grumpytort
Member
Just come on the forum for a bit of advice.
Had my russian for almost a year, he's my first tortoise. He's housed in a vivarium with coco coir and orchid bark which is sprayed with water to keep the humidity at about 70%. Basking temp is 33C. Warm end is roughly 31C and cool end 23C. I let him outside when weather permits (typical UK weather). He's been a pleasure to look after for the last year, always loved his food, feed him lambs lettuce, kale, romaine (on occasion), dandelions, spring greens. He goes mad for tomato but it is a very rare treat.
On saturday, I noticed he wasn't opening one eye properly. It looked a bit swollen and sore, i thought maybe be scratched it or had some substrate in it, so i gave him a warm bath and that did seem to help, he opened the eye a little bit.
On sunday, the same. But also noticed he wasn't very active. I bathed him and let him out to wander around a bit but he wasn't his normal stompy self. He also didn't eat anything. He's just not been himself, not eating and just staying buried. At this point, i thought maybe it was an infection in the eye.
He normally loves basking under his lamp but it's like he doesn't have the energy to get himself to the lamp. I've been giving him baths everyday, twice if i can.
Since I was so worried about him, i took him to the vets yesterday and the vet said he doesn't think it could be an eye infection making him this unwell. He thought maybe respiratory infection but he's not showing typical symptoms (has no mucous or bubbles). The vet gave him IV antibiotic and sent me home with oral antibiotics to give him.
I cannot get him to take the oral antibiotics, I've tried opening his mouth with the syringe but there's no hope and its just stressing the poor guy out even more. Any tips on how to give him them would be appreciated. I tried putting it on some food but he's not interested in food at all.
Im going back to the vets tomorrow but i don't know what to do. Should he have more antibiotics or should I see how he responds in a few days because I know it can take a while to see improvement but i also don't want to wait and him get worse.
Thanks and sorry for the essay!
Had my russian for almost a year, he's my first tortoise. He's housed in a vivarium with coco coir and orchid bark which is sprayed with water to keep the humidity at about 70%. Basking temp is 33C. Warm end is roughly 31C and cool end 23C. I let him outside when weather permits (typical UK weather). He's been a pleasure to look after for the last year, always loved his food, feed him lambs lettuce, kale, romaine (on occasion), dandelions, spring greens. He goes mad for tomato but it is a very rare treat.
On saturday, I noticed he wasn't opening one eye properly. It looked a bit swollen and sore, i thought maybe be scratched it or had some substrate in it, so i gave him a warm bath and that did seem to help, he opened the eye a little bit.
On sunday, the same. But also noticed he wasn't very active. I bathed him and let him out to wander around a bit but he wasn't his normal stompy self. He also didn't eat anything. He's just not been himself, not eating and just staying buried. At this point, i thought maybe it was an infection in the eye.
He normally loves basking under his lamp but it's like he doesn't have the energy to get himself to the lamp. I've been giving him baths everyday, twice if i can.
Since I was so worried about him, i took him to the vets yesterday and the vet said he doesn't think it could be an eye infection making him this unwell. He thought maybe respiratory infection but he's not showing typical symptoms (has no mucous or bubbles). The vet gave him IV antibiotic and sent me home with oral antibiotics to give him.
I cannot get him to take the oral antibiotics, I've tried opening his mouth with the syringe but there's no hope and its just stressing the poor guy out even more. Any tips on how to give him them would be appreciated. I tried putting it on some food but he's not interested in food at all.
Im going back to the vets tomorrow but i don't know what to do. Should he have more antibiotics or should I see how he responds in a few days because I know it can take a while to see improvement but i also don't want to wait and him get worse.
Thanks and sorry for the essay!