INTESTINAL PROLAPSE HELP

[Amanda11]

My beloved 12 year old sulcata tortoise currently has an intestinal prolapse. We took her to the Vet 2 days ago, who said that she needed a $4,000 surgery and that our best bet would be to put her down because she probably wasn't going to live through the complications of surgery. I love this tortoise and would be devastated if it died. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION PLEASE HELP? The Vet said that her large intestine is out of her body and that she has some tissue damage Although I don't know if this is actually true or I'm just in denial. The turtle is acting normal and I didn't even notice this prolapse until the day I took her to the Vet. PLEASE HELP! I did research online and already tried a sugarwater soak, which didn't help much because it is so swollen. Currently the tortoise is in its cage with bandaids around the prolapse so it doesn't snag on something and I covered the organ with petroleum jelly so it doesn't dry out. HELP!!!

 

[Amanda11]

My beloved 12 year old sulcata tortoise currently has an intestinal prolapse. We took her to the Vet 2 days ago, who said that she needed a $4,000 surgery and that our best bet would be to put her down because she probably wasn't going to live through the complications of surgery. I love this tortoise and would be devastated if it died. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION PLEASE HELP? The Vet said that her large intestine is out of her body and that she has some tissue damage Although I don't know if this is actually true or I'm just in denial. The turtle is acting normal and I didn't even notice this prolapse until the day I took her to the Vet. PLEASE HELP! I did research online and already tried a sugarwater soak, which didn't help much because it is so swollen. Currently the tortoise is in its cage with bandaids around the prolapse so it doesn't snag on something and I covered the organ with petroleum jelly so it doesn't dry out. HELP!!!

 

[Amanda11]

My beloved 12 year old sulcata tortoise currently has an intestinal prolapse. We took her to the Vet 2 days ago, who said that she needed a $4,000 surgery and that our best bet would be to put her down because she probably wasn't going to live through the complications of surgery. I love this tortoise and would be devastated if it died. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION PLEASE HELP? The Vet said that her large intestine is out of her body and that she has some tissue damage Although I don't know if this is actually true or I'm just in denial. The turtle is acting normal and I didn't even notice this prolapse until the day I took her to the Vet. PLEASE HELP! I did research online and already tried a sugarwater soak, which didn't help much because it is so swollen. Currently the tortoise is in its cage with bandaids around the prolapse so it doesn't snag on something and I covered the organ with petroleum jelly so it doesn't dry out. HELP!!!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

our best bet would be to put her down because she probably wasn't going to live through the complications of surgery.

~ That is tough, I would probably strongly consider the vets opinion when making my decision in this case, especially if bad odds for recovery!

 

[Angel Carrion]

How long have you known this vet? Are they specifically a reptile vet?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Seek a second opinion from a specialist herp vet, especially if this vet is not a specialist.
If he agrees, then you have to face up to the decision to either pay for expensive and possibly fatal surgery, or to have the animal humanely euthanized.
I am very sorry this has happened to your beloved tortoise and to you.

 

[ascott]

My beloved 12 year old sulcata tortoise currently has an intestinal prolapse. We took her to the Vet 2 days ago, who said that she needed a $4,000 surgery and that our best bet would be to put her down because she probably wasn't going to live through the complications of surgery. I love this tortoise and would be devastated if it died. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION PLEASE HELP? The Vet said that her large intestine is out of her body and that she has some tissue damage Although I don't know if this is actually true or I'm just in denial. The turtle is acting normal and I didn't even notice this prolapse until the day I took her to the Vet. PLEASE HELP! I did research online and already tried a sugarwater soak, which didn't help much because it is so swollen. Currently the tortoise is in its cage with bandaids around the prolapse so it doesn't snag on something and I covered the organ with petroleum jelly so it doesn't dry out. HELP!!!

Wow..that sure does look like something is stuck more than a orolapse...however, I am going to invite some others in to give other opinions..
@Yvonne G @ALDABRAMAN @tortadise

 

[Yvonne G]

Did the vet even try to push it back inside? I would get another opinion. They should at least try to push it back inside and then if that doesn't work, surgery. But if all that black is dead tissue and not dirt, it really should be removed.

If pushing it back inside works, then they take a purse string suture to hold it in. Once you've got it back inside, you try to figure out why this happened in the first place - constipated, worms, stones - what caused her to strain and push so hard that it came out.

Where are you? Maybe we can help you locate a vet who knows about tortoises.

 

[CourtneyG]

Sugar water soaks need to be done often and for some time. She needs to be moved a smaller tank where you can have her on paper towl that is kept wet with preferably sugar water, and the paper towl needs to be changed daily. The ambient temp should also be bumped up to the 80s.

Def get another opinion, because the organ can be pushed in on its own or just stitched back in place with minimal surgery.

What is the diet like, prolapse normally are caused by dietary issues.

 

[ascott]

My beloved 12 year old sulcata tortoise currently has an intestinal prolapse. We took her to the Vet 2 days ago, who said that she needed a $4,000 surgery and that our best bet would be to put her down because she probably wasn't going to live through the complications of surgery. I love this tortoise and would be devastated if it died. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION PLEASE HELP? The Vet said that her large intestine is out of her body and that she has some tissue damage Although I don't know if this is actually true or I'm just in denial. The turtle is acting normal and I didn't even notice this prolapse until the day I took her to the Vet. PLEASE HELP! I did research online and already tried a sugarwater soak, which didn't help much because it is so swollen. Currently the tortoise is in its cage with bandaids around the prolapse so it doesn't snag on something and I covered the organ with petroleum jelly so it doesn't dry out. HELP!!!

