Help! Desert tortoise runny nose

[Tom]

Tom do you have any close ups of how you hinged the door on this thing? When we do it there is a gap but on one of your images it appears flush. This thing is quite the build haha. Hopefully he can have this for many many years because with the price of lumber and the panels it’s costing over $1,000.

I have boxes that are nearly 20 years old and still working great.

I explained the door thing once before on a thread. Essentially, I save the rectangles that I cut out of the inner and outer walls of the box and make the door out of those. The rectangle cut from the outer wall of the box, the part of the box that is exposed to the outside world, is the inside wall of the door. Since this rectangle was cut from the same piece of plywood that makes this wall, it fits perfectly. I make the 2x4s that frame around the door stick out 1/4 inch all around and the door fits flush up against the 2x4s so it can't fall in. I then frame the outside of the door, cut and install the insulation, and use the other rectangle that I previously cut from the inner part of the wall to make the outside of the door that is exposed to the outside elements.

Its very easy to see in person, but it sounds so complicated when I try to put it into words. The cut out from the outer wall of the box becomes the inner part of the door.

 

[Robinbirdlady]

I have boxes that are nearly 20 years old and still working great.

I explained the door thing once before on a thread. Essentially, I save the rectangles that I cut out of the inner and outer walls of the box and make the door out of those. The rectangle cut from the outer wall of the box, the part of the box that is exposed to the outside world, is the inside wall of the door. Since this rectangle was cut from the same piece of plywood that makes this wall, it fits perfectly. I make the 2x4s that frame around the door stick out 1/4 inch all around and the door fits flush up against the 2x4s so it can't fall in. I then frame the outside of the door, cut and install the insulation, and use the other rectangle that I previously cut from the inner part of the wall to make the outside of the door that is exposed to the outside elements.

Its very easy to see in person, but it sounds so complicated when I try to put it into words. The cut out from the outer wall of the box becomes the inner part of the door.

How long should it take for his nose to stop running? He’s got the heat now but still has a runny nose and small bubbles. Is it just stress of being in a new home? I have no idea how he lived in his previous life so things could be entirely different and stressing him. He eats a ton though so at least he has an appetite.

 

[Tom]

How long should it take for his nose to stop running? He’s got the heat now but still has a runny nose and small bubbles. Is it just stress of being in a new home? I have no idea how he lived in his previous life so things could be entirely different and stressing him. He eats a ton though so at least he has an appetite.

There are many variables that would determine the answer to your question. There is no way of knowing for sure. I would expect improvement within a few days, and cessation of the bubbles in two to three weeks if everything is as it should be.

Stress of moving and new things can definitely prolong symptoms.

Good appetite is a good sign.

 

[Robinbirdlady]

There are many variables that would determine the answer to your question. There is no way of knowing for sure. I would expect improvement within a few days, and cessation of the bubbles in two to three weeks if everything is as it should be.

Stress of moving and new things can definitely prolong symptoms.

Good appetite is a good sign.

Runny nose is still happening. Not at all times but it’s there on and off. I even see it when I go to let him out in the morning after being in his warm home all night. I don’t know at what point I take him to the vet. Like I said he eats a lot and seems fine. But this is a new home and a new environment so stress could be causing this. I will attach pictures of his home. But really there doesn’t seem to need to be any improvement. We have it set to switch off at 87.

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't do anything about runny nose unless the discharge turns thick and colored.

If I'm remembering correctly you are in SoCal, right? I think you can turn off the electricity to your night shelter now. It's quite ok for night time temperatures to be lower than daytime temperatures. If your nights are now in the 60s or better, you don't need night time heat. Just lock him up in the shelter.

 

[Robinbirdlady]

I don't do anything about runny nose unless the discharge turns thick and colored.

If I'm remembering correctly you are in SoCal, right? I think you can turn off the electricity to your night shelter now. It's quite ok for night time temperatures to be lower than daytime temperatures. If your nights are now in the 60s or better, you don't need night time heat. Just lock him up in the shelter.

Thank you for responding. The runny nose is thick but not colored. There are bubbles sometimes and on occasion I hear a congested breathing. Kind of like we have when we have a plugged and runny nose.

I am in SoCal, Long Beach to be exact. I’ve been keeping it hot hoping to clear this up. I’ll check the temperatures tonight

 

[Yvonne G]

When he's having one of his 'thick, mucousy' nasal episodes firmly squirt saline solution up the nares.