- Joined
- Dec 9, 2012
- Messages
- 16
Hey everyone,
So I am having a crazy time here with my Russian tortoise! I noticed he has not been eating much or at all for the past maybe 2 weeks ish. At first I though it was because he was starting hibernation but now I clearly know that is not the case. I noticed he was opening his mouth and couldn't close it all the way. I then investigated to make sure it wasn't mouth rot or something. I found a big mass of food stuck in his mouth/throat. I did my best to remove it with a plastic tweezers. I then concluded maybe he just ate to much at once and would get better. Few days go by and he is not any better. So I give him an electrolyte bath to restore fluids and I notice more food stuck in his throat. I looked in his mouth to investigate, pulled out some food mass, then saw a massive white thing down in his throat. After much toil, I removed what I later confirmed to be a piece of cuttle cone, about the size of dime. I thought for sure this was what was causing him trouble, but it has been two days and he has not successfully eaten yet. He has shown interest in food, taken a few bites, then kinda spits it back out again after chewing a little bit. He is also making weird sounds and moving his head back and forth like he is struggling to get food down. I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow (this was the earliest I could get). I think maybe there is another piece stuck down farther in his throat than I can see. Will the vet be able to see that by xray? Has anyone xray their tortoise? If so do you remember how much it cost? I mean I love my tortoise and can afford 100-200$ if need be but if this is going to be a lot more than that I won't be able to do it. Please don't judge but I have to get surgery in a few weeks myself and can't really afford much right now. Please let me know if you have any advice or experience with something like this. Thanks,
Jakki
So I am having a crazy time here with my Russian tortoise! I noticed he has not been eating much or at all for the past maybe 2 weeks ish. At first I though it was because he was starting hibernation but now I clearly know that is not the case. I noticed he was opening his mouth and couldn't close it all the way. I then investigated to make sure it wasn't mouth rot or something. I found a big mass of food stuck in his mouth/throat. I did my best to remove it with a plastic tweezers. I then concluded maybe he just ate to much at once and would get better. Few days go by and he is not any better. So I give him an electrolyte bath to restore fluids and I notice more food stuck in his throat. I looked in his mouth to investigate, pulled out some food mass, then saw a massive white thing down in his throat. After much toil, I removed what I later confirmed to be a piece of cuttle cone, about the size of dime. I thought for sure this was what was causing him trouble, but it has been two days and he has not successfully eaten yet. He has shown interest in food, taken a few bites, then kinda spits it back out again after chewing a little bit. He is also making weird sounds and moving his head back and forth like he is struggling to get food down. I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow (this was the earliest I could get). I think maybe there is another piece stuck down farther in his throat than I can see. Will the vet be able to see that by xray? Has anyone xray their tortoise? If so do you remember how much it cost? I mean I love my tortoise and can afford 100-200$ if need be but if this is going to be a lot more than that I won't be able to do it. Please don't judge but I have to get surgery in a few weeks myself and can't really afford much right now. Please let me know if you have any advice or experience with something like this. Thanks,
Jakki
