Lesa
Member
A few weeks ago I noticed my star was walking funny. Like her legs were weaker and maybe having trouble with her coordination. The back two legs appeared to be pushing off the ground fine. On the front legs both working but not lifting her up as high as normal. More of a side to side motion if that makes sense. All four limbs are working and if you softly pull on them you do get resistance but to me just seemed weaker and a little unsteady.
The only thing that had happened was I woke up one morning and she was asleep on top of her food. It was a mix of mazuri and rep-cal that I had forgotten to take away before I fell asleep. She was stuck to it. I guess the water plus heat and humidity had turned it into a paste. I have no idea how long she might have been stuck in her food. I gave her a good long soak and she seemed fine. A couple of days later is when I noticed the funny walking. I thought maybe she had pulled a muscle trying to get out of the food.
I took her to the second vet listed in my town as an exotic vet who treats tortoises. The number one vet killed my little leopard by giving him 4 vitamin injections when I took him in for a check up. That woman was a nightmare. See previous posts on that heartbreak. Anyway this guy was even worse than the first. He seemed to have zero clue about tortoises. He pulled on her legs and said they seemed fine. He did say nothing appeared broken. He wanted to given her steroid injections "just in case". I said no I was afraid of injections after the last time. He said well apparently the internet and I knew more than him. He left it with just give her time and make things a little easier so she could heal if she had pulled a muscle.
So that's what I did. I put her in the small enclosure I used when she was a hatching. She is a little over a year old now. I used different textures like the back side of tiles to give her things to grip when walking. Giving her nice long soaks which she loves. She is eating and pooping normal. Just still a little unsteady. Now that warm weather is here I have been getting her outside everyday. Lots of good textured to walk around on and she does appear to be getting stronger. She might be slow but she is getting around really well.
So what's the problem? Today I was watching her very closely and her front left leg was shaking as she tried to climb out of a clay saucer with water. She was really struggling so I picked her up and was looking at her legs. I saw a ball on the back of her back right leg. See photo. That knee joint also looks swollen. This is new. I have kept a very careful eye on her. She can pull that leg back in.
Does anyone know what this is? Has she had too much exercise? Did she strain this knee? Should I get an x ray? Does anyone have a good vet in Louisville, Ky? I called my regular vet and they didn't know anyone beside the crazy first vet I had gone to. The one listed here under my city is not there any longer. She has moved about 30 minutes away and I don't know anyone who has actually gone to her. I will take my star there right away if you guys think she needs to be seen.
Also I follow the care sheets to the letter. Food, temps, humidity, bulbs, substrate etc. She gets a huge variety of greens, flowers and weeds. She does love mazuri so she gets that a couple of nights a week. No extra vitamins since she gets a really good diet. Closed chamber to keep the humidity high. Large outdoor enclosure where I grow clovers, grasses and flowers all from seeds. Everything organic including the soil.
Any help will be much appreciated. I am freaking out with this ball thing on her leg. But two idiot vets have me scared too. Do you need better pictures? I didn't want to stress her out so I only took this one.
The only thing that had happened was I woke up one morning and she was asleep on top of her food. It was a mix of mazuri and rep-cal that I had forgotten to take away before I fell asleep. She was stuck to it. I guess the water plus heat and humidity had turned it into a paste. I have no idea how long she might have been stuck in her food. I gave her a good long soak and she seemed fine. A couple of days later is when I noticed the funny walking. I thought maybe she had pulled a muscle trying to get out of the food.
I took her to the second vet listed in my town as an exotic vet who treats tortoises. The number one vet killed my little leopard by giving him 4 vitamin injections when I took him in for a check up. That woman was a nightmare. See previous posts on that heartbreak. Anyway this guy was even worse than the first. He seemed to have zero clue about tortoises. He pulled on her legs and said they seemed fine. He did say nothing appeared broken. He wanted to given her steroid injections "just in case". I said no I was afraid of injections after the last time. He said well apparently the internet and I knew more than him. He left it with just give her time and make things a little easier so she could heal if she had pulled a muscle.
So that's what I did. I put her in the small enclosure I used when she was a hatching. She is a little over a year old now. I used different textures like the back side of tiles to give her things to grip when walking. Giving her nice long soaks which she loves. She is eating and pooping normal. Just still a little unsteady. Now that warm weather is here I have been getting her outside everyday. Lots of good textured to walk around on and she does appear to be getting stronger. She might be slow but she is getting around really well.
So what's the problem? Today I was watching her very closely and her front left leg was shaking as she tried to climb out of a clay saucer with water. She was really struggling so I picked her up and was looking at her legs. I saw a ball on the back of her back right leg. See photo. That knee joint also looks swollen. This is new. I have kept a very careful eye on her. She can pull that leg back in.
Does anyone know what this is? Has she had too much exercise? Did she strain this knee? Should I get an x ray? Does anyone have a good vet in Louisville, Ky? I called my regular vet and they didn't know anyone beside the crazy first vet I had gone to. The one listed here under my city is not there any longer. She has moved about 30 minutes away and I don't know anyone who has actually gone to her. I will take my star there right away if you guys think she needs to be seen.
Also I follow the care sheets to the letter. Food, temps, humidity, bulbs, substrate etc. She gets a huge variety of greens, flowers and weeds. She does love mazuri so she gets that a couple of nights a week. No extra vitamins since she gets a really good diet. Closed chamber to keep the humidity high. Large outdoor enclosure where I grow clovers, grasses and flowers all from seeds. Everything organic including the soil.
Any help will be much appreciated. I am freaking out with this ball thing on her leg. But two idiot vets have me scared too. Do you need better pictures? I didn't want to stress her out so I only took this one.