Young Russian tortoise left eye swollen and rubs a lot-Worried!!

vanisle09

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My new russian tortoise's left eye is swollen and bugging him a lot. I think he is about 6 months old maybe younger. He rubs it with his foot and sometimes it doesn't open at all. I took him to the vet and they gave us some ointment to put on it but the vet didn't seem too confident that she new what the problem was.
Does anyone on here have any ideas?

I have attached a picture below

I am very worried about his well being!!!
 

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kathyth

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I would go to the pharmacy and get sterile normal saline flush that would be used for human eyes and rinse it out.
The problem will be, if there is an infection and requires antibiotics.
I would also apply a warm, wet, clean cloth to the eye area. Like a warm compress.

It sounds like the vet is not really one that specializes in reptiles. I would google exotic vets in your area.
Good luck
 

Tom

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What are you using for substrate?

What are you using for UV?

What do you feed him typically?
 

vanisle09

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What are you using for substrate?

What are you using for UV?

What do you feed him typically?
I use about 70/30 coco coir/organic potting soil. I have a zoo med powersun 100 MVB and I feed him spring mix, dandelion greens and any other dark leafy green that I have found on the edible plant list.(all organic). We soak him daily and he has a water dish he drinks out of as well.
 

Yvonne G

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sounds as if he may have either something in the eye or a slight injury/scratch. The sterile saline solution flush was a good suggestion. Try to get the eye open and flush with saline, then dry it and apply the vet's ointment. So this as many times a day as you think of it.
 

vanisle09

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Thank you so much for the information. I am just going to do what the vet said and apply his ointment and I am also going to buy some saline solution.
I am very worried that he could go blind in the one eye.
 
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vanisle09

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I am just wondering if Bausch and Lomb saline plus solution is safe for Yoshi's eye? It's the only thing I could find at the pharmacy that was saline.
 

vanisle09

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I just wanted to give an update on Yoshi. We took him to a new vet who seems to be very educated with torts.
She have some eye wash and ointment which seems to be working. His eye isn't perfect but he is on the mend.
Thanks for all the advice on here.
 

Yvonne G

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Sorry to be answering your question so late in the game. Yes, that Bausch and Lomb saline is fine. It's what I use.
 
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