Advice on ill Horsefield :(

LMBD88

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
South London
Hi guys, just got back from the vets.
They've kept Tello in. Vet said his eyes definitely have some discharge but his muscle tone is good and he has put on some weight from last week. Next steps are bloods and x-ray and that at this stage it could be anything. He then scared me talking about kidney failure and such.
Anyway, on way home vet called (about 30 mins later) and said x-ray had already been done and it was good news - no stones, blockages or fluid on lungs.
He said he's giving Tello some direct fluids and he will likely be tube fed with some liquid food later to keep his strength up.
Bloods should come back early next week. I'm trying to be neither hopeful nor distraught but obviously I cried at vets leaving him, embarrassing.

Guess all I can do now is wait and hope it's an infection and nothing worse and that my little man can fight it.
Let me know your thoughts!
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,610
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Don't be embarrassed about crying. I remember tears at the vet too. You have reminded me that I had to inject fluids into Joe for a couple of weeks. He got a liver infection on top of everything else! The vet nurses helped with my tears as they taught me how to do the injections.

It actually sounds fairly encouraging so far. It will be interesting to see what the bloods show up.

As Kasia and I have both said, recovery for torts is s-l-o-w. Hopefully there will be better news next week. :)

I knew Joe was getting better when he had clearly established a reputation as 'a bit of a character' with the vet staff. The vet also told me about having to abandon Joe on the floor and let him mate with his shoe during a rabbit emergency :rolleyes:
 

LMBD88

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
South London
Hahah! Joe sounds like a little loon :)
Tello has had an eventful life, a few years ago he was stolen from our flat. I thought I'd never see him again, but I went round all local vets and gave them posters and put them up in the neighbourhood. Policeman during the crime report even took a photo of him away.
About 2 weeks later, after many tears, I had a phone call from the RSPCA saying someone had handed him in and they'd come across my poster and could I sent a photo to identify him and we were reunited!

Apparently someone had left him in the road a few roads along and a lady had found him and tried to look after him but gave up when he wouldn't come out of his shell so had handed him in. :<3:

If it is an RI that he has, I read that they can't be fully cured so to speak - is the long term outlook a little bleak with these things? He still has no nasal discharge although I did notice earlier I saw him mouth breathing once or twice.
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,610
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Joe's RI was 7 years ago. Once we got him through the hormonal problems that started this off (excessively high testosterone levels that required a hormone implant) , he was fine.

I have no reason to believe it has shortened his life potential lifespan and have every expectation that he'll outlive me.

I guess that some torts that get RIs are kept in less than perfect conditions and their owners may not learn from the mistakes they make.

Joe had a clear medical problem that led him to be run down. He lost one third of his bodyweight as his hormone fuelled sex obsession led him to stop eating and drinking.

You are clearly driven to find out as much as possible and get Tello set up as well as possible on his return. I have every confidence that he will be going home to optimum care and it should not affect his lifespan :)
 

Kasia

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Messages
807
Location (City and/or State)
Poland
Tears mean you care, nothing to be ashamed of. I cried a lot on mine. He has gout. Last summer I thought he will not pull trough:( and I will have to euthanize him. Took him some time but now he has still at least couple of years ahead:). Love him to bits.
Tello is in good hands, glad that he will have a full check up. I do understand that sometimes it's not necessary but I am for testing:) Torts in lots of cases will show very little symptoms until their very, very sick.
Stay positive and keep us updated. I hope you will have him back and healthy in no time:):)
 

LMBD88

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
South London
Thanks both, really appreciate it. Sat here thinking 'will they have right set up ' etc etc but I know this vets is one of a few in London that , although not as expert as Trinity, does specialise in exotics and they have 2 torts in at the moment who are recovering from post hibernation ills so I'm sure they will look after him ok. Just hope he isn't too stressed and crossing fingers and toes bloods don't show anything horrible. My rabbits got extra hugs tonight and were most confused and put out by it :p I hope for an update Monday/Tuesday time as vets are closed tomorrow so just the nurse going in in morning and evening to do treatments etc.
 

LMBD88

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
South London
Thinking about my little guy and hoping he's ok :( keep walking past his table and hoping he comes home to it
 

LMBD88

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
South London
Vet has called today and it's not good. He has still not improved. He is being bathed, fed by tube and given fluids. We are waiting on bloods to rule out kidney failure. :(
He's had his 4th antibiotic injection today, vet said he would've expected to see some signs of progress by now so we are not hopeful.
He has given to end of week and blood test results to see what next steps might be, could include a referral to Trinity. I'm so gutted.
 

Kasia

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Messages
807
Location (City and/or State)
Poland
Vet has called today and it's not good. He has still not improved. He is being bathed, fed by tube and given fluids. We are waiting on bloods to rule out kidney failure. :(
He's had his 4th antibiotic injection today, vet said he would've expected to see some signs of progress by now so we are not hopeful.
He has given to end of week and blood test results to see what next steps might be, could include a referral to Trinity. I'm so gutted.
Ask them if they could test for parasites while waiting for the blood work - if he did not poop they could try to take a smear from cloaca.
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/parasites.html
Stay positive, he needs your good thoughts:)
 

LMBD88

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
South London
I've just spoken to vets again, he has not opened his eyes all day. They are calling Trinity for further advice and we may have to take him there, I am just trying to work out how as I don't have a car at the moment. They are suspecting organ failure and said he is very weak. I'm devastated, he's such a baby and I don't know what I've done wrong.
 

Kasia

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Messages
807
Location (City and/or State)
Poland
I've just spoken to vets again, he has not opened his eyes all day. They are calling Trinity for further advice and we may have to take him there, I am just trying to work out how as I don't have a car at the moment. They are suspecting organ failure and said he is very weak. I'm devastated, he's such a baby and I don't know what I've done wrong.
His not dead jet! If they don't have test results they just guessing. Get an uber :) and a laundry basket with a warm blanket for transport. I do it all the time:)
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,610
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
I've just spoken to vets again, he has not opened his eyes all day. They are calling Trinity for further advice and we may have to take him there, I am just trying to work out how as I don't have a car at the moment. They are suspecting organ failure and said he is very weak. I'm devastated, he's such a baby and I don't know what I've done wrong.
PM sent. I have a car and I know where Trinity is.
 

LMBD88

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
36
Location (City and/or State)
South London
Hi Kasia, you have more hope than I do. Vet nurse sounded very gloomy about his chances. I didn't sleep much last night.
I will call vet after 11am this morning and see how he is. I just don't understand why I felt he got worse after 3rd abx injection and this is why I'm worried about something more sinister than an RI. He's been under treatment for 10 days now in total.
 

Kasia

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Messages
807
Location (City and/or State)
Poland
Hi, I think that he should improve by now if it was RI too but his in good hands and has a caring mom... those two facts increase his chances by a 100000000% :) When mine Rufin was ill he was lethargic for about 2 weeks and still I was going daily for sq fluids to Vets, give him meds, soaked him and hoped he will slip trough. Hugs for you both
 

New Posts

Top