“Found” Sick Rescue Leopard

[Gotro17]

Hi Everyone! It’s strange how the universe behaves sometimes... I am new to this thread, but not really new to the forum. It could’ve been one along time ago or this one in its infancy, but I participated in one before being “married with kids”. Anyway, I made my introduction the other day. My dad and I had shared a love for leopard tortoises and we essentially raised together my now 29-year-old male, Turbo. My dad passed away 6 years ago, the day we got our house...the one with a big enough yard for Turbo to rule. What’s odd is, over the past month, my 10 year old daughter has expressed her dreams of having her own leopard and my husband and I are planning to build the Turbo yard my dad and I talked about when we walked the property, 6 years and two weeks ago.... Tortoises have become the center of all our days here lately.
Here is where “Good Golly Miss Molly” comes in. Someone who knows we keep leopards contacted me about a tenant who is hoarding animals. This person could hear one of the tortoises “gurgling and wheezing” from the filthy area they were being kept. Molly came to us today with dry chicken poop crusting an eye closed, runny eyes and nose, with obvious rattling when she breathes...all tell tale signs of URI. I immediately ran warm water over her, gave her a sponge bath (she reeked of manure) amd then had her soak for about 20 minutes (we had somewhere to be). Important to note, when I first put her in the soak, she fully immersed her head underwater and drank for, and I timed it, no less than 6 minutes 21 seconds. I was actually getting worried she somehow was trying to drown herself! Once we got outside, she did poop a small couple of piles, which were normal color but pretty runny. I bagged some to take with us to the vet tomorrow. She seems underweight, at best... She is approximately 10.5” long. The only thing I have large enough for her to stay warm in is a 3’x3’ terrarium, which is still worlds better than where she slept last night. There is a CHE and a red heat lamp (all I had extra for heat for tonight) and I did soak the orchid bark before putting her in. I made her a plate of soaked grassland pellets, some chickory, mizuno, arugula and cactus leaves. She surprised me and actually ate tonight. I will give her a good hour long soak tomorrow before the vet (thanks @Markw84) and hope you all can cheer us on to her eventual recovery.
Now I face the guilt of knowing she was brought here without the owner knowing but with temps going below 44 here tonight, I’ll feel guilty later. I appreciate any advice y’all might have on this one. She was not the only tort there, just the sickest... ? @Tom @Gijoux

 

[KarenSoCal]

That's quite a history. I'm so glad she's with you now, where she will be treated like the beautiful lady she is. My heart breaks for all the torts living in horrendous conditions, in filth, with no good food or water.

Thank you for welcoming her into your home.

 

[Gotro17]

That's quite a history. I'm so glad she's with you now, where she will be treated like the beautiful lady she is. My heart breaks for all the torts living in horrendous conditions, in filth, with no good food or water.

Thank you for welcoming her into your home.

Thank you. Karen. It’s so crazy that a leopard female, of all things, has made her way here right when the torts have become such a family thing again. These photos don’t show just how “wet” her eyes and nose are, and the fact she’s not withdrawn is encouraging. Her rattling is deep though and that has me worried. We babysat once for a DT who needed antibiotics (injections) but that’s been my only experience. Do you have any idea what the typical course of treatment the vet will/should prescribe? The reptile “specialist” at the office we are heading to this morning, apparently isn’t there (he’s out sick). I don’t want to pay for anything but what she truly needs. TIA

 

[Maggie3fan]

Thank you. Karen. It’s so crazy that a leopard female, of all things, has made her way here right when the torts have become such a family thing again. These photos don’t show just how “wet” her eyes and nose are, and the fact she’s not withdrawn is encouraging. Her rattling is deep though and that has me worried. We babysat once for a DT who needed antibiotics (injections) but that’s been my only experience. Do you have any idea what the typical course of treatment the vet will/should prescribe? The reptile “specialist” at the office we are heading to this morning, apparently isn’t there (he’s out sick). I don’t want to pay for anything but what she truly needs. TIA

Whatever you do, refuse a Vitamin A injection. The Vet will, or should, prescribe a big storage bin, with substrate, correct heat, lights and housing and all the necessary stuff, and he should prescribe an antibiotic for the URTI.

 

[Tom]

Thank you. Karen. It’s so crazy that a leopard female, of all things, has made her way here right when the torts have become such a family thing again. These photos don’t show just how “wet” her eyes and nose are, and the fact she’s not withdrawn is encouraging. Her rattling is deep though and that has me worried. We babysat once for a DT who needed antibiotics (injections) but that’s been my only experience. Do you have any idea what the typical course of treatment the vet will/should prescribe? The reptile “specialist” at the office we are heading to this morning, apparently isn’t there (he’s out sick). I don’t want to pay for anything but what she truly needs. TIA

In addition to no "vitamin injections", don't le them do injectable Baytril. We all used to use that in the past, but we now know its very caustic and burns their tissue at the injection site. There are other drugs that are as effective without the side effects.

The most important thing is to keep this tortoise warm 24/7. Hydrated too with all the extra electric heat.

Also, exercise extreme bio-security. Quarantine. This tortoise could kill your other ones. No joke.

 

[wellington]

Also, feel no guilt. You are saving a life and giving her a better one
If you can get proof of the conditions of where she came from, turn the people in for animal abuse.

