Puffy shoulders

[Kiran]

Hi, I have a little girl Gill. Unfortunately she developed these puffy insides, really only visible on the front. She has been eating OK, getting sunshine and her daily warm baths. In the current situation I cant make it to a vet, could somebody help?

 

[Sue Ann]

Hi, I have a little girl Gill. Unfortunately she developed these puffy insides, really only visible on the front. She has been eating OK, getting sunshine and her daily warm baths. In the current situation I cant make it to a vet, could somebody help?

I’m interested in the answer also. Sorry I can’t help. Tom can you?

 

[Yvonne G]

That puffiness is usually associated with water retention (kidney problems???). Do you soak this tortoise? If you don't have a waterer in the enclosure then you should be soaking at least every other day for about 15 or 20 minutes (warm water).

 

[Kiran]

Hi, yes we do soak her every morning. At least 15 mins, or longer if she likes to. She is quite young though, about 5 years+, kidney probs possible? Should i be looking out for any other symptoms? Or, perhaps water retention due to increase in temperatures recently? Sorry for all these questions and I sincerely appreciate you all taking the time. Thank you!

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't usually worry about a tortoise until it stops eating or otherwise acting sick.

 

[Kiran]

Hi all, I wanted to post an update here should it help another owner in the future. So for three weeks after I had posted, the puffiness becoming more saggy, wasnt as prominent and we didnt worry too much as she seemed fine otherwise. And then one day all of a sudden she stops eating and wont walk. Thankfully the lockdown measures were starting to relax, so we took her to the vet on the second day. The vet ran a blood test and said she is quite likely suffering from kidney problems and the level of uric acid was extremely high. We were prescribed an antibiotic which was to be injected every alternate day and a tablet every day to bring down the uric acid levels. For another three days we continued injecting but the bigger problem has been that she completely refuses to eat. We have tried feeding her juiced carrots cucumber and such with a little syringe but its been extremely hard as she tends to just spill it out during most attempts. So another visit to the vet today and she was tube fed critical care food and a dose of antibiotics, believe it was called Flagyl (metronidazole, if i remember correctly) to help the good bacteria. However shes been looking very sick all afternoon and even nauseous. Wonder if this would subside by tomorrow morning and I feel terrible for her, as she seems to be really struggling. Wonder if this flagyl antibiotic was necessary or if this is a usual side effect? If anyone has any tips here to make her feel better, please please do let me know. I will also keep this thread updated.

 

[Yvonne G]

Flagyl is used to kill off the microscopic parasites.

 

[Kiran]

Thanks Yvonne, is Flagyl a very strong antibiotic? She has been breathing through her and creating bubbles?
Apologies but its a public holiday here and we cant reach the vet.

 

[Kiran]

Please allow me to add, she didnt have any known parasites in the last fecal test yesterday.