Russian tortoise white blood cell count low so needs ct scan?

No1much

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Hey guys. My russian tortoise has been unwell for a few weeks. I took him to the vet 2 weeks ago and they said he might have an infection and gave me oral baytril. I've had mixed success getting him to eat it but he started to improve. This week he's been very sluggish in the mornings but perks up in the afternoon. Although he's not eating or pooping much (he is doing both just not much) he is drinking. Today I gave him a long carrot soak and as I took him out I noticed an orange-ish patch on his chest. I'm sure it wasn't there a few days ago. Is this scud ? I've called the vet and got an emergency appointment for 930 am. Is it serious? He is sleeping on newspaper atm because of worming and I did notice a picture of a rose where he sleeps. Could it be transfer ?

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ZEROPILOT

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I'd be leery of a vet that prescribed a specific oral antibiotic because it MIGHT be necessary.
All antibiotics kill gut bacteria and it's 100% normal for a recently treated tortoise to not eat and if he is also being treated for worms. I'd expect him to just about shut down.
That discoloration may or may not be septicemia. It could also be something less serious.
If you still trust this vet, ask specifically about that
 

TaylorTortoise

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I'd be leery of a vet that prescribed a specific oral antibiotic because it MIGHT be necessary.
All antibiotics kill gut bacteria and it's 100% normal for a recently treated tortoise to not eat and if he is also being treated for worms. I'd expect him to just about shut down.
That discoloration may or may not be septicemia.
If you still trust this vet, ask specifically about that
Is septicemia dangerous for a tortoises?
 

ZEROPILOT

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Is septicemia dangerous for a tortoises?
Yes.
It can be deadly.
But I'm no expert on that and I'm not making a diagnosis.
I'm just relating what I've seen before.
I strongly recommend mentioning it to the vet and have them test for it.
 

Maggie3fan

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Yes.
It can be deadly.
But I'm no expert on that and I'm not making a diagnosis.
I'm just relating what I've seen before.
I strongly recommend mentioning it to the vet and have them test for it.
And indeed it starts looking exactly like that, but the tort did just come out of a carrot food soak...
 

No1much

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And indeed it starts looking exactly like that, but the tort did just come out of a carrot food soak...

Thanks all very much for the replies. I did give him a carrot soak but had a second tub with normal water prepared too and soaked him in there after because I didn't want to leave him sticky or smelling of carrot, or worse him ending up a petri dish for bacteria living off carrot remains stuck to his body. Sorry should have mentioned that. I agree though it could be carrot or news paper transfer. I was just freaking out. He's seeing a different vet today so we'll get a second opinion and I'm going to ask for bloods etc to figure out what exactly is going on with the lil guy.
 

No1much

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Yes
Although we see it much more often in water turtles than land tortoises
Thank you for your replies.Yeah. I tried to research as much as I could online. There doesn't seem to be much information but what is there does indicate it's more common in turtles so it's giving me a little bit of hope. I'm just so worried for him. I'm at a complete loss as to how he could have even picked up such a serious infection if it is that. He's never had an injury or anything like that.
 

KarenSoCal

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Like ZEROPILOT said, just being on antibiotics can cause a tortoise to stop eating. And we don't even know for sure that there is any infection.

Regardless of the cause of not eating, I would raise his temps. Heat seems to help them, especially for a respiratory infection. I'd raise ambient temp to 30-32°C., and lowest at night 29°C.
Leave it there until meds are finished and he's back to feeling good.
 

No1much

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Like ZEROPILOT said, just being on antibiotics can cause a tortoise to stop eating. And we don't even know for sure that there is any infection.

Regardless of the cause of not eating, I would raise his temps. Heat seems to help them, especially for a respiratory infection. I'd raise ambient temp to 30-32°C., and lowest at night 29°C.
Leave it there until meds are finished and he's back to feeling good.

Thank you. Yeah I have raised his temps to try to help him heal up. Someone said to raise them to at least 27 but if you recommend 29 I'll push it further. Any recommendations on how I can restore his gut microbiome or at least do what I can to maintain it during this process ?
 

No1much

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Brief update. Been to vets today. He's had bloods taken and given an antibiotic to be injected daily for 2 weeks. Grand total of £250 but worth every penny if it gets my lil man better.
 

No1much

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Did they give you the diagnosis?
That's a work in progress. We're starting off with bloods to check for organ function and white blood cells. Then when those results come back, if the cause can't be determined they're going to start x-rays to rule out gout and other things. Hopefully it's something straight forward. It's just my luck it won't be though haha.
 

harrythetortoise

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That's a work in progress. We're starting off with bloods to check for organ function and white blood cells. Then when those results come back, if the cause can't be determined they're going to start x-rays to rule out gout and other things. Hopefully it's something straight forward. It's just my luck it won't be though haha.
Wish him luck, and keep us posted!?
 

Maggie3fan

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That's a work in progress. We're starting off with bloods to check for organ function and white blood cells. Then when those results come back, if the cause can't be determined they're going to start x-rays to rule out gout and other things. Hopefully it's something straight forward. It's just my luck it won't be though haha.
Hi...I am not second guessing a professional, but, how can you be prescribed antibiotics before there is a confirmed diagnosis? Especially since antibiotics are so hard on them.
 
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