CRITICAL REDFOOT RESCUE...

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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My new rescue is a Redfoot I just received from Miami.
I was told that it is blind and has a "cleft palate".
To me, it looks more like an old crushing injury, like a dog chewing incident than a birth defect.
I bought him home and soaked him right away.
It looks like it has been kept very dry. The shell is crazily pyramiding and the skin on the head, arms and legs are very dry.
I've looked at the face, and have already determined that there IS at least partial vision from the left eye. The right eye seems to be missing. The animal does respond to objects placed in front of it, but because of a possible MBD has limited mobility.
The mouth is misshapen. Beak is broken. And it opens up like a small slit.
The tortoise drank a LOT of water in a warm soak and yawned like they do, exposing a very small mouth.
It did bite a cut cherry that was placed in front of it. Which gives me hope. It has been eating exclusively "land turtle pellets" its whole life. Fed by hand because it's been blind and with a damaged mouth.
I've already confirmed some vision. And seen the animal eat it's own food.
Great.
Here's the scary part.
That other stuff is nothing.
This tortoise is tiny. Skinny legged and light weight.
About the size of a sickly 3 or 4 month old Redfoot.
So. How old is it?
CONFIRMED 1.5 years old!
That's NUTS.
This is the most extreme case of stunting I've ever seen.
My diagnosis is:
Damaged head. Healed but disfigured.

Severe damage caused by dehydration

Severe stunting caused by horrible diet

Weak vision. One eye only. And it is damaged

Possible MBD from diet and lack of UVB

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ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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Very, very critical
But I've got a good feeling about this tort.
Its had a rough life, but there's still some spark there.
I am anticipating a nice comeback here.
I'll post as I have updates.
I'm assembling a nice, humid home for it tomorrow out in my patio.
He's too small and sick to go out in the yard anytime soon.
Right now I'm concerned about vision and strength and weeks or months of proper diet and hydration should help!
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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Sure hasn't done much growing in the time its been alive (no growth lines).
Its incredible small.
Almost hatchling sized.
But the previous keeper had it for a year and a half.
I'm hoping it can be made relatively healthy in time
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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This morning on the soak it drank again for an extended period of time.
Then ate another tiny piece of a cherry and two chomps of Sukis favorite dog food with mashed peas in it. (It only looks like a hatchling)
After the soak, I placed it in a tote outside in the shade. It's about 100% humidity. And placed shaved Romaine and mushroom in front of it.
When he or she eats, takes bites, it always extends its head outward and to the right. Either because of poor vision or because of a neurological issue. But it DOES ACT LIKE ITS HUNGRY.
And that is very nice to see.
I'm going to keep newspaper as a substrate until I'm convinced that it wont ingest some Orchid bark by accident.
So a "proper" enclosure will be weeks or months away.

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dmilam

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North Texas
This morning on the soak it drank again for an extended period of time.
Then ate another tiny piece of a cherry and two chomps of Sukis favorite dog food with mashed peas in it. (It only looks like a hatchling)
After the soak, I placed it in a tote outside in the shade. It's about 100% humidity. And placed shaved Romaine and mushroom in front of it.
When he or she eats, takes bites, it always extends its head outward and to the right. Either because of poor vision or because of a neurological issue. But it DOES ACT LIKE ITS HUNGRY.
And that is very nice to see.
I'm going to keep newspaper as a substrate until I'm convinced that it wont ingest some Orchid bark by accident.
So a "proper" enclosure will be weeks or months away.

Considering it survived this long makes me think it’s a fighter and should thrive now. I’m sure it will feel much better with proper care.
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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Well done for taking him! How much does he weigh?
Dunno
I threw away my scales when I swore off of babies.
I must have one around.
He's tiny. But I think his weight seems adequate for his size.
He's not super light.
I really should weigh him for a baseline.....
 

Ben02

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Dunno
I threw away my scales when I swore off of babies.
I must have one around.
He's tiny. But I think his weight seems adequate for his size.
He's not super light.
I really should weigh him for a baseline.....

It would be useful to have the weight, therefore you can monitor whether or not he is gaining weight.
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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It would be useful to have the weight, therefore you can monitor whether or not he is gaining weight.
Yeah
I have no idea where one is.
I gotta get back over to Walmart.
Once I buy a new one, I'm sure I'll find the others....
 

DesertGirl

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Very, very critical
But I've got a good feeling about this tort.
Its had a rough life, but there's still some spark there.
I am anticipating a nice comeback here.
I'll post as I have updates.
I'm assembling a nice, humid home for it tomorrow out in my patio.
He's too small and sick to go out in the yard anytime soon.
Right now I'm concerned about vision and strength and weeks or months of proper diet and hydration should help!

Thank you for being so wonderful!
 
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