Desert tortoise upside down in sun

Coco Channell

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Yesterday I left for four hours. I never leave house. After I left Pixies food outside her burrow I figured she'd come up and eat while I was gone. Unfortunately she came out and went to small fountain I have fake flowers in and tried to climb on it. She got turned over and must of laid in 100 degree heat on concrete for hours before my husband came out and found her. By then she had emptied her bowels and bladder and was gasping her last breaths. He said when he turned her over she ran into her burrow.
Two days she has not come out or eaten. I can not reach her. I was able to put her in some water
Two hours after episode when I came home.
Is it possible any permanent damage was done to her as a result of this accident?
Will she be ok? I have continued to put her food out two days she has not come up to eat.
I have used a flashlight and looked into burrow and I can see she looks alive. Not moving much
But eyes open and she moves head slightly.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Anything is possible. I'd soak her when she does come up. And remove flipping hazards.
 

MichaelL

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Like Tom said, anything is possible. I think right now she is recovering from the shock of what happened, in the place she feels most comfortable. Only time will tell if she is completely okay.
 

Coco Channell

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Pixie ate a little yesterday. I soaked her. She still is not her old self. Staying in burrow. I removed small fountain from back yard and put in front yard that she climbed on and fell off.
She used to love to climb.
I think she's going to make it. I have done my best to keep her comfortable
 

Clueless Tortoise

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I’m sorry to hear about that. In my opinion I think u should take him/her to an exotic vet. Not only to make sure that they are ok , but also because usually a sign of a healthy tortoise is being able to flip themselves back over. Their may be nothing wrong, but it’s recommended. If she doesn’t drink or eat, u may need to get a mouth syringe for animals and (sadly) force feed her/him. For food u can crush some veggies or blend it, but it can be tricky to get them to take it. Easiest way is to give them their fav treat, hold it out with one hand, and when they open their mouth, quickly insert the syringe. But if nothing else definitely take him/ her to the vet
 

Lokkje

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I’ve had deserts flip over in 100+ degree heat for hours through the decades. I’ve only had one die from it and she was dead by the time I found her. All of the others were quite slow and stressed and had to be soaked and coaxed to eat and drink. All of them hit in their burrows sometimes for more than a week. I actually dug up a burrow with one that had been upside down and had a little blood on the nose and wouldn’t come out. After I had done it and taken her to my vet he told me I shouldn’t of dug the tortoise up and should’ve left her alone. He told me that the tortoise was quite traumatized but would heal without any intervention and this was six years ago. Ever since that time that tortoise (who I no longer have but gave to a different home) has had neurological issues where she has difficulty moving her front legs and tends to lift them towards the air and is clumsy and somewhat flailing when walking. She is very treasured by her new humans and she does fine as far as eating but my friends had to build her a burrow shelter because she never could quite dig correctly and she does seem to be damaged neurologically. She still a loving and beloved tortoise. I no longer use that vet because he doesn’t have much experience with tortoises and I still wonder if I could’ve done a better job than what I did at the time.
 

Coco Channell

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Thank you for your message. She came up and ate a little
Yesterday. 3rd day. I soaked her she was very still in water. Today she didn't
eat. I thank God she is alive. My husband said she was breathing loud and when he turned her over she ran with long strides to her burrow. I'm still praying
She recovers fully
 

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