Hermanns Tortoise Impacted - now has protrusion under tail

AQuin002

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We've been managing our impacted hermanns tortoise for going on 2 weeks now. She finally urinated starting 2 days ago, but yesterday we noticed this protrusion under her tail. We've been soaking her frequently and she has a follow up appointment at the vet tomorrow - but what is this and is there anything we can do to help her?

Thank you
 

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Ink

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@Yvonne G can hopefully help you. What are you doing for the impaction? How old is your tortoise? What makes you think it is a girl? Thank you I am not an expert. Just wondering
 

AQuin002

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@Yvonne G can hopefully help you. What are you doing for the impaction? How old is your tortoise? What makes you think it is a girl? Thank you I am not an expert. Just wondering

Hi Ink,

We're pretty positive that she's a girl because she's laid eggs before. thanks for asking!
 

Ink

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Thank you I was just wondering. Hopefully an expert will help you soon.
 

Krista S

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We've been managing our impacted hermanns tortoise for going on 2 weeks now. She finally urinated starting 2 days ago, but yesterday we noticed this protrusion under her tail. We've been soaking her frequently and she has a follow up appointment at the vet tomorrow - but what is this and is there anything we can do to help her?

Thank you
We had a similar inquiry earlier in the week. I believe it is her clitoris that you’re seeing. I’ve linked the thread from earlier this week for you to take a look at. the link may open up in the middle of the thread so scroll to the top to read the whole thing. Does the “protrusion” you see ever go back in or is it always out?

 

ZenHerper

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Yeah - it's hard with a single 2D photo, but this does not look fleshy to me. Is that fecal matter around it? Or just substrate?

If it is hard (clitoral tissue would be firm but soft-fleshy-feeling), I might consider a bladder stone, an impacted egg, or a swallowed non-food item.

Since you are waiting until tomorrow, for sure keep the vent moist...10-15 minute soak hourly, then on a wet towel instead of bedding overnight.

Do NOT pull on it, in case it is attached to something else.

An x-ray is indicated (even if this passes) to be sure there is nothing more stuck inside.
 

AQuin002

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Hi all -- thanks so much for your help and insight. I've uploaded a clearer picture to this post.

It is indeed very soft and fleshy, so the clitoris option seems likely. However, in nearly 11 years I've never seen it before. Since her last vet visit over a week ago it has been
protruding 24/7 as far as I can tell. The only times she has pulled it back in has been when I held her up for these two photos. In the photo below it is pulled in a bit more than has been normal over this last week. It is out when she soaks, walks around, resting, etc.

She also appears quite engorged in that area -- she's never looked like that down there -- particularly the green-ish bulge in the left foreground (and no, despite appearances, that is not fecal matter around her tail. Although on the inside of her shell was fecal matter which I've just cleaned up).

She had an x-ray and a CT scan at her last visit, in which they discovered a 1.3 inch foreign body in her intestine. They are unsure if it is foreign or biological. She has another appointment tomorrow -- will provide an update afterward. Thank you all.
IMG_0524.PNG
 

ZenHerper

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Everything is so swollen.

The female anatomy looks normal...not sure what's with the bony-white whatsit. And I can't tell if that is coming from the vent (and everything is just swole-to-heck), or sticking out of the skin at the tip of the tail (?????).

Keep things from drying out, and let us know what you find!
 

Maggie3fan

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We had a similar inquiry earlier in the week. I believe it is her clitoris that you’re seeing. I’ve linked the thread from earlier this week for you to take a look at. the link may open up in the middle of the thread so scroll to the top to read the whole thing. Does the “protrusion” you see ever go back in or is it always out?

clitoris? Really? On a tortoise? Yep...Google just showed me a photo of a clitoris on a Redfoot, gonna go lay down now, my eyes hurt
 

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