I think my tort is sick

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Cowboy_Ken

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Have you one if those point at temp gun things? Feels cold doesn't really mean much for a warm blooded animal feeling a cold blooded animal. If you use a heating pad under your habitat, make sure to elevate the side with the pad under it. Contained/compressed heating pads cause fires or at least scorch your rug.


I think you really need to put your CHE on a thermostat with a reliable digital thermometer so you can accurately control your temps without guessing.
 

karleyreed

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My CHE is on a thermostat. I have digital thermometers in his enclosure. It's not looking good though :( I'm currently at work but my mam just phoned and told me he's struggling to walk properly and seems really weak. His front legs are struggling. And his head is just flopping. She's trying him with a warm baby food
Soak to see if that helps. Got another appointment to see a specialised reptile vet. I don't know what more I can do? I feel like I've done everything I can and he's just not getting better :'(
 

sibi

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It's time to take him to see the vet asap. He's been sick too long, and everything you've tried isn't working. I hope he doesn't have pneumonia or some parasite /worms. Make the vet take an x-rays too to rule out stones in the bladder.
 

karleyreed

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sibi said:
It's time to take him to see the vet asap. He's been sick too long, and everything you've tried isn't working. I hope he doesn't have pneumonia or some parasite /worms. Make the vet take an x-rays too to rule out stones in the bladder.

I took him a few days ago, and they just said he was calcium deficient. He just seems to be getting more weak.
I've done everything people have advised
Me to do on here and nothing seems to be working.


How can you tell if it's pneumonia? And how do you get rid of that?


How long is safe to travel with a tort without UVB and heat in
Order to get him to the vets?
 

WillTort2

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Hi Karley,

After reading your thread, I think part of the problem may be the cold being conducted through direct contact with the floor.

If you remember seeing the old bed styles of the 18th century they were 3 to 4 feet( a meter or more) off the floor. The temperature difference between the floor level and the upper half of the room can be 15 degrees F or more.

You may wish to try placing your viv on top of an old dining table or insulate with 4 inch to 6 inch blocks of foam to protect from the cold.

Good luck.
 

cherylim

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karleyreed said:
How long is safe to travel with a tort without UVB and heat in
Order to get him to the vets?


You don't want to travel without heat whilst the weather's like this. Get your car warmed up before you drive, rather than letting it warm as you're going. If you have any of those little hand warmers (where you crack them and they warm up), they make good padding. Otherwise, warm a towel on a radiator or in the dryer and use that.

Good luck.
 

karleyreed

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Thanks
For the advice! My viv
Is in my bedroom, second floor of the house, doesn't beat travel upwards? Therefore the floor shouldn't be too cold? I will do what youve said though. Thanks. Fingers crossed.
 

Cowboy_Ken

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Will your work allow you to bugger out early to get to the vet sooner? Sorry you're having to go through all this with your little one. The weakness and lack of motor control point me to think calcium deficient as well.
 

karleyreed

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Cowboy_Ken said:
Will your work allow you to bugger out early to get to the vet sooner? Sorry you're having to go through all this with your little one. The weakness and lack of motor control point me to think calcium deficient as well.

I can't, I've asked and they can't get my shift covered. I work in a challenging behaviour unit with autistic teenagers who are all 2:1 staff to service user at all times and there is just the right amount for that on. My mam is going to take him to the vets tomorrow morning at 9.30 his front legs just seem very weak. He is a mediterranean western hermans, from what I've researched on them, they are great big drinkers, as they're from dry climates. They like to burrows in most ground, which mike does, and don't eat a great deal, bearing in mind he is only 1-1.5 inches long he eats a considerable amount I think, not so much ATM though. Which is why I'm struggling with the calcium. Would a soak with added
Calcium powder work do you think? And how far should his uv light be from the bottom of his enclosure? I also read that baby torts heat up quicker than adults, but he feels cold to touch most of the time. It's all very baffling to me! And extremely frustrating as I can't seem to do anything right! :(


Ever since I have had him I have provided calcium powder and neutrobol D3 powder to his food almost everyday. I am unaware
Of the conditions he came from though. Is it possible this could have all developed before I got him? I feel like a failure!
 

cherylim

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Hope it works out Karley!

