EMERGENCY - TORTOISE RI??

[Grace-Sophia]

Hello all,
I was hoping that this day would never come, but unfortunately it happens in the reptile keeping hobby. I believe that my 3 1/2-year-old Eastern Herman’s tortoise has developed an respiratory infection. He has been making a squeaking noise but is still active and moving around, he’s eating perfectly normal and is acting like a healthy and happy tortoise. But as I had mentioned above he was making a squeaking sound that I noticed about yesterday that concerned me, and due to it’s progressing I just wanted to see if y’all had any tips that I might be able to treat at home or does this even sound like a respiratory infection to anybody? I will be scheduling an exotic veterinary appointment first thing tomorrow morning to get him in hopefully tomorrow or on Wednesday of this week. But once again if anybody does have any tips or tricks that I might be able to treat at home, it would be much appreciated. I have raised his humidity and I took him outside to get some UV, as well as hiring his temperatures in his enclosure, with soaking and making sure that he’s well hydrated and nourished. But once again, I am freaking out, I love this little guy so much and if anybody can give me some peace of mind it would be greatly appreciated thank you.

 

[Maro2Bear]

You’ve already mentioned that you have increased the ambient temps, so, that's a good start. Good luck.

 

[wellington]

Just keep the temps day and night at 85. Keep it at those temps until all symptoms are gone and then another 2 weeks after.
Likely the raised temps will be all that is needed. Keep us posted and good luck.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Hello all again, I am so sorry that I have not replied in a hot minute.

I did take my tortoise into the vet on that Wednesday morning, they took him back and ran tests. They did x-rays to see if it was anything serious/ respiratory (as the vet could also hear the wheezing). They also did a nasal culture on him to determine if the issue was viral or bacterial.

We just got the results back yesterday (as to why I didn't have an answer to tell you all yet) and here is what she said -

Hello, 

I wanted to check in on Murphie to see how he is doing? Any improvement in his respiratory noise? I wanted to let you know that we received the results of his respiratory panel - and fortunately he was negative for mycoplasma, ranavirus, and herpesvirus. We did culture a couple bacteria on his nasal culture - but they should be treated by the ceftazadime. Hopefully this is just a mild upper respiratory infection that clears with antibiotics, but please let me know if his clinical signs are worsening or failing to improve - Dr. Dowling

So good news! He doesn't have anything serious, just a slight upper respiratory infection (she thinks it is in his nose)
I am giving him anti-biotic injections every three days with the ceftazadime. He seems to be improving quite well, and is scheduled to have his 4th/8th injection this afternoon. I have raised the humidity in his enclosure and have also been making sure he is very well hydrated, because we got quite the shocking surprise from his x-ray results....


HE HAS A STONE!!!!

The vet was not quite sure as to if it was a bowl or a bladder stone, but she wants to make sure that he is staying plenty hydrated, so I have been spraying his food with water, got him a HUGE water dish, and have also been giving him very frequent soaks.

And, I know, I know that the stone seems absolutely like an absolute monstrous size, but she said that it was only around medium size compared to his body. She is hoping that he can pass it by himself, so we can avoid surgery to go retrieve it, which they would have to do through his little leg. So hopefully no surgery will be required for him



But, for those of you who are interested, here are those super cool x-rays of my little guy Murphie, I doubt you will have any issues seeing the stone! She did say that his lungs were absolutely clear and that he was in FANTASTIC body condition and that he was a very handsome little dude, I'm so proud lol