My Sulcata all of a sudden cut loose with a massive amount of dark brown urine (diarrhea?) with brown solids in it and is foaming at the mouth. I am in the waiting room at the vet in a total panic. Has anyone experienced this before? He is a rescue I have had for 2 Yrs so I have no idea how old he is. he weighs 13 lbs and came to me with a terrible shell and could not support his own weight. I'll attach some pics.
possible emergency (mouth foam)
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Dorrie Siu
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RE: possible emergency
Oh dear. I don't know much about this other than that foaming at the mouth could be heatstroke. So all I have to add are my good wishes for your baby. Please keep us posted.
Oh dear. I don't know much about this other than that foaming at the mouth could be heatstroke. So all I have to add are my good wishes for your baby. Please keep us posted.
RE: possible emergency
Foaming mouth is usually either poison consumption or over heating
Foaming mouth is usually either poison consumption or over heating
HJ1983
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possible emergency
I don't know much on the subject but you're in my thoughts and I'm sending good thoughts out to the universe for your guy. Do you think maybe he ate a toxic plant?
I don't know much on the subject but you're in my thoughts and I'm sending good thoughts out to the universe for your guy. Do you think maybe he ate a toxic plant?
RE: possible emergency
Poison was my worry. It hit a whopping 66F today so I setup the pen and let the torts graze. he was only in a 5' wide circle on the lawn for an hr or so and I was right there. Nothing for him to get poisoned from. Overheating isn't possible either. The vet gave him a vitamin B shot and sent home some antibiotics that I have to give him.... orally. That will be a challenge. He's going to a soak and then into quarantine with some higher heat. I'll keep you all posted.
tffnytorts said:
Poison was my worry. It hit a whopping 66F today so I setup the pen and let the torts graze. he was only in a 5' wide circle on the lawn for an hr or so and I was right there. Nothing for him to get poisoned from. Overheating isn't possible either. The vet gave him a vitamin B shot and sent home some antibiotics that I have to give him.... orally. That will be a challenge. He's going to a soak and then into quarantine with some higher heat. I'll keep you all posted.
Dorrie Siu
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RE: possible emergency
No plants in your yard that could have posed a problem? I know you were watching him but maybe a bird dropped a seed to something that grew and blended in with what's already in your yard.
Gosh now this is making me think of what's been happening around here. People are putting out poisoned meatballs. Raw hamburger laced with poison. Hiding them in places where dogs sniff around.
No plants in your yard that could have posed a problem? I know you were watching him but maybe a bird dropped a seed to something that grew and blended in with what's already in your yard.
Gosh now this is making me think of what's been happening around here. People are putting out poisoned meatballs. Raw hamburger laced with poison. Hiding them in places where dogs sniff around.
Re: RE: possible emergency
I'm 89% sure that's illegal. I would call the Fish and Game department of your area and complain.
That makes me SO mad its not funny. What if I was walking my dog in a new neighborhood, and he ate something? I'd be like "no big deal". Then he'd get SICK. What the heck!? There's no sane reason for people to do that!
I very much think that you should get the police involved.
Dorrie Siu said:
I'm 89% sure that's illegal. I would call the Fish and Game department of your area and complain.
That makes me SO mad its not funny. What if I was walking my dog in a new neighborhood, and he ate something? I'd be like "no big deal". Then he'd get SICK. What the heck!? There's no sane reason for people to do that!
I very much think that you should get the police involved.
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RE: possible emergency
What has he been eating? Stuff with high water content will cause the poop . Did they do a fecal? Parasites could cause the poop to . As for the foaming at the mouth did he just drink and eat? Because he could have had something stuck in his throat and he was spitting it up maybe .
As for poisoning of dogs that is illegal and something needs to be said . Some poeple need to be hit in the head with a hammer . So they don't reproduce!
What has he been eating? Stuff with high water content will cause the poop . Did they do a fecal? Parasites could cause the poop to . As for the foaming at the mouth did he just drink and eat? Because he could have had something stuck in his throat and he was spitting it up maybe .
As for poisoning of dogs that is illegal and something needs to be said . Some poeple need to be hit in the head with a hammer . So they don't reproduce!
RE: possible emergency
I suppose it is possible, the snow just melted last week and the grass is very short (not even long enough to now yet.)
This is horrible AND illegal. I would turn it in if I ever saw it although It has happened in our city, someone was putting nails in chunks of meat and leaving it out for dogs. I don't believe they ever caught the person
The area we live in is nice and I can't imagine anyone doing that here but you never know. The vet was baffled because Lonestar had a swollen mouth but his tongue and eyes were not. his color is good and he has stopped foaming at the mouth and now just has a runny nose and slight drool. He hasn't passed anymore dark urine or urates since the first time. Though he passed so much I doubt there is much left to pass. There were a few hard spots in the pirates about the diameter of a pencil.
I will keep a close eye on him and probably lose sleep even though I know worrying won't help.
Thanks for all the well wishes
He has been indoors for winter and I feed grass hay, Mazuri, fresh veggies and the occasional bit of strawberry or pumpkin. We didn't get a fecal and the vet said it was urine and pirates not diarrhea. He had just eaten grass from outside, it was his first trip out this year and the other tort was in the same pen and is fine.
