Our little boy is sick!

[Doonparker26]

Happy NY! We just moved from GA to Northern IN. Our boy Ragnar (Russian Tort) was doing fine until just after our move. We have kept keep him in an all dirt (organic) substrate for the last 6 mo. We added some new soil and did not notice that it contained small pieces of bark and twigs..which caused him to rub his back leg RAW. We immediately removed him form the habitat, cleared all the soil and have him in a "sterile" environment to allow his wound to heal. We took him to the vet and they started slow dose antibiotics on him a few days ago. The wound on his leg is/has healed very well so far. Now, his eyes are watery and one of them is swollen shut. His UV light was higher then it should have been for about 2 weeks which has seen been fixed. Also he did not like the calcium powder so since we've had him (over 2 years) we have been giving him calcium baths 2-3 times a week. Again because of the move we missed almost 2 weeks of him getting one. He is eating (very little), he has not pooped in 3 days...nothing! We are starting to get really scared that something serious is going on with our little guy. Does anyone have any idea or suggestions?

 

[wellington]

Antibiotics will make them stop eating. He probably didn't really need them to begin with. I would stop them if your still using them. The vet is not always the best first move. Most no little to nothing about treating a tortoise and does more harm then good
Do not continue with the calcium soaks either. Too much calcium is as bad as too little. A proper diet of dark greens if a natural weedy diet isnt available should give him most of what he needs. Added calcium should he a pinch a month on the food a pinch a week if he's a hatchling.
For now besides the above, keep him warm at least 80 until hes better and give warm baby food carrot soaks daily.

 

[wellington]

Next time he scrapes himself just an over the counter antibiotic cream will do and keeping the area clean.

 

[Yvonne G]

More than likely it's a combination of the antibiotics plus he's not warm enough. What sort of heat do you provide?

 

[Doonparker26]

More than likely it's a combination of the antibiotics plus he's not warm enough. What sort of heat do you provide?

I have to 2 heat lamps between them they will get up to 100 degrees he normally will position himself to get his body temp to 88 degrees (75% of the time). right now he is at 84.3 degrees. I use a laser temp and check him 4-5 times a day. 88 is his favorite.

 

[Doonparker26]

I forgot mention the antibiotics he is getting are slow release 1 shot every 3 days for 7 shots (21 days). We have given him 3 of the shots so far. The ambient air around him is min 66 degrees at the coolest spot in his area now. Before his leg injury (which is healing great) he had a stump he would crawl into at night and it would get down to 60 degrees over night. His current temp is up he is at 94 degrees. Also he seems constipated his little tail will wing like he is trying to go but nothing comes out but with not much going in....