Rocks!

[philipgreece]

I will send feces samples but I took xray both of my tortoises! My male has rocks inside him! The one is big! My vet told me to give him liquid paraffin from pharmacy! He had rocks in the past but he cleaned! Now he ate again without notice him! Is liquid paraffin ok or to feed him something else?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Liquid paraffin (same as "mineral oil" in US) is ok (as I see from the older forum threads).

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Are you certain that your tortoise ate rocks? And that the Xray didn't show some other type of internal calcification?

 

[philipgreece]

Liquid paraffin (same as "mineral oil" in US) is ok (as I see from the older forum threads).

Thank you! 🙂

Are you certain that your tortoise ate rocks? And that the Xray didn't show some other type of internal calcification?

That's I worry about! I have my doubts! I asked my vet about bladder stone and she told if you want to check it you to do a specific xray! I have the xray! If I send does anyone knows?

 

[philipgreece]

Liquid paraffin (same as "mineral oil" in US) is ok (as I see from the older forum threads).

I have some doubts about to check him more! As zeropilot said for internal calcification! My problem is to do this exam there is only one doctor in country and I have to travel 7 hours and rent a hotel! That's a problem

 

[Lrn2trvl]

If the veterinarian doesn't specialize in reptiles, maybe you could ask if they can send the radiographs to a specialist or even the vet school? They may charge extra for a specialist to review the radiographs, but a radiologist should be able to know the difference between calcification and bladder stones....

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thank you! 🙂

That's I worry about! I have my doubts! I asked my vet about bladder stone and she told if you want to check it you to do a specific xray! I have the xray! If I send does anyone knows?

Can you post the Xray here?
It's possible that one of our members that are experienced with this type of thing can see something helpful.
It's worth a try.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I have some doubts about to check him more! As zeropilot said for internal calcification! My problem is to do this exam there is only one doctor in country and I have to travel 7 hours and rent a hotel! That's a problem

Yes.
It certainly is a problem

 

[philipgreece]

Can you post the Xray here?
It's possible that one of our members that are experienced with this type of thing can see something helpful.
It's worth a try.

Please guys if anyone knows! I worry! 😥

 

[zovick]

Please guys if anyone knows! I worry! 😥

Those do look like small rocks. They do not look like bladder stones (calcified urate deposits) as they are too dense in appearance plus distributed throughout the gut rather than at the tail end of the tortoise.

 

[Tom]

Please guys if anyone knows! I worry! 😥

I agree with Zovick.

Now you need to consider what the tortoise is eating rocks. They usually do this when there is a mineral or dietary deficiency. I see this most commonly with tortoises that are fed a low fiber diet of mostly grocery store greens. What do you feed the tortoises? What supplements do you use and how often?

 

[philipgreece]

I agree with Zovick.

Now you need to consider what the tortoise is eating rocks. They usually do this when there is a mineral or dietary deficiency. I see this most commonly with tortoises that are fed a low fiber diet of mostly grocery store greens. What do you feed the tortoises? What supplements do you use and how often?

The last one year I feed them: mallow and the leaves, hawkbits and the leaved,lamp lettuce, hibiscus, I started with opuntia last 2 weeks, aloe vera, once in a week radicchio, lettuce and cucumber!

 

[Tom]

The last one year I feed them: mallow and the leaves, hawkbits and the leaved,lamp lettuce, hibiscus, I started with opuntia last 2 weeks, aloe vera, once in a week radicchio, lettuce and cucumber!

That's all pretty good. You might try adding in some fiber by mixing in some soaked horse hay pellets.

Also, try feeding some Mazuri, or the EU equivalent. These types of prepared pelleted foods are nutrient balanced and will help to even out any nutrient deficiencies in the diet. Can you get ZooMed Grassland or Forest tortoise pellets there? That would help too.

 

[philipgreece]

That's all pretty good. You might try adding in some fiber by mixing in some soaked horse hay pellets.

Also, try feeding some Mazuri, or the EU equivalent. These types of prepared pelleted foods are nutrient balanced and will help to even out any nutrient deficiencies in the diet. Can you get ZooMed Grassland or Forest tortoise pellets there? That would help too.

Yes I have already ordered grassland zoo med bit I haven't received it yet! Thank you!

 

[Tom]

Yes I have already ordered grassland zoo med bit I haven't received it yet! Thank you!

No tortoise likes the ZooMed food the first day they see it. Start by soaking a little tiny broken piece of a single pellet. Just a little corner of a piece. Then mix it all up with the greens. There should just be a few tiny flecks of it in a whole pile of chopped greens. It will likely take at least a few weeks before your tortoise likes it. Every tortoise I've done this with was reluctant to eat it at first, but all of them eventually came to love the stuff and seek it out. Its a good food and worth the effort. It should help to solve your rock eating problem.

 

[philipgreece]

No tortoise likes the ZooMed food the first day they see it. Start by soaking a little tiny broken piece of a single pellet. Just a little corner of a piece. Then mix it all up with the greens. There should just be a few tiny flecks of it in a whole pile of chopped greens. It will likely take at least a few weeks before your tortoise likes it. Every tortoise I've done this with was reluctant to eat it at first, but all of them eventually came to love the stuff and seek it out. Its a good food and worth the effort. It should help to solve your rock eating problem.

Hello my friend Tom! I gave him yesterday a little bit mineral oil! I saw today big poops! Should I continue you think with mineral oil or opuntia?

 

[Tom]

Hello my friend Tom! I gave him yesterday a little bit mineral oil! I saw today big poops! Should I continue you think with mineral oil or opuntia?

Its always good to feed opuntia. I would not do any more mineral oil if things are moving now.