- Joined
- Jan 15, 2013
- Messages
- 2
Hi all,
I have a Russian tortoise and a while ago I noticed that some of his back toenails were breaking off. No open sores or cuts, they would just break, grow back, and break again. I upped his calcium powder to 2xs a week, but upon doing some research, I found that UV bulbs often stop emitting UV before the bulb burns out. I didn't know this, as I'm a new "mom" (and I feel absolutely horrible)!! I did a lot of research before I got Franklin, but I missed this important info! I immediately got him a new bulb, but a week or so after that I noticed a soft spot on his belly. He was very active and always ate. His mood was totally normal, just the soft spot really concerned me, so I made a vet appointment.
I took him to the vet on Saturday, and she prescribed a dewormer (2 doses), calcium injections (daily, for 1 week), Baytril (6 doses, given every other day). The first 2 injections were done at the vet, and all day Saturday and Sunday he was very lethargic. He did come out to eat, though, but immediately burrowed again right afterwards for the rest of the day. Then, yesterday (Monday) morning, I let him out of his habitat and let him roam around the room a bit. He seemed to be doing well. After his injections (calcium and Baytril), though, he threw up and wouldn't move much, so I called the vet. She said to stop the Baytril and then prescribed 10 doses of Gentocin, to be given every 72 hours. I haven't given him this yet. I am going to start tomorrow.
My worry is that he wasn't lethargic until after I took him to the vet and gave him the Baytril. Also, I was informed by a friend in vet school that Baytril should be injected into the hind legs and unfortunately can cause a lot of harm like renal failure...my vet told me the front legs! Could this have made things worse? I'm just really worried that the Gentocin will make him sick, too, and he won't recover. It's concerning that he's so lethargic, when this wasn't an issue before I took him to the vet.
Any advice would be appreciated! I'm very worried about Franklin!
Thanks in advance,
Jade
I have a Russian tortoise and a while ago I noticed that some of his back toenails were breaking off. No open sores or cuts, they would just break, grow back, and break again. I upped his calcium powder to 2xs a week, but upon doing some research, I found that UV bulbs often stop emitting UV before the bulb burns out. I didn't know this, as I'm a new "mom" (and I feel absolutely horrible)!! I did a lot of research before I got Franklin, but I missed this important info! I immediately got him a new bulb, but a week or so after that I noticed a soft spot on his belly. He was very active and always ate. His mood was totally normal, just the soft spot really concerned me, so I made a vet appointment.
I took him to the vet on Saturday, and she prescribed a dewormer (2 doses), calcium injections (daily, for 1 week), Baytril (6 doses, given every other day). The first 2 injections were done at the vet, and all day Saturday and Sunday he was very lethargic. He did come out to eat, though, but immediately burrowed again right afterwards for the rest of the day. Then, yesterday (Monday) morning, I let him out of his habitat and let him roam around the room a bit. He seemed to be doing well. After his injections (calcium and Baytril), though, he threw up and wouldn't move much, so I called the vet. She said to stop the Baytril and then prescribed 10 doses of Gentocin, to be given every 72 hours. I haven't given him this yet. I am going to start tomorrow.
My worry is that he wasn't lethargic until after I took him to the vet and gave him the Baytril. Also, I was informed by a friend in vet school that Baytril should be injected into the hind legs and unfortunately can cause a lot of harm like renal failure...my vet told me the front legs! Could this have made things worse? I'm just really worried that the Gentocin will make him sick, too, and he won't recover. It's concerning that he's so lethargic, when this wasn't an issue before I took him to the vet.
Any advice would be appreciated! I'm very worried about Franklin!
Thanks in advance,
Jade