Antibiotics and vets

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turtlepiano

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I have been reading some posts about vets who give antibiotics to sulcatas and the tortoise dies soon after. This happened to me almost a year ago. Our tortoise, Mobilehome, had a mucous build up. She was still responsive just had a lot of mucous. We had to go to a new vet because our old specialist left her old location. The vet had impressive credentials working with tortoises so we felt safe. She injected our tortoise with antibiotics and when we took her home she wasn't moving. We called the vet and she said it is normal, she should be better in the morning. Next day, still no movement. Took Mobilehome to a different vet in the same facility and he told us that though there is still a faint heartbeat, our tortoise has passed. He did not blame his colleague however. He said it was likely kidney failure due to a parasite. It has been hard to get over because I think the first vet messed up and gave the wrong antibiotic. Has anyone else had a similar experience??
 

wellington

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I am so sorry this happened. Its really too bad that some reptile/chelonian vets don't really know what they are doing:(. Loved your tortoises name. Again, sorry for your loss
 

tortadise

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Well. Was a necropsey done after death? That is the only real way of knowing exactly what the cause of death was.
 

ascott

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There are a variety of causes to a runny/mucus nose and not all are a RI....

This is one of my biggest pet peeves (to put it politely)...more times than not a vet will immediately offer up an antibiotic without any proper tests to offer up a true diagnosis....and any sign of runny nose--be it clear or not, right away antibiotics are readily handed out like candy---this does more harm than good....in my opinion that is.

To go back to your initial question, no---I have no direct experience with a vet giving a shot to a tort and death resulting....however, I have only taken one tortoise ever to the vet and that was due to a surgery needed ....and this was only elected by me after alot of research was done on my part to all angles of what the vet discussed with me....

I take on the responsibility of simply being a buffer to the torts in my care....I do believe in survival of the fittest in many ways and I do believe in offering a hand when the damage is due to human error....again, simply my opinion and nothing more than that...

I am so very sad to hear of your experience....
 

BeeBee*BeeLeaves

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Horrific. I cannot imagine how sad that must have been and still is. I am so very sorry for your loss.
Hard to say, like Kelly said, what happened without a necropsy.
I was raised that for every action, there is an opposite reaction. Sometimes antibiotics kill all the "bio" there is. The Greek root "bio" means life. So antibio means anti life. In ridding the bad bacteria, the good bacteria go too. This can be not good. Which is why with people, the advise is to eat good bacteria, yogurt for instance, in order to offset the removal of both bad and good bacteria in the system.
Also, I have read that some tortoises are allergic to Baytril. And the Baytril people/company themselves have said it is not approved for use on tortoises, but it has been in use for some time, with some success with some tortoises but who knows if it has ever been pinpointed that some deaths were because of the actual use of it.
Again, I am so sorry. Sigh.
 
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