that could have been eaten would be a piece of repti bark. Small stones I guess could be possible, but I have not found any in their yards/enclosures. I guess while grazing they could come across some.
 

treefrog010

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2014
Messages
55
Location (City and/or State)
culpeper va
I only used oxy a couple of times but always preceded the oxy injections with a calcium injection. Also, back leg weakness and not wanting to walk on them could be related to a lack of calcium.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
I only used oxy a couple of times but always preceded the oxy injections with a calcium injection. Also, back leg weakness and not wanting to walk on them could be related to a lack of calcium.
No lack of calcium. The not wanting to walk had something to do with egg placement. She's doing just fine with the walking now that the eggs are out.
Thanks for your imput though.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
image.jpeg Last and final (hopefully) update.
Lucy went for a recheck today. She seems to be back to her vampire (she loves shade hates sun or light)shy lazy self.
Had another X-ray to see what the "other thing" in the previous X-rays was doing. It's moving, so she must have eaten something. Possible repti bark is my only guess. She should have no problem passing it.
No real reason for her originally not using her back legs. Can only guess it was placement of the eggs.
Today's X-ray above.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Btw, if anyone sees anything of concern in any of the X-rays, other then the the obvious obstruction that I have talked about and is on the move to its way out, please don't hesitate to point it out.
Thanks
 

New Posts

Top