I know you've spent a lot already, but perhaps consider getting a tortoise table and an MVB in future. It's more likely to encourage your tortoise to bask properly, under the light, and to get the full impact of the UV rays to process the calcium.

It's just my personal advice, and I know the tubes theoretically are absolutely fine, but I think your tortoise could probably do with a strong, focused light that it can bask under properly.
 

karleyreed

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cherylim said:
Hope it works out Karley!

I know you've spent a lot already, but perhaps consider getting a tortoise table and an MVB in future. It's more likely to encourage your tortoise to bask properly, under the light, and to get the full impact of the UV rays to process the calcium.

It's just my personal advice, and I know the tubes theoretically are absolutely fine, but I think your tortoise could probably do with a strong, focused light that it can bask under properly.

It's my own fault really, I thought I had researched things properly before I got him but clearly I didn't and I was conned into getting a viv :/ the basking
Light I have, I'm trying to working out a way in which I can fit it into my enclosure, and I am going to go out and look for a UVB light for it as I only bought a basking light to go with it. I'm thinking as a temporary thing, using the neck from
A desk lamp and attaching the light and bulb to that and putting that into the enclosure itself.
I just want him to get better, the love you develop between you and a tortoise is unbelievable. I never thought I would be as attached as I am.
I just don't understand, I've been doing everything I have been advised, I guess I'm just unlucky.
 

sibi

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Don't start blaming yourself. It isn't good for you or Mikey. A couple of good things were told to you.
1. If traveling with Mikey, use a hot pack. You can get that at any CVS or Walgreens.
2. Warm the car first before putting Mikey in the car.
3. Place baby higher off the floor. Heat rises. You can also put him on your stomach or chest. Your heat will warm him up fast. If at all possible, let him sleep on you for an hour or so.
4. If the baby does turn out to have pneumonia, your vet can prescribe antibiotic injections to be given every other day.
5. For now, until you find out for sure what's wrong with your baby, I would keep his substrate dry and warm. If you are using a humidifier, that should keep him humid enough.
6. Tell your mom to demand an x-rays to be done to check for stones in the bladder.

I hope you learn something tomorrow.
 

karleyreed

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sibi said:
Don't start blaming yourself. It isn't good for you or Mikey. A couple of good things were told to you.
1. If traveling with Mikey, use a hot pack. You can get that at any CVS or Walgreens.
2. Warm the car first before putting Mikey in the car.
3. Place baby higher off the floor. Heat rises. You can also put him on your stomach or chest. Your heat will warm him up fast. If at all possible, let him sleep on you for an hour or so.
4. If the baby does turn out to have pneumonia, your vet can prescribe antibiotic injections to be given every other day.
5. For now, until you find out for sure find what's wrong with your baby, I would keep his substrate dry and warm. If you are using a humidifier, that should keep him humid enough.

I don't use a humidifier but his substrate is misted numerous times a day. I just don't know what else to do. It's night time here in the uk now, so his lights are off for now. I'm just praying he make it through the night. I just wanna sit and watch him to make sure he's ok. I haven't stopped crying all day, it's just such an awful feeling and seeing him the way he is, is heartbreaking. When I went to the vets a few days ago they said he was too small to prescribe calcium injections so I'm thinking the same about any other treatment :/
 

sibi

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Not true. Pick your baby up and put him on your body. Love on him, let him know how much you're suffering because you fear for his life. Warm him up. And, if your vet KNOWS what he's doing, he can give antibiotics to even a young tort. It may be better than letting him die! Spend az much time with him as you can! Then, leave the rest up to God and prayers. I will pray for you both.
 

laney

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That is really crap that he isn't doing good. Fingers crossed for him and I will be thinking of you both, I hope things get sorted out at the vet!
 
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