Poorly Tort, WORRIED!

[murple]

Hi All,

Sadly my tort was attacked by my mums dog who I was looking after. The tortoise was I thought in a safe place well away from the dog but some how he got him one morning which was horrible. The tortoise seemed to be doing really well and has had vet treatment and I have been cleaning the wounds daily.

My sister in law took him while the dog was still here to care for him and he was doing well. She reported he was off food for a couple of days (which he sometimes is) when I collected him I thought he had an eye infection do took him straight to specialist vet. She said he had a slight infection but not too bad. However she wanted to keep him in as his beak is a little over grown. He has had cuttlefish since I have had him (5 mnths) but not sure if he had it before, he rarely will touch the one I have given him.

Since being back from the vets he is just not himself. She was unable to file his beak as he would contsantly hide. He seemed better before the vets than after! I'm wondering if it caused him distress. He is sleeping nearly all day, I fed him today to make sure he ate and he did but he doesn't seem bothered about finding it for himself.

I am still treating his wounds and now eye drops.

Anyone got any advice. Am so worried about him.

 

[babylove6635]

just keep treatting his wounds and eyes. i hope they arnt too bad. i had one that my dog got to also. its good hes eating. keep us posted.
my hart goes out to you on this one.

 

[TortBrain]

Oh my. How big is your tort? Is the wound serious?
Hope everything goes well..

 

[babylove6635]

Oh my. How big is your tort? Is the wound serious?
Hope everything goes well.. HE WAS ABOUT 4 IN AND MY FIRST ONE WE SPENT THREE HOURS TRYING TO GLY HIM BACK TOGETHER. I PUT A RUBBER GLOVE AROUND HIM CAUSE I COULDNT GET THE BOTTOM PICE ON, AND TOOK HIM TO THE VET THE NEXT MORNING, THEY WRAPED HIM UP AND I HAD TO CHANG THE WRAP EVERY DAY AND GIVE HIM AN ANTIBOITOC AND A PAIN MED. BUT HE WOULDNT EAT AND HE ENDED UP DIEING 5 DAYS LATTER. IT WAS A HARD LESSION TO LEARN BUT I DID, AND NOW I HAVE 5 NOW AND THEY ARE ALL DOING REALLY GOOD BUT IM INTO THEM AND THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE ENCLOUSER OVER 1200.00 BUT WORTH EVERY PENNY I LOVE MY TORTS.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Judy (babylove):

I think that tort brain was asking about the original poster's chewed tortoise. But I'm sorry about your tortoise not making it.

 

[murple]

The injuries aren't that bad. He has 5 puncher wounds and has been ok for 3 weeks since the attack. It seems the eye infection has made him more poorly which he may have got from being under the weather.

More concerned that its only the last few days he has been really sleepy. I was wondering if the 2nd vets visit upset him as since then he has been like this. Or if he is more unwell

 

[Tortoise]

Hope he feels better soon, are you allowed to soak him in warm water or will it bother his puncture wounds?
Hope he is staying hydrated for you whilst he is recovering.

Good Luck

 

[murple]

Hope he feels better soon, are you allowed to soak him in warm water or will it bother his puncture wounds?
Hope he is staying hydrated for you whilst he is recovering.

Good Luck

Have been soaking him every day just before I treat his wounds. he seems to enjoy the extra baths he's having.

I think for the next few days if he doesn't instigate feeding i'll feed him, which I did today and worked. I don't want him to become relient on this but I feel it will help his recovery if he eats well. Fingers crossed it works.

 

[babylove6635]

Hi Judy (babylove):

I think that tort brain was asking about the original poster's chewed tortoise. But I'm sorry about your tortoise not making it.

oh ya lol now i feel dum lol but thank you any way

 

[bikerchicspain]

What are your temps like, sick reptiles sometimes need the temps to be slightly higher, also what substrate have you got him on?

When I have one with a puncture wound especially a dog bite (they usually get infected) I put them on paper, to stop any dust or dirt getting in the wound,
Do not use creams on the wound just plain old iodine!
If there is a puncture wound on his plastron and it has healed bathe him in baby food!
Vet visits stress any creature out, but he has been through a dog attack then a vet visit wouldn't harm him.
Good luck

 

[murple]

What are your temps like, sick reptiles sometimes need the temps to be slightly higher, also what substrate have you got him on?

When I have one with a puncture wound especially a dog bite (they usually get infected) I put them on paper, to stop any dust or dirt getting in the wound,
Do not use creams on the wound just plain old iodine!
If there is a puncture wound on his plastron and it has healed bathe him in baby food!
Vet visits stress any creature out, but he has been through a dog attack then a vet visit wouldn't harm him.
Good luck

Hi Yvonne, He has been to the vets twice and collected him monday from an overnight stay. He is staying under his heat light and I am buying a creamic one for the night as is getting chilly and he obviously can't hibernate. I originally treated him with iodine from vet and then he saw a specialist vet who has given me some other stuff which I am using.

 

[lynnedit]

Sounds like you are doing what you are supposed to. Is the vet sure your tort does not have a respiratory infection in addition to the eye symptoms? If not, then keep up your efforts. Sometimes a vet visit can set them back, I sure hope the vet kept him warm at night?
I agree keeping him warmer than usual is a good idea, perhaps 'cool' and 'night' side no lower than 70-75 with a nice basking side of 95 to 105 during the day. Keep the lights on 13 to 14 hours per day.
If hand feeding is what it takes, do it. You can worry about weaning him off of this when he gets better.
Make sure you have an accurate thermometer (not one of those round ones), like a digital thermometer with a wire probe that you can place in different areas to test (sold at many stores, like Home Depot, Walmart, etc.).

 

[bikerchicspain]

What are your temps like, sick reptiles sometimes need the temps to be slightly higher, also what substrate have you got him on?

When I have one with a puncture wound especially a dog bite (they usually get infected) I put them on paper, to stop any dust or dirt getting in the wound,
Do not use creams on the wound just plain old iodine!
If there is a puncture wound on his plastron and it has healed bathe him in baby food!
Vet visits stress any creature out, but he has been through a dog attack then a vet visit wouldn't harm him.
Good luck

Hi Yvonne, He has been to the vets twice and collected him monday from an overnight stay. He is staying under his heat light and I am buying a creamic one for the night as is getting chilly and he obviously can't hibernate. I originally treated him with iodine from vet and then he saw a specialist vet who has given me some other stuff which I am using.

What stuff did the vet give you?

 

[murple]

Hi all,

Thanks for your help and advice. He seems to be doing really well, he is much brighter and his eys are better but don't think completely ok. He still isn't eating loads but choosing to eat a bit more alone if the food is near.

He is becoming a little nosey agian, which is fab. I'm so happy and relieved!

 

[lynnedit]

Yipeeeeee!!!