Our visit to a reptile specialist

gingerbee

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I wanted to start a thread to share our experience with a reptile specialist because i found it to be SO different from a visit with a "regular" vet. I brought my mud turtle to Dr. Greg Rich, who is listed on TFO veterinarian list. His business is Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital in Metairie, Louisiana. My regular vet had also said that if either of my turtles needed any kind of medical attention, that's who she would refer to.

The "Patient Information Sheet" had questions I've never seen on any other vet's questionnaire. In addition to the usual 'What is the species of our pet, age etc.' the questions included:
What was the source of the animal?
What is the substrate? How often is it changed?
What are the dimensions of the cage/enclosure? How long has the animal lived in this enclosure?
What is the humidity of the cage/enclosure?
What is the water source? How often is it changed?
What is the UV source? How often is the bulb changed?
What is the calcium source?
What do you feed? How much does the animal eat at a feeding? How often do you feed?
...there were other questions, too, I just can't remember them all. But these impressed me because they are so much in line with the things WE think of here on TFO as important to good husbandry.

They did not take my turtle from me, but brought me to the exam room, and obviously expected me to stay for the exam. I like that a lot.
When we saw Dr. Rich, he first studied her carapace and plastron closely- pressing gently and also checking that the hinges on her plastron move.
He looked at her eyes and nostrils. He had a special gadget that he used to gently open her mouth.
Since one of the symptoms that brought us to see him was that she was swimming lopsided, he wanted to see for himself. They got a tub of water to float her in, and sure enough, you could see that her right shoulder area was significantly lower in the water than the rest of her. He said a turtle swimming lopsided could mean an infection in the lungs but it could also just be normal for that turtle; a blood test that they do in the office would answer that question.
He said there's a vein that runs all around the edge of their carapace, so that's where he drew the blood from- using one of the tiniest syringes and needles I've ever seen.
If she had an infection, he said the options would be either come in for antibiotic injection every 3 days or for her to stay a week and get daily injections. But he wanted to wait for the test results before making a recommendation.

The white blood cells, which fight infection, in aquatic turtles are considered high enough to indicate an infection if they are at 21,000 to 23,000. My turtle's white blood cell count came back at 30,000. He said the types of blood cells that were increased indicates that the inflammation/infection is chronic- that is, it's been going on for a good while and didn't just start last week. He also said that with such a high white blood cell count, getting antibiotics every 3 days was not enough, and recommended that she stay in the hospital and get daily antibiotic injections as well as tube feeding. He had an itemized list of what the cost for a week in their hospital with that type of care would be and I was pleasantly surprised- it wasn't nearly what I was expecting.

They will phone us daily with an update and will call any time there's a change. It's 9:30 in the morning and they've already called me. The lady who called me is clearly one directly involved in my turtle's care. They are dry-docking her and soaking her at least daily. She said my turtle seems to be tolerating the treatment well and is very active. She still floats lop-sided, but that's to be expected so early on.

I am very pleased with the service and very impressed with Dr. Rich.

Wow nice!!
 

Moozillion

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I'm so sorry you and Jacques have to be going through this. We're thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way.
THanks so much, Yvonne! :):<3:
It's all going very well, it's just that the treatment takes...a...long...time...:p
 

Moozillion

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JACQUES IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):):):):):)
I picked her up this morning, and she's looking and acting GREAT!!!! For some reason I can't get pictures to load, so they'll have to wait until hubby can help me sort that out.:mad:

It looks like 2 weeks of DOUBLE ANTIBIOTICS did the trick: daily enrofloxacin (Baytril) injections and daily amikacin nebulizer. Her white blood cell count at admission to the hospital was super high at 30,000, but 2 days ago it was down to normal at 12,000!!!!!! I asked to see the nebulizer because I was curious: it's just a regular :eek: HUMAN nebulizer but the hose is fitted into a small box where you put the turtle. They stay in the box breathing the antibiotic-laden mist for 20-30 minutes per treatment.
I also found out that although they mostly dry-docked her, they swam her at least twice a day, and offered food in her swimming water each time. If she did't eat for 2 days, they would tube feed her. The techs told me that turtles seldom eat when they're at the hospital, so that's not unusual.

