Darwinsmom
Member
Hello,
I adopted my 2 year old Russian Tortoise Darwin 8 days ago. I noticed he had runny poop when I brought him home so I scheduled a vet visit for him that week. He saw the vet on Thursday and they took a culture and the vet called today and said his culture came back with a parasite called nematode. She does not know how long he has had it and suspects he got it from the pet store we bought him at. She said that there is a 50/50 chance of treating him with medication and that we can alternate meds if needed. But she also said there is a 50/50 chance that this will not go away. I am concerned because when I asked if he could die from it she was pretty evasive of my question and didnt say no but she didnt say yes either? So now I'm like freaking out thinking Darwin is going to die.
Has anyone here had a tortoise that has had nematodes and treated it successfully? I really hope my little guy is okay.
ALSO, VET SAYS I NEED TO GIVE MEDS DIRECTLY INTO HIS MOUTH USING A DROPPER. I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, ANY TIPS ON HOW TO GET HIM TO OPEN HIS MOUTH SO I CAN GIVE HIM THE MEDS? HE KEEPS PULLING HIS HEAD ALL THE WAY INTO HIS SHELL.
I adopted my 2 year old Russian Tortoise Darwin 8 days ago. I noticed he had runny poop when I brought him home so I scheduled a vet visit for him that week. He saw the vet on Thursday and they took a culture and the vet called today and said his culture came back with a parasite called nematode. She does not know how long he has had it and suspects he got it from the pet store we bought him at. She said that there is a 50/50 chance of treating him with medication and that we can alternate meds if needed. But she also said there is a 50/50 chance that this will not go away. I am concerned because when I asked if he could die from it she was pretty evasive of my question and didnt say no but she didnt say yes either? So now I'm like freaking out thinking Darwin is going to die.
Has anyone here had a tortoise that has had nematodes and treated it successfully? I really hope my little guy is okay.
ALSO, VET SAYS I NEED TO GIVE MEDS DIRECTLY INTO HIS MOUTH USING A DROPPER. I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, ANY TIPS ON HOW TO GET HIM TO OPEN HIS MOUTH SO I CAN GIVE HIM THE MEDS? HE KEEPS PULLING HIS HEAD ALL THE WAY INTO HIS SHELL.