dry tortoise shell?

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’m thinking it’s down to how picky she is eating personally, won’t hurt to test her poop, but I really do think it’s down to diet

 

[Yingg]

I’m thinking it’s down to how picky she is eating personally, won’t hurt to test her poop, but I really do think it’s down to diet

I'll probably try changing her diet because testing is pretty expensive and they're closed for the holidays. How long can diarrhea go on before it becomes a real big issue? (I first noticed diarrhea on the 18th).

on the 18th, her poop came out normally at first then diarrhea after. (after 20 mins in warm water)
on the 22nd, just all diarrhea.
the 27th, diarrhea
30th, barely any poop but it was diarrhea

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I'll probably try changing her diet because testing is pretty expensive and they're closed for the holidays. How long can diarrhea go on before it becomes a real big issue? (I first noticed diarrhea on the 18th).

on the 18th, her poop came out normally at first then diarrhea after. (after 20 mins in warm water)
on the 22nd, just all diarrhea.
the 27th, diarrhea
30th, barely any poop but it was diarrhea

Body can take time to adjust to a slight diet change, so would be surprised if it takes a few weeks

 

[Yingg]

hi! what plant is this?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Looks kind of like frisée lettuce

 

[Yingg]

update: tortoise has really nice urates.
poop: diarrhea, but it was barely anything. only a few fibers floating around, and it looked kind of like substrate except it came from her butt, not her body. lol

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

update: tortoise has really nice urates.
poop: diarrhea, but it was barely anything. only a few fibers floating around, and it looked kind of like substrate except it came from her butt, not her body. lol

Yay that’s good to hear!!

 

[Yingg]

here's what the vet told me

 

[Yingg]

man $400 is a lot of money

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

man $400 is a lot of money

Damn that is a lot! A bit of a rip off imo! Honestly if she’s ok and you’re noticing less diarrhoea then it can be left for now

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

here's what the vet told me

That is quite a lot just for a fecal exam...

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

That is quite a lot just for a fecal exam...

Right?! Ridiculous!!

 

[Yingg]

Damn that is a lot! A bit of a rip off imo! Honestly if she’s ok and you’re noticing less diarrhoea then it can be left for now

i'll give her a soak today and see if there's more diarrhea. but dang, that price tag... i always feel my wallet crying whenever i swipe my card at the vet, haha.

 

[Yingg]

That is quite a lot just for a fecal exam...

how much would it normally be maybe it's because this is california?

 

[COmtnLady]

The thing you posted said it was for an introductory appointment. not just a fecal assessment only. Next-to-no veterinary businesses will allow you to do just the fecal sample if you are not one of their clients already. If you are looking for a place just to asses the sample, try a lab, or return just the sample, do not take your tortoise in, to your other vet whom you are already established with. But it is still a high charge for what you want done. You don't need an actual examination, which is what about 1/4 of that cost is for.

So you have not been to this vet before? What are their qualifications? Is it an exotics vet who specializes in reptiles or tortoises? How did you find their office?

It says the fecal assessment is $150 to $300 depending on treatment.
Since diet is the cause of the loose stool (its not diarrhia), there really isn't any reason to see a vet right now. Avoid feeding foods that are known to cause loose bowels for the time being.”

 

[Yingg]

wednesday: a coin's worth of poop, which was all diarrhea.
friday (today): no poop at all. healthy urates. farts loudly

 

[Yingg]

The thing you posted said it was for an introductory appointment. not just a fecal assessment only. Next-to-no veterinary businesses will allow you to do just the fecal sample if you are not one of their clients already. If you are looking for a place just to asses the sample, try a lab, or return just the sample, do not take your tortoise in, to your other vet whom you are already established with. But it is still a high charge for what you want done. You don't need an actual examination, which is what about 1/4 of that cost is for.

So you have not been to this vet before? What are their qualifications? Is it an exotics vet who specializes in reptiles or tortoises? How did you find their office?

It says the fecal assessment is $150 to $300 depending on treatment.
Since diet is the cause of the loose stool (its not diarrhia), there really isn't any reason to see a vet right now. Avoid feeding foods that are known to cause loose bowels for the time being.”

my old vet was frankly, really strange. i just didn't like her. this one is much more reputable. i'd like to take her to this one from now on. i'll see if her diet makes her diarrhea go away.

on a side note, if it doesn't though, i'll do what you said and send her stool samples to a lab, then maybe take the results to the new vet to get it "read"/analyzed? i believe either way, i'll have to pay the 100$ general checkup fee- since i dont want to do checkups at my old vet anymore.

i wish i was rich, dangit

 

[COmtnLady]

To fix the problem you need to stop feeding the "watery" and constipation remedy foods.

Feed her:

greens easily found in local stores:

Romaine lettuce (fed on occasion)
Red and green leaf lettuce (fed on occasion)
Endive
Escarole
Radicchio
Chicory
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Kale
Collards
Spring Mix (mixed salad greens)
cabbage (fed on occasion)



With the above veggies one can develop a good diet. Once again variety is the key!
Don't feed the same food day in and day out. Mix varieties and choose a different green as the basis every few days.

Some other suitable foods :
Hibiscus (flowers and leaves)
Hosta
Sedum
Mulberry leaves
Hen and Chicks
Ice Plants
Prickly pear flowers, fruit and pads (burn the spines off)
Dandelion
Plantain (not the banana type fruit....the weed plantago major)
Mallow (flowers and leaves)
Henbit
Rose (flowers and leaves....make sure no systemic pesticides were used)
Chrysanthemum flowers
Cornflowers Plagiobothrys ssp
Forsythia (flowers and leaves)
Dayflower Commelina diffusa (flowers and leaves)
Californian Poppy escholzia
Chia Salvia hispanica

Make sure all are pesticide and herbicide free.

AVOID
All fruit, melons, cucumber, berries (their sugar content can lead to parasite blooms....just not worth it)
Iceberg lettuce
Bok Choy
All grains (including bread, pasta etc)
Dog and cat food
Meat
All human food except what's been listed as "good"

 

[Yingg]

To fix the problem you need to stop feeding the "watery" and constipation remedy foods.

Feed her:

hi! i've cut off cucumber. i feed plantain (not the banana) and snipping from my Testudo mix, which has recently sprouted. I also give some romaine lettuce. I have frisée and some arugula as well, but rarely. it's the spring mix from walmart. i'll send a picture below

 

[Yingg]

but no chard, i pick that out. i hate it too, she hates it, everyone in my family hates it. haha. it's compost