It's SO GOOD to have her home!!!!!!!!!!!:<3: It's amazing how these little critters worm their way into our hearts!!!!:):<3:

And THANK YOU ALL, AGAIN for your experiences, ideas, love, support and encouragement!!!!!! :):<3:
What a GREAT group of people!!!!!:<3:
 

Jay Bagley

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JACQUES IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):):):):):)
I picked her up this morning, and she's looking and acting GREAT!!!! For some reason I can't get pictures to load, so they'll have to wait until hubby can help me sort that out.:mad:

It looks like 2 weeks of DOUBLE ANTIBIOTICS did the trick: daily enrofloxacin (Baytril) injections and daily amikacin nebulizer. Her white blood cell count at admission to the hospital was super high at 30,000, but 2 days ago it was down to normal at 12,000!!!!!! I asked to see the nebulizer because I was curious: it's just a regular :eek: HUMAN nebulizer but the hose is fitted into a small box where you put the turtle. They stay in the box breathing the antibiotic-laden mist for 20-30 minutes per treatment.
I also found out that although they mostly dry-docked her, they swam her at least twice a day, and offered food in her swimming water each time. If she did't eat for 2 days, they would tube feed her. The techs told me that turtles seldom eat when they're at the hospital, so that's not unusual.

It's SO GOOD to have her home!!!!!!!!!!!:<3: It's amazing how these little critters worm their way into our hearts!!!!:):<3:

And THANK YOU ALL, AGAIN for your experiences, ideas, love, support and encouragement!!!!!! :):<3:
What a GREAT group of people!!!!!:<3:
So very happy to hear that, I've been following this one from the start. So glad she is feeling better, and it worked out for the both of you.
 

KarenSoCal

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I am SO GLAD to hear about Jacques!
I can only imagine how many people (not on these forums) would think "it's only a turtle"...what a shame that they never get to know these magnificent creatures.
I have rheumatoid disease, and in our community we call ourselves "warriors". I think Jacques is a warrior too! She kept up the fight!
 

kathyth

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This good news just made my day! I’m so happy Jacques is doing so much better and that her labs have returned to normal.
I wish we could celebrate.
 

Moozillion

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I am SO GLAD to hear about Jacques!
I can only imagine how many people (not on these forums) would think "it's only a turtle"...what a shame that they never get to know these magnificent creatures.
I have rheumatoid disease, and in our community we call ourselves "warriors". I think Jacques is a warrior too! She kept up the fight!

Thanks so much, KarenSoCal!!![emoji2][emoji173]️
 

Moozillion

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Great news! Now let us know when Jacques is eating salmon again!
Thank you, Kenno! :):<3:

She's already eaten some today!!! :D That PROVES she's better!!!!!!! :D
(and the shrimp :eek: stole a piece from right under her nose!!!!! They are outrageous little guys!!!!)
 

vladimir

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Thank you, Kenno! :):<3:

She's already eaten some today!!! :D That PROVES she's better!!!!!!! :D
(and the shrimp :eek: stole a piece from right under her nose!!!!! They are outrageous little guys!!!!)
Glad Jacques is feeling better [emoji3] I enjoy reading about her adventures with the ghost shrimp
 

kellygirl64

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SHE'S HOME!!!!!!!! :)
We just got home a little while ago. I set her in her tank on top of some of the plastic plants so she could rest in the water. She sat there for about 2-3 minutes, took a long hard look at her new basking platform and decided it looked suspicious. She suddenly scrambled down to her favorite corner under her heat lamp and is still there now.

She has a followup appointment next Thursday with Dr.Rich: he'll have a look at her, float her and draw blood to make sure her blood cell counts are back to normal. :)

I was anxious to get her back into her tank and settled down, so I did not even try to look at the red spots on her legs- they're fading anyway.

@Markw84 Mark, the doctor was not available when we were there to get her, so I was not able to ask him more questions about the Baytril. I will certainly see him at her appointment next week, so I will ask him then. :rolleyes:

View attachment 229769

View attachment 229770
What a lovely looking young lady, she is !!
 

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