Baby tort taking antibiotic shots?
- Thread starter mamameg
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mamameg
Active Member
@Bee62 and everyone still reading too...
We're still here! Loretta went off every day antibiotics (and on to every other day) on Sunday and low and behold continued to gain weight. She did lose 5 grams between last night and today, but she is eating well and active. The awesome pet store by my house had a 60% off any item when you used a secret word on Tuesday so I bought a fogger. I really like it! It helps control the humidity well. I have to go out of town this weekend so my husband has to hold down the tortoise fort. Hoping for the progress to continue. Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support! Loretta and I appreciate the cheerleaders! Here is another shot of her eating dinner tonight!
LeoTheTortoise
Member
Happy to hear that she is feeling better! I guess this may be a little late, but my Greek, Leo, had the exact same treatment for RI when he was around the same age, so I know how stressful it can be, especially with a hatchling. If you have any questions about the antibiotics I can answer from experience.
mamameg
Active Member
Hi! I don't think it's ever too late to start this conversation. I am still very much in a scary place with Loretta, and hopefully others can learn from this thread too. Supposedly Loretta was not a hatchling when I got her. She was a "3-6 month well started" redfoot, but when she came to me she seemed small and lethargic. It took too long to get to where we are now, but I am hoping we are on the road to recovery.
Questions!
Did you experience weight gain/loss for a long time?
How long was Leo on antibiotics?
Did he suffer from shell discoloration also?
How long did it take for Leo to turn around?
LeoTheTortoise
Member
He did not experience weight loss per se, but rather stopped growing during treatment; then had his growth accelerated dramatically soon after. He was on the antibiotics every other day for fourteen days (I think, Ill have to check my calendar to be sure). He showed improvement during treatment, but did not completely recover until a few days/weeks later. I don't remember any shell discoloration, but I don't think that's anything to worry about. Again, Ill have to check my photos of him at the time.
mamameg
Active Member
@Bee62 @TammyJ @LeoTheTortoise and everyone else who might be still watching this thread. I am happy to report that Loretta is gaining weight and eating like a champ. After weeks, dare I say months, of gaining and losing weight, she is finally on the incline. Her shell is darkening and hardening and she is now over 60 grams (she was at one time down to 35 with a see through shell!). We are *still* on antibiotics, but only a few times a week and, fingers crossed, we'll be free of injections by this time next week. It has been incredible to watch the progress she has made and I am so hopeful for our future! As soon as the app is fixed I will post more photos. Thanks to all who have helped with either kind words or advice throughout this entire journey!
LeoTheTortoise
Member
That's wonderful! I'm so glad to hear that 
Going through something like that with a hatching creates such a wonderful bond you will both share for the rest of your lives. I wish you both the best.
Going through something like that with a hatching creates such a wonderful bond you will both share for the rest of your lives. I wish you both the best.
What wonderful news ! It is so good to hear that little Loretta is on the right way. I am really glad to hear these good news.
Amazing progress!
You might consider giving her some probiotics after the antibiotics course is done. Something like "Benebac" or "Nutribac" which restores the good digestive flora in her gut, counteracting the bad side effects of all those antibiotics.
Congrats!
Keep us informed.
You might consider giving her some probiotics after the antibiotics course is done. Something like "Benebac" or "Nutribac" which restores the good digestive flora in her gut, counteracting the bad side effects of all those antibiotics.
Congrats!
Keep us informed.
mamameg
Active Member
I do have some probiotics in the fridge for when we are done. I'm not quite sure what they are called (I got them from the exotic pet store by my house) but if they do not work I will look into the other brands you suggested. Do you just smear it on the food?
Believe it or not, I have never actually seen it because it is not available here in Jamaica. I just know it's good and what it's for. Maybe someone else here can tell you how best to administer it to tortoises. I would imagine you put it or mix it with their favourite food treat when they are hungry in the morning. A bit of pedialyte (plain) in the mix would be good too, for rehydration. But if she is getting her warm soaks every morning and afternoon, if possible, all the better.
mamameg
Active Member
I just looked to see what kind I have and it's "bene-bac"! I was told to spread a pea size amount on her favorite food (fruit, meat, dandelions) when it's time. I have also been soaking her for 5 minutes at night in a pedialite (plain) and reprashy mixture with warm water. I definitely suggest this combination to anyone with a sick baby redfoot.
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Benebac is a very good product. There are two types made: one for birds and reptiles and another one for mammals. Just make sure that you have the reptilian type as it will do you tortoise the most good.
mamameg
Active Member
Good call! I just checked and I have the small mammal one! Ordering the bird and reptile one off of amazon now.
Thank you!!!!
mamameg
Active Member
PS does anyone have any idea how long I should give this to her? we have been on antibiotics for 6 weeks.Good call! I just checked and I have the small mammal one! Ordering the bird and reptile one off of amazon now.
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Six weeks of antibiotics is a LOT, especially for a baby tortoise. What is/are the antibiotics you are using or have used? Has this course of treatment all been under the direction of your vet? That amount of some medications could damage the tortoise's liver or kidneys. If the tortoise hasn't been cured in six weeks, the antibiotic is not working on whatever is causing the problem.
That being said, the Benebac can be given every other day for a week, then once per week for 4 weeks, and after that, once or twice a month should enough. This assumes that the antibiotic use is finished. If you are continuing with more antibiotics, then you would need to give the Benebac every few days until the animal is off the antibiotics.
mamameg
Active Member
@zovick She was not gaining weight on her own without the antibiotics. We would take two steps forward, go off the antibiotics, and then take a step back. It would take a week to gain 7 grams, and then somehow, seemingly overnight she would lose them all. I was starting to think that she had that infant death syndrome (forgetting the exact name for that) in tortoises from a bad breeder. We are finally now at a place that she is consistently gaining weight and I honestly think that the antibiotics helped tremendously. The antibiotics were under the direction of our vet. She received her last dose yesterday, and has her recheck tomorrow, during which I'm confident he will say we're doing with the antibiotics.
Now I'm going to worry about her liver and kidneys! Are there any warning signs I should worry about there? Is there something else I can/should be doing? She is eating and pooping great. Drinks well too. The benebac should come in today. She is 65 grams, any idea how much I should give her? Something tells me that the directions will be for reptiles much larger than her. I just put some of her favorite foods, right? Thanks for your input!
Now I'm going to worry about her liver and kidneys! Are there any warning signs I should worry about there? Is there something else I can/should be doing? She is eating and pooping great. Drinks well too. The benebac should come in today. She is 65 grams, any idea how much I should give her? Something tells me that the directions will be for reptiles much larger than her. I just put some of her favorite foods, right? Thanks for your input!
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Did you order the Benebac powder or the paste? I like the powder best for small tortoises. I just dust all of the food offered with it on the day I want the tortoise to have it. That way, if it eats anything, it is getting the benefit of the Benebac. The paste is more easily given to larger tortoises in my experience. If there is a dab of paste on a single food item, and a small tortoise doesn't like the paste, they just eat around it.
All you can do to keep the tortoise's kidneys and liver healthy are to keep the tortoise very well hydrated so it can excrete the the antibiotic and its by-products in its urine and/or stools
You asked about warning signs of kidney trouble. There are several posts on TFO where the OP states that their tortoise looks "swollen" or "puffy" around its leg sockets and sometimes even the neck skin. This is a sign of kidney failure. The animal cannot produce urine, hence the body begins to swell from excess water that it is retaining. Usually ones that look like that do not make it.
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