Hey guys. I have a Russian Tortoise that took a pretty big fall the other day. I had him outside on my balcony to get some sunlight (he loves going out there) and while I was outside watching him, I took my eyes away for not even a minute, and he climbed up the railing and fell down onto my neighbors balcony, about 10-12 feet onto pretty hard surface (please don't yell at me, I know I made a mistake and I'm already very upset with myself for letting that happen). So, I was horrified and I ran down to my neighbors apartment, told them my tortoise was on their balcony, and got the him. By the time I got to him (which was a few minutes after he fell), he did manage to get up and walk to the other end of the balcony. Which, I was so thankful he was able to walk and move. I brought him back my my apartment and let him rest. I gave him some food about an hour afterwards and he ate normally. I also gave him a bath and he drank and pooped normally. Since the whole ordeal, which was three days ago, he has been acting fairly normal, eating normal, drinking normal, digging normally, and the strength in his legs are still the same. His shell was not cracked at all either (thank God!)
However, there are a few noticeable issues. One, he did get a cut on his foot. It was bleeding a little, but I stopped the bleeding, put hydrogen peroxide on it, and used a liquid bandage to seal it up. I've been cleaning it twice a day since then with the peroxide and the bandage. It is a little bit swollen. But he does have strength in it and can move it, walk on it, etc. Any more advice on what I should do about the cut? Also secondly, he is sleeping a bit more than usual. Before, he was more active and was always walking around on the substrate. Now he seems to want to just eat, and sleep. He'll wake up after a few hours, find a new spot, dig, and sleep. I'm thinking maybe because of the cut on his foot, or maybe he's still a bit shaken up and maybe a bit sore/bruised?
I may sound overly concerned but, I just love this little guy. And I really cannot afford a vet, called 3 in my area and they all want way more than I have just for the visit. I'm hoping you all could give me some advice. I think he will be ok, overall he seems ok, but I would like some more opinions. And I want to make sure I'm dealing with his cut appropriately so it doesn't get infected.
I also posted some pictures so you can all see (one is of the balcony where he fell, one is just him out of his enclosure, and other is of him sleeping where you can see his swollen foot). Any feedback is appreciated, Thank you!
(FYI, learned by lesson about taking him outside. He's only going outside in his enclosure and I'm watching him like a hawk!)
However, there are a few noticeable issues. One, he did get a cut on his foot. It was bleeding a little, but I stopped the bleeding, put hydrogen peroxide on it, and used a liquid bandage to seal it up. I've been cleaning it twice a day since then with the peroxide and the bandage. It is a little bit swollen. But he does have strength in it and can move it, walk on it, etc. Any more advice on what I should do about the cut? Also secondly, he is sleeping a bit more than usual. Before, he was more active and was always walking around on the substrate. Now he seems to want to just eat, and sleep. He'll wake up after a few hours, find a new spot, dig, and sleep. I'm thinking maybe because of the cut on his foot, or maybe he's still a bit shaken up and maybe a bit sore/bruised?
I may sound overly concerned but, I just love this little guy. And I really cannot afford a vet, called 3 in my area and they all want way more than I have just for the visit. I'm hoping you all could give me some advice. I think he will be ok, overall he seems ok, but I would like some more opinions. And I want to make sure I'm dealing with his cut appropriately so it doