Baytril injection today, now super worried

[Neal]

So what you are saying is the way he is acting is in reaction to the pain of the injection of the baytril and not to the baytril med?
I hope that is the case.
Do they gasp because of pain or discomfort?

I have never heard of the gasping as a result of an injection. This behavior is typically associated with a respiratory issue, possibly pneumonia.

 

[Neal]

Are you still keeping him warm (90 - 92)? How are you measuring the temperatures?

 

[Yvonne G]

Leopards can be sensitive little critters, and Baytril hurts, A LOT. His reaction to it sounds normal to me. Hopefully things will work out okay.

I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, but I have not heard of leopard tortoise being prone to allergic reactions to Baytril. I remember in the old days when we used to import them that it was expected that a large percentage would not survive the transition to captivity. I think that was due to stress, parasites, disease and improper husbandry combined. Any sick ones were shot up with Baytril back in those days. Some lived and some died. No one can say whether the Baytril killed them or one or more of those other factors killed them.

I am happy that we are so successful with captive breeding at this point and hopefully soon, we will see big improvements in captive husbandry throughout more of the hobby.

Just because you haven't heard about it doesn't mean it's not true:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/baytril.html

http://www.carecentre.org.za/leopard.html

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=37591

http://russiantortoisepictures.com/forum/index.php?topic=4741.0

http://forum.kingsnake.com/health/messages/2330.html

I realize most of these are anecdotal, I couldn't find a scientific article.

 

[DGerr]

I am keeping him warm. I have a wireless digital temp in his house and also use a temp gun to double check.

 

[Jodie]

The gasping sounds like RI. Hopefully the meds will do the job as well as cause the discomfort he is experiencing. If it was my tortoise, I would soak at least once a day, probably twice, and keep his temps above 90F day and night for a couple of weeks or longer. They recover slowly.

 

[DGerr]

Update After bathing this morning I put him back in his hide. When it warmed up outside I opened the door. After about 20 min he emerged and started walking around nibbling on grass. So I made him breakfast and he gobbled it down. I think my guy is ok. Hopefully there is no long term affects. I am so relieved. Whew!!!!!
I remember this feeling when my daughter had her first fever. Sleepless, up all night checking on her, worried. Time for a nap.
I will continue the soaks and warm temps.
Is it bad if I just always keep his hide at about 88 to 90 if he is prone to URI or should I eventually bring it down?

 

[Neal]

You can bring it down once he's been "normal" for awhile. There's really no rule of thumb I could suggest for time-frame, but if I were you I'd keep it up for about two weeks or so.

 

[Tom]

You can bring it down once he's been "normal" for awhile. There's really no rule of thumb I could suggest for time-frame, but if I were you I'd keep it up for about two weeks or so.

I agree. I think two weeks of the extra warm temps after cessation of any symptoms is a pretty good time frame. That is what I would do to.

 

[DGerr]

Thats my plan.
Thanks again for you all taking the time to help.

 

[mchong9606]

Good luck, speedy recovery!