casstom702
New Member
I take in rescue tortoises. Unfortunately, Las Vegas has a real issue with backyard breeding and the illegal sale of desert tortoises and sulcatas, so I constantly get tortoises that were improperly cared for and on the verge of death. One of the most common issues I face is respiratory infections. Before I started using this treatment, I was taking the sick tortoises to the vet for injections of antibiotics and a saline flush every third day. This was very expensive and had maybe a 50/60% success rate if they were generally healthy otherwise, for most that were not in good shape, it was around 10%. After doing A LOT of research I decided to try something else and have had amazing results, so I just wanted to share it, maybe it will help save one of your little ones:
I use two medications: Ampicillin or Amoxicillin and Enrofloxacin or Ciprofloxacin
I do four three-day cycles:
Day 1 Cillin
Day 2 Floxacin
Day 3 None
After 12 days of this, I do four, four-day cycles:
Day 1 Cillin
Day 2 None
Day 3 Floxacin
Day 4 None
If it hasn't completely cleared up I do a final round of three, six-day cycles:
Day 1 Cillin
Day 2 None
Day 3 None
Day 4 Floxacin
Day 5 None
Day 6 None
Dosage for both medications:
1 mg per 100 g of body weight mixed with 1 cc of IV saline solution per 1000 g of body weight.
Half of this solution is administered up each nostril using a syringe with a plastic hypodermic needle (this is really a two-person operation). If you can't find a rounded plastic needle, use a nail file to blunt a regular hypodermic needle, but remember to sterilize it.
On days I don't give them medication, I give them a drop or two of food-grade colloidal silver in each nostril.
I administer medication/supplements in the morning and in the late afternoon I put them in a container on my bathroom sink with the shower running all hot without the fan on for 20 mins, after which I suck out mucus with one of those soft rubber things they use on babies.
It's important to keep them in a warm (88 - 92 degrees), dry enclosure isolated from other tortoises. Supplement their food with vitamin powder and a probiotic because the medication is rough on their gut bacteria.
And that's it. Hope this helps someone.
I use two medications: Ampicillin or Amoxicillin and Enrofloxacin or Ciprofloxacin
I do four three-day cycles:
Day 1 Cillin
Day 2 Floxacin
Day 3 None
After 12 days of this, I do four, four-day cycles:
Day 1 Cillin
Day 2 None
Day 3 Floxacin
Day 4 None
If it hasn't completely cleared up I do a final round of three, six-day cycles:
Day 1 Cillin
Day 2 None
Day 3 None
Day 4 Floxacin
Day 5 None
Day 6 None
Dosage for both medications:
1 mg per 100 g of body weight mixed with 1 cc of IV saline solution per 1000 g of body weight.
Half of this solution is administered up each nostril using a syringe with a plastic hypodermic needle (this is really a two-person operation). If you can't find a rounded plastic needle, use a nail file to blunt a regular hypodermic needle, but remember to sterilize it.
On days I don't give them medication, I give them a drop or two of food-grade colloidal silver in each nostril.
I administer medication/supplements in the morning and in the late afternoon I put them in a container on my bathroom sink with the shower running all hot without the fan on for 20 mins, after which I suck out mucus with one of those soft rubber things they use on babies.
It's important to keep them in a warm (88 - 92 degrees), dry enclosure isolated from other tortoises. Supplement their food with vitamin powder and a probiotic because the medication is rough on their gut bacteria.
And that's it. Hope this helps someone.
