Help needed - Baby Sulcata won't open his eye and does not look right.

[LKentish]

Help needed, trying to get to a Vets ASAP however it is proving difficult and couldn't have happened at a worse time . Very worried owner!

He/she is three months old.

He hasn't eaten much recently, and he wasn't opening his eyes very well yesterday (traveled up to his new house with me on the train in a heated box, so could be stress related?)

However today one eye opens like usual, but the left side will not open, and looks a touch swollen (also looks like it has white spots). And he is just wanting to hide, disinterested in anything, and bumping into things.

I'm googling every eye problem known to any tortoise ATM, but I rate what people have to say on this forum very highly!

Thank you for your time,

Lillian.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hard to say, but warm soaks and a nice heated habitat might be all the doctor ordered.

 

[apromann4]

Are you using coiled ub bulbs? Try carry food soaks is he is not eating, just search in the forum, carrot food soaks

Sent from my S100 using TortForum mobile app

 

[wellington]

I would bump up his heat to 85 and do warm soaks with carrot baby food and unflavored pedialyte for 1/2 hour to an hour, keeping him warm the whole time. Also are you following Toms threads for raising a sully. They are listed below in my post. When all is better, change up your habitat to follow Toms threads. Good luck. Keep up posted.

 

[LKentish]

Took him to the vets, they have given me some antibiotic eye drops (Fucithalmic vet) and an injection. He was so weak .
I'm going to keep the heat on high tonight, and I'll buy some baby food and pedialyte (still need to google what that is..) tomorrow.
And I'm not using a coiled bulb .

I'm still very worried though, I shall see how he is in the morning.

 

[ascott]

What was injected?

 

[sibi]

What did the vet inject into your tort? If you don't know, call asap and find out. If vitamin A was injected, find out how much! BTW, Pedialyte is just liquid electrolytes (salt and sugar with potassium). It's given to babies when they are dehydrated from vomiting and diarrhea. Torts can use that in there soaks to help stimulate drinking. They'll also absorb some nutrients from their cloaca.

 

[Tom]

How are you housing the little one? What are your four temps? What are you using for night heat?

 

[LKentish]

I've got a ceramic bulb which did the ambient temp for 80, but I've put it up to 85. His basking was 36 but he hasn't gone near it since falling ill. cold side is about 26, again he doesn't hang around that area.

Just woken up and checked him over, not moving at all really (but he doesn't normally in his morning bath) and the skin around his neck and front legs are swollen, however his legs are not swollen. And the eye is not better. I can't find anything like this over the internet. And although he called himself a 'bit of a reptile vet' he didn't have a clue himself..

I'll ring up as soon as the surgery opens and ask what the injection was.

---

---

Cooled a bit after a bath, but he took in water and when I picked him up he (what looked like) threw up water. I didn't notice him do anything out of the ordinary while bathing.

---

He's getting weaker and less responsive, I think he's going.. I've put his favorite food near him if he changes his mind.
This injection was an antibiotic, Fortum - cestazidime.

The vet is going to give me a call at Lunch, and they said there isn't a specialist in the city, I'd have to go to the next city, but I think the traveling would be too much stress .

 

[LKentish]

Thank you everyone for all your help.

He just passed away. I hope he wasn't in pain.

 

[parrotlady]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[TortoiseRN]

So sorry for your loss! When babies go down hill they go pretty fast.


2.0 Children
1.0 Wife
2.0 Sulcata
1.0 Russian
2.0 Sri Lankan Star
1.0 African Side Neck
1.0 Yellow Bellied Slider
1.0 Ferret
2.0 Cats

 

[LKentish]

Literally in 24hours! Poor bub. Thanks again.