View attachment 147566

Did the vet xray to make sure it is actually a prolapse? Perhaps tort actually has something stuck that it was trying to poop out??

 

[Pearly]

My thought would definitely be a second opinion. Looking at the pic I can't really tell what the dark thing is next to the pink tissue. Is it poop? Or part of her butt? Intestinal lining when healthy should be nice and pink. You NEVER want to see it dark/brown/black. Sounds like you've already spent some money on vet bill, I'd invest little more on another vet visit. Not necessarily questioning the expertise of your vet. He/she maybe best reptile vet ever, but some times it takes an another pair of "fresh eyes" to see the obvious. It's worth trying. I'd make the second opinion visit priority and in the meantime trying to keep her butt clean and moist at all times. Best of luck and please keep us posted

 

[Keith D.]

I agree a second opinion would be a plus. Where are you located so we can help you find a reptile vet. That's of course if yours isn't one already? Please let us help you. Hope to hear from you soon.

P.S. Courtny's advice about the sugar water is correct, follow that while we help you find a vet. Also what are you feeding?

 

[Amanda11]

~ That is tough, I would probably strongly consider the vets opinion when making my decision in this case, especially if bad odds for recovery!

Thanks for reaching out! We went to another vet which said that he could fix her up for $600 and apparently it's not an intestinal prolapse like the other vet said, it's jus

~ That is tough, I would probably strongly consider the vets opinion when making my decision in this case, especially if bad odds for recovery!

thanks for the response! I took her to a new vet who said he could fix the problem and that it wasn't even an intestinal prolapse. He said it's not fatal and is fixing her up right now!

 

[Amanda11]

How long have you known this vet? Are they specifically a reptile vet?

Yes the woman was but I took my tortoise to a new vet who seemed a lot more knowledgeable

 

[Amanda11]

Seek a second opinion from a specialist herp vet, especially if this vet is not a specialist.
If he agrees, then you have to face up to the decision to either pay for expensive and possibly fatal surgery, or to have the animal humanely euthanized.
I am very sorry this has happened to your beloved tortoise and to you.

Thanks for your concern! And I took your advise and we went to a new vet who is fixing her up right now for $600 (a lot cheaper and the invasive surgery wasn't necessary)

 

[Amanda11]

Wow..that sure does look like something is stuck more than a orolapse...however, I am going to invite some others in to give other opinions..
@Yvonne G @ALDABRAMAN @tortadise

Thanks for helping!!

 

[Amanda11]

Did the vet even try to push it back inside? I would get another opinion. They should at least try to push it back inside and then if that doesn't work, surgery. But if all that black is dead tissue and not dirt, it really should be removed.

If pushing it back inside works, then they take a purse string suture to hold it in. Once you've got it back inside, you try to figure out why this happened in the first place - constipated, worms, stones - what caused her to strain and push so hard that it came out.

Where are you? Maybe we can help you locate a vet who knows about tortoises.

Thanks for the knowledgeable response. We took her to a new vet who was also very confused exactly what it was. They are going to stitch it back in and he later called and said that it might be an inflamed penis? We always thought she was a girl and other vets have even told us she's a girl. Very confusing but whatever it is they are trying to get it back in

 

[Amanda11]

Sugar water soaks need to be done often and for some time. She needs to be moved a smaller tank where you can have her on paper towl that is kept wet with preferably sugar water, and the paper towl needs to be changed daily. The ambient temp should also be bumped up to the 80s.

Def get another opinion, because the organ can be pushed in on its own or just stitched back in place with minimal surgery.

What is the diet like, prolapse normally are caused by dietary issues.

Yes we went to a new vet who is going to stitch it back in. He was doubtful it was even a prolapse and said it could possibly be a swollen penis. We thought she was a girl so that's very strange. But at least this vet is trying to get that thing back in there!

 

[Amanda11]

Did the vet xray to make sure it is actually a prolapse? Perhaps tort actually has something stuck that it was trying to poop out??

The brownish part at the end is actually her tissue not poop. And I'm not sure but we went to a new vet who was also very confused at what exactly he was looking at. He decided to stitch it back in so the tortoise is currently being sewn up and hopefully she'll be better after the procedure!

 

[Amanda11]

My thought would definitely be a second opinion. Looking at the pic I can't really tell what the dark thing is next to the pink tissue. Is it poop? Or part of her butt? Intestinal lining when healthy should be nice and pink. You NEVER want to see it dark/brown/black. Sounds like you've already spent some money on vet bill, I'd invest little more on another vet visit. Not necessarily questioning the expertise of your vet. He/she maybe best reptile vet ever, but some times it takes an another pair of "fresh eyes" to see the obvious. It's worth trying. I'd make the second opinion visit priority and in the meantime trying to keep her butt clean and moist at all times. Best of luck and please keep us posted

Thanks so much for your concern! The brown tissue is in fact tissue not poop. We went to another vet who concluded it was a swollen penis? We always thought our turtle was a girl and the last vet even confirmed that. Strange but he is sewing the organ back inside, which will hopefully work.