Really sad that this happened. Can he walk? For healing temperature, I would make it a little warmer than usual, but not by too much
At what point should I be concerned with hydration and not eating? It's been 2 days. I tried to give him a soak yesterday (with the vet's ok) but it was obviously causing him more stress and pain in his wounds than it was worth.
He has been pretty lethargic for the last 24 hours. Awake but not moving, resting in the cool side of the bin. Body temp about 72 degrees. Basking area is available at 95 degrees, and the CHE keeps the warm side at about 85-90 degrees overnight.
I have Pedialyte and Critical Care handy. Both are offered in the bin, along with some water-rich favorite foods, but he's not interested.
Just went through the same thing - it took just over a month before mine started eating again. We back up to a cemetery, so have rats and racoons - rat burrowed under boards that I sank 4 inches - have traps out now to keep others away from my outside enclosure, and am building a table to put inside for my recovering tort.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Makes me feel a bit better about my guy's progress. What kinds of traps do you have? Do you intend yo keep your recovering tortoise indoors long-term, or will he go back outside eventually?
My tortoise is much perkier today, moving around and basking under the lamp. The vet said he's making good progress -- the wounds are no longer raw. He lost 30 grams of weight in 3 days (on a base weight of about 700 grams), which worries me a bit but the vet is not concerned yet.
Another vet visit yesterday, where he got more antibiotics and some fluids. We've had some setbacks -- the wound cleanings (1x day) and ointment applications (2x day) seem to be massively stressing him out now. He (attempts to) run and climb frantically after his treatments, emitting some poop/pee in the process, obviously in a panic. Poor guy. Then he just hides and sleeps all day. Still no interest in food or drink.
Just trying to keep him feeling safe and secure as best as possible. He's got a cardboard box for a hide, and I've draped a towel 90% over the entrance -- he can still get in and out but that should keep it darker in there. Any other ideas for things I can do to make him feel better?
I think the soaks are very important even if he does not like them.We try to do a 30 minute soak before each treatment, then put him directly into his hide when we placed him back in his temp. enclosure to try and reduce the stress. Here are some photos/Xrays.
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We try to do a 30 minute soak before each treatment, then put him directly into his hide when we placed him back in his temp. enclosure to try and reduce the stress. Here are some photos/Xrays.
Aww, what a cute little guy! And what sad injuries. Poor guy. How long ago did it happen?
I'll ask the vet tomorrow about soaking -- he seemed to have some concerns about soaking while the wounds were healing, and I'm concerned about the balance between the healing benefits of being well-hydrated and the immune suppression of being under massive stress. He did receive 6 ml of fluid during Wednesday's visit and his eyes aren't looking so sunken now.
Pic in my "operating room" (a can of beans in a baking dish) this morning before wound cleaning:
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It happened back in January on the 3rd. My wife is a Vet, but she insisted we take him to a Vet that she knows that specializes in wildlife/exotics, and he said the soaks are essential, especially with taking medication/antibiotics to ensure he is hydrated - don't want to create kidney or liver issues - would be worth asking.