He seems to be ok. I slipped the meds into a raspberry and he swallowed it right up. I know fruit is bad but there is no way I can get his mouth open on my own. He's so stubborn!
Dorrie Siu said:
I suppose it is possible, the snow just melted last week and the grass is very short (not even long enough to now yet.)
Dorrie Siu said:
This is horrible AND illegal. I would turn it in if I ever saw it although It has happened in our city, someone was putting nails in chunks of meat and leaving it out for dogs. I don't believe they ever caught the person
The area we live in is nice and I can't imagine anyone doing that here but you never know. The vet was baffled because Lonestar had a swollen mouth but his tongue and eyes were not. his color is good and he has stopped foaming at the mouth and now just has a runny nose and slight drool. He hasn't passed anymore dark urine or urates since the first time. Though he passed so much I doubt there is much left to pass. There were a few hard spots in the pirates about the diameter of a pencil.
I will keep a close eye on him and probably lose sleep even though I know worrying won't help.
Thanks for all the well wishes
He has been indoors for winter and I feed grass hay, Mazuri, fresh veggies and the occasional bit of strawberry or pumpkin. We didn't get a fecal and the vet said it was urine and pirates not diarrhea. He had just eaten grass from outside, it was his first trip out this year and the other tort was in the same pen and is fine.
He seems to be ok. I slipped the meds into a raspberry and he swallowed it right up. I know fruit is bad but there is no way I can get his mouth open on my own. He's so stubborn!
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RE: possible emergency
Are you feeding wet mazui daily? If so stop an go to two to three times a week . But if he is eating hay and weeds save your money and stop the mazuri or feed as a treat once or twice a week . I would like to know why he was foaming at the mouth .
Are you feeding wet mazui daily? If so stop an go to two to three times a week . But if he is eating hay and weeds save your money and stop the mazuri or feed as a treat once or twice a week . I would like to know why he was foaming at the mouth .
RE: possible emergency
Foaming at the mouth can also be a sign of pneumonia. Hopefully the antibiotics will work. Keep him warm and well hydrated. Keep us updated in his progress.
Foaming at the mouth can also be a sign of pneumonia. Hopefully the antibiotics will work. Keep him warm and well hydrated. Keep us updated in his progress.
Dorrie Siu
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possible emergency
Its all over the news in San Francisco. Some have died because of this. They still don't know who has been doing this.
tffnytorts said:
Its all over the news in San Francisco. Some have died because of this. They still don't know who has been doing this.
RE: possible emergency
I alternate the Mazuri and grass hay during the winter just because grass hay gets pricey that time of year. When its warm enough to put them outside I just let them graze and give them occasional treats, every dandylion I cand find in my yard, and access to cuttlebone.
I just checked and he is still a bit foamy but not like he was. I got a pic...
FYI... my phones spell check changes "urates" to "pirates" just in case you were wondering what the heck I was talking about lol!
I alternate the Mazuri and grass hay during the winter just because grass hay gets pricey that time of year. When its warm enough to put them outside I just let them graze and give them occasional treats, every dandylion I cand find in my yard, and access to cuttlebone.
I just checked and he is still a bit foamy but not like he was. I got a pic...
FYI... my phones spell check changes "urates" to "pirates" just in case you were wondering what the heck I was talking about lol!
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Dorrie Siu
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RE: possible emergency
Maybe he was brushing his beak when you weren't looking and that's toothpaste...
Just kidding. Trying to make you smile.
Glad he is stabilizing.
Maybe he was brushing his beak when you weren't looking and that's toothpaste...
Just kidding. Trying to make you smile.
Glad he is stabilizing.
RE: possible emergency
How is your guy doing today?
How is your guy doing today?
Lonestar is doing better. He has stopped foaming at the mouth and has not made any more funky messes. He looks like he is feeling better too. He has a bit of a wheeze now when he breathes. not sure if it's from all that mucus yesterday or if he came down with a RI. He was fine yesterday morning so it all hit at once or at least the symptoms all showed at once.
The vet said aside from this he looks great. His shell is no longer soft and he supports his own weight like he has been stomping around happily his whole life.
When I was given them a few years ago they both had soft plastrons and sores on their legs and they literally dragged themselves to move. They have both come a long way. I was planning on renaming them this year but I may have to wait.
The vet said aside from this he looks great. His shell is no longer soft and he supports his own weight like he has been stomping around happily his whole life.
When I was given them a few years ago they both had soft plastrons and sores on their legs and they literally dragged themselves to move. They have both come a long way. I was planning on renaming them this year but I may have to wait.
If anything like this ever happens again, it never hurts to soak, soak, soak. Put the tortoise in warm water, if its sunny, in partial shade, and let him stay in there for 15 minutes or so. But keep watching to be sure he doesn't tip over.
If the foaming was due to something he ate, or over heating, then soaking isn't going to do any harm, and may do a whole lot of good.
Soaking never hurts.
If the foaming was due to something he ate, or over heating, then soaking isn't going to do any harm, and may do a whole lot of good.
Soaking never hurts.
How is he normally housed and what are your four temps? Warm side, cool side, basking spot and night?
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