 

[Gotro17]

In addition to no "vitamin injections", don't le them do injectable Baytril. We all used to use that in the past, but we now know its very caustic and burns their tissue at the injection site. There are other drugs that are as effective without the side effects.

The most important thing is to keep this tortoise warm 24/7. Hydrated too with all the extra electric heat.

Also, exercise extreme bio-security. Quarantine. This tortoise could kill your other ones. No joke.

Yes it was Bactril for the DT! I remember it’s smell, still!

As for bio-security, the boys are in separate bins, but in the same “pool house”... It’s 100sqft. I could move them inside the house if that’s be better. They go outside all day and just in at night when temps are below 60...

Anyone have an opinion about letting the “owner” know?

 

[wellington]

I would not let the owner know. An abused/neglected animal should always be rescued whether and the owners lost their rights when they started the abuse or neglect

 

[Gotro17]

I would not let the owner know. An abused/neglected animal should always be rescued whether and the owners lost their rights when they started the abuse or neglect

I know...and I keep telling myself that letting animal control handle it will likely lead to Miss Molly’s demise. She needs to see the vet today and that’s where we are going. My dad and I loved singing and dancing to “oldies” and when I first held her, Little Richard’s, “Good Golly, Miss Molly” popped into my head... Another serendipitous event...My dad always came up with the best names for all our pets...

What are the best vitamins and additives on the market now? I have some for the boys (whatever was at the pet store) and am admittedly not awesome at using them, but I want her to really get the best shot.

 

[wellington]

If you had just found her, I would absolutely want you to try and find the owners and give her back. I never want an abused or neglected animal going back to their abuser. Most of the time I would assume a reptile would be given back, specially a tortoise as they are not known enough about to the general public.
I would keep her extra warm, 85 all over day and night with the proper basking temp. Warm soaks daily and good food diet. Repashy vitamins and calcium is probably one of the better ones.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Yes it was Bactril for the DT! I remember it’s smell, still!

As for bio-security, the boys are in separate bins, but in the same “pool house”... It’s 100sqft. I could move them inside the house if that’s be better. They go outside all day and just in at night when temps are below 60...

Anyone have an opinion about letting the “owner” know?

can you report the tenant? I would hate to think there are other animals still in that situation

 

[Markw84]

Eating and drinking are really good signs. If she is not too underweight, the continual higher temps and humidity should help her immune response and she should fight this off. The vet visit is good and antibiotics are normally needed with a true repiratory disease. A 10.5" leopard female should weigh in the 2750g - 3500g range. With severe dehydration I doubt Molly is there but something to shoot for with recovery.

 

[SoCalGreek]

When I rescued my Greek, he had a horrible URI. They tried 1 other less invasive antibiotic that was administered as eye drops. After 3 days, I found a much better vet elsewhere who is like 80 years old and has seen it all. Frank was put on antibiotic injections (every 3 days for 3 weeks I think) and a different antibiotic eye drop. With warm baths every day, healthy food and a proper enclosure with correct lighting, he started improving rapidly. Now 8 months later, he gained weight, his shell is strong and healthy, he eats a ton and is very active. I’m so glad she found you! Such a lucky girl! I wouldn’t get in contact with the former owner in any way. Seems like huge potential for problems. Just make sure that animal control is on top of the situation and gets the other animals away from the creep. He/She doesn’t deserve to own any pets after such horrible abuse. Keep us updated!

 

[Gotro17]

Thank you. Im call AC now. There are 2 other leopards, one with a deformed carapace, bunnies that he stole from a 4H kid (They dug out one night two months ago and he set live traps for them all) down the street, chickens roaming with no water aside from tubs of algae...

 

[Ink]

What are they going to do with the other tortoises? Thank you for saving miss.molly

 

[Gotro17]

Hopefully AC will take them. I’m already pretty much freaking out I have her.

 

[crimson_lotus]

my tortoise had a URI when I received her. The vet did some x-rays and confirmed she had pneumonia. 4 rounds of antibiotics (Fortaz) and injections to the front legs every 3 days did the trick along with a good diet, warmth, and soaking. Her x-rays currently still show scar tissue from the illness

for the stool sample, there are some bacteria that are ok to have and are quite natural in tortoises gut flora. I had my vet come back to me saying my tortoise had slightly high balantidium readings. My vet and I could not find any adverse effects of this and we just left things as is.

 

[Ink]

I would try not worry so much about how you got Molly. I understand, however, you didn't go and take her. She was given to you out of concern for her well being. Did the owners report her missing or stolen? I doubt it, then they would face more charges for animal cruelty. Keep copies of all records and receipts from the vet, lights ect. Does AC know you have one of the tortoises?

 

[Gotro17]

She weighed a little o Er 8 pounds @10.75”... We will be starting injectable antibiotics every 3 days for 3 weeks... Even though I’m a dental hygienist and shoot y’all’s mouths up, I’m a little nervous about hurting her... People? Meh- ?... Any tips for good sites on leopards?

 

[Gotro17]

I would try not worry so much about how you got Molly. I understand, however, you didn't go and take her. She was given to you out of concern for her well being. Did the owners report her missing or stolen? I doubt it, then they would face more charges for animal cruelty. Keep copies of all records and receipts from the vet, lights ect. Does AC know you have one of the tortoises?

No- AC does not know...only my “accomplice” who won’t be implicating herself. Still nervous...