He's still straining to get something out...whatever it is it's close. Had his tail sticking out straight and push, push pushing. Hopefully he can pass it soon.
Redfoot's arms and neck look puffy.
- Thread starter jockma
- Start date
Yayyy 
. It's 1:10 am here and my boyfriend is watching a game and I just yelled He poooped . Hahah...Keep an eye on his tail and watch out for a prolapse with the straining. But he sounds better and you know where to start and what to mention to the vet
. It's 1:10 am here and my boyfriend is watching a game and I just yelled He poooped . Hahah...Keep an eye on his tail and watch out for a prolapse with the straining. But he sounds better and you know where to start and what to mention to the vet
I decided to take him out of the bath because I didn't want him to get too stressed out...he felt lighter, so hopefully he was able to pee a little (it looked like he was peeing but I can't be sure, little flakes of poo jetted out. Flushed out with pee maybe?). Still a bit of puffiness but then again he's still straining. He's pacing around impatiently under his heat lamp now. I feel a lot better knowing things are moving back there even if he didn't pass all of it.
So glad there is a little bit of movement! Hopefully there is more where that came from. It was mentioned above that you can give mineral oil orally. You can. Put a few drops on a piece of food and hopefully your tort eats it. I've seen it mentioned before (by Yvonne I believe) that you can roll up lettuce or whatever you choose to use like a burrito with the mineral oil inside - may make getting it in easier. It will help lubricate. I'd also still use a drop or two up the cloaca so when your tort does have a bowel movement, hopefully whatever it is manages to come out too. Also, I do not think there is such a thing as soaking too much in this situation. Best of luck. 
If you don't have mineral oil you can use a bit of petroluem jelly without any extra junk in it. That's what we used for cats with hairballs when I was a vet assistant. You could rub it on a strawberry or other yummy treat and give it to him that way.
Morning everybody...the vet appointment is in a few hours and I'm soaking him again for now. He's trying to escape the soak tub as usual. Still doesn't seem lethargic. Not passing anything but farting a bit. I feel like his pyramiding has gotten worse although he has had smooth growth lines for months now...so I'm worried about what that could mean. I think I should keep him indoors with a UVB bulb all the time instead of taking him outside so much. It's too dry outside.
"Puffiness" isn't as prominent as before. In fact it looks almost normal. It comes and goes. That's comforting. His head still looks dry but that could be from stress. He's not used to having so many soaks and being in his temp enclosure. I can't wait for a blood panel. Thank you all for the tips...is Vaseline safe for him to eat? Should I wait for the vet visit first?
"Puffiness" isn't as prominent as before. In fact it looks almost normal. It comes and goes. That's comforting. His head still looks dry but that could be from stress. He's not used to having so many soaks and being in his temp enclosure. I can't wait for a blood panel. Thank you all for the tips...is Vaseline safe for him to eat? Should I wait for the vet visit first?
Don't know about Vaseline, but with vets appointment being so close, I wouldn't try anything new. See what the vet says. Good luck. Fingers crossed here.
Vaseline is petrolatum jelly. His gut seems to be conpromised, I'd not add the risk of him ingesting vaseline at this time. I'm glad you are taking him to the vet. Ihope they do xray to check for any blockage, and also blood panel to check for any potential reasons for the swelling (circulatory, kidney, liver issues, or electolytes imbalance, or low protein levels, or any others). Good luck and please keep us posted
At the vet. Blood is being taken. The vet is not very concerned about the puffiness and thinks it might be a variation of normal for him. I still don't feel any better honestly. I'm scared.
Vet told me to keep him "dry"...on newspapers she said...this concerns me...why would I keep a rainforest tort dry? I definitely make sure the substrate isn't wet but I'd never keep him dry. Especially not when kidney issues are possible. I don't know.
I hope so...I am so scared...I just want to know my baby is OK.
I have no idea why, usually soaking is recomended. Did you request an xray? Please do and insist as I had to. It is pricey but maybe really important.
You need to ask the vet why he needs to be kept dry.
He has a little abrasion on his head. She believes it's an infection. We were given antibiotic ointment to put on it.
She said to soak him but keep him off substrate until the infection clears. So keep him on newspapers or paper towels.
