SArchieIII
New Member
The Vet called me today.
He has seen Archie yesterday (we didn't pay the check-in), I couldn't go as I am myself not well lately, he mentioned that in his opinion, all we have done it is all that we can do at this stage, and there should have been improvement already. It is not the case, therefore he wants me to consider a referral to a higher level specialist at 250KM away from us.
In his opinion, he cares for the tortoises in a wild life park that has reptiles section, he thinks it could be liver problems (he thinks this as main possibility) or Kidneys issues.
Beside all the wheel of emotions I am going through I mainly think about: what would be next?
I need planning and organization to take Archie to the specialist he mentions (Probably Dublin Zoo tortoise specialist), but I think I can do it, but I keep thinking:
- if either issues are too advanced, there will be no positive outcome anyway
- I read a bunch of articles in this forum about possible kidneys issues, and I am thinking that when I got her, she was a tad dry, and flakey shedding skin around her head and neck, and I wonder if I keep the 3 times a day soaks and maintain the proper temperature and huminidity, would that help?
- I am not sure why he leans more on the possible liver issue, but she is strong when walking in the soaking bowl, and super strong in her legs, and neck. she is not swealling, and if it wasn't for her eyes closed, she wouldn't "look sick"... but than again, I have chronic health issue and I never look sick...
The reason why I am writing here, is to ask if you have any advice or suggestion. Is it worthy to put the tortoise through a 500km journey (back and forth) probably without proper conditions for her (I have a wooden box I can organize for her journey, but not ideal for her I think (?) ), to then pay someone who will probably inject her or treat something.
She didn't have blood tests yet, nor scans, therefore I think this might be the next steps...
Would it be stupid to instead, keep her at the right temps and humidity with spraying the enclosure and giving her soak baths as long as it will be needed (in either way it will go :'( ) monitor her in her enclosure and new lights, and wait and see?
She has done 2 poops in 5 days of soaks, and we think she might have eaten a square inch of kale, we decided to take pictures of the leaves now when we put them in and out to compare, since her bite marks are so tiny... but overall, she is not really eating for I would say 4 weeks now...
Any suggestion or advice based on your experience would be massively appreciated.
I dont want to take her anyway, if it will not help her... and if what will help is 3 soaks a day and electrolytes and carrot soaks should be continued until something happens, I will do that (I work from home and I scheduled her needs on my Outlook, so they are happening without fail)... I am not afraid of continuing having this intensive care for as long as it needed...
I remember reading somewhere "Tortoise do anything in their own time, so let them do it" ...and I wonder if it is also related to recovering from bad spells...
I am extremely sad, I very much appreciate your knowledge and advice.
thank you
He has seen Archie yesterday (we didn't pay the check-in), I couldn't go as I am myself not well lately, he mentioned that in his opinion, all we have done it is all that we can do at this stage, and there should have been improvement already. It is not the case, therefore he wants me to consider a referral to a higher level specialist at 250KM away from us.
In his opinion, he cares for the tortoises in a wild life park that has reptiles section, he thinks it could be liver problems (he thinks this as main possibility) or Kidneys issues.
Beside all the wheel of emotions I am going through I mainly think about: what would be next?
I need planning and organization to take Archie to the specialist he mentions (Probably Dublin Zoo tortoise specialist), but I think I can do it, but I keep thinking:
- if either issues are too advanced, there will be no positive outcome anyway
- I read a bunch of articles in this forum about possible kidneys issues, and I am thinking that when I got her, she was a tad dry, and flakey shedding skin around her head and neck, and I wonder if I keep the 3 times a day soaks and maintain the proper temperature and huminidity, would that help?
- I am not sure why he leans more on the possible liver issue, but she is strong when walking in the soaking bowl, and super strong in her legs, and neck. she is not swealling, and if it wasn't for her eyes closed, she wouldn't "look sick"... but than again, I have chronic health issue and I never look sick...
The reason why I am writing here, is to ask if you have any advice or suggestion. Is it worthy to put the tortoise through a 500km journey (back and forth) probably without proper conditions for her (I have a wooden box I can organize for her journey, but not ideal for her I think (?) ), to then pay someone who will probably inject her or treat something.
She didn't have blood tests yet, nor scans, therefore I think this might be the next steps...
Would it be stupid to instead, keep her at the right temps and humidity with spraying the enclosure and giving her soak baths as long as it will be needed (in either way it will go :'( ) monitor her in her enclosure and new lights, and wait and see?
She has done 2 poops in 5 days of soaks, and we think she might have eaten a square inch of kale, we decided to take pictures of the leaves now when we put them in and out to compare, since her bite marks are so tiny... but overall, she is not really eating for I would say 4 weeks now...
Any suggestion or advice based on your experience would be massively appreciated.
I dont want to take her anyway, if it will not help her... and if what will help is 3 soaks a day and electrolytes and carrot soaks should be continued until something happens, I will do that (I work from home and I scheduled her needs on my Outlook, so they are happening without fail)... I am not afraid of continuing having this intensive care for as long as it needed...
I remember reading somewhere "Tortoise do anything in their own time, so let them do it" ...and I wonder if it is also related to recovering from bad spells...
I am extremely sad, I very much appreciate your knowledge and advice.
thank you