Dunking sulcata in water to diagnose RI.

[mikeh]

Out of curiosity, can RI of a tortoise be diagnosed by dunking it in deep water?

I just recalled in response to another thread that my vet from the 90s filled up a sink with water and wanted to dunk my sulcata in to see if it was floating lob sided. He said that's how you tell if it has RI. I grabbed the tort and ran from his office to a vet who at least didn't try the same.

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[WillTort2]

Have never read of that. Would the theory be that lungs having water or mucus inside would cause the tort to float lower toward the front?

I don't think it would hurt the tort.

 

[Tom]

Sounds more like floating than dunking.

You know they can swim, right?

 

[mikeh]

Yes I am aware they float and paddle if need be. I wouldn't call it swimming.

I just wasn't aware that's how one diagnoses RI in a tortoise.

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[Tom]

I just wasn't aware that's how one diagnoses RI in a tortoise.

Me neither. I always thought it was the lethargy, lack of appetite, labored breathing, frequent yawning and the discharge.

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Yes I am aware they float and paddle if need be. I wouldn't call it swimming.

When I put mine in a big tub, they swim. They paddle and deliberately move in the direction of their choosing and seem quite comfortable about it too. I've only done this a couple of times to verify whether or not they could do it.

 

[ascott]

I would be very hesitant on this method....there are actually tests that can tell you if your tort has a RI or not

 

[mctlong]

First I've heard of dunking as a diagnostic tool. Seems like a lot of stress to put a sick tort under.


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[peasinapod]

DOn't turtles swim lopsided if they have RI? But it seems very strange to do this with a Sulcata.

 

[Saleama]

Yes I am aware they float and paddle if need be. I wouldn't call it swimming.

I just wasn't aware that's how one diagnoses RI in a tortoise.

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My littlest one (Sulcata) swims like a red ear slider! He will swim all around the bath tub, climb out on the shallow end, scratch his head a few times to get the water drops out of his eyes and then dive right back in. The other torts look at him like he is crazy!

 

[Yvonne G]

Like peasinapod said, water turtles are lop-sided in the water when they have pneumonia. But I've never heard that this is a way to tell about R.I. in tortoises. Not all tortoises float. Desert tortoises sink to the bottom like a rock. I would think that a vet could take a smear of the mucous and test it to see if R.I. was the problem.

 

[Tom]

Not all tortoises float. Desert tortoises sink to the bottom like a rock.

I do detect another challenge has been offered here...

 

[mikeh]

Re: RE: Dunking sulcata in water to diagnose RI.

Not all tortoises float. Desert tortoises sink to the bottom like a rock.

I do detect another challenge has been offered here...

On that note, I wonder if Manouria float. I have read somewhere they walk along the bottom of rivers to cross to the other side.

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[ascott]

I feel the potential market coming on for tortoise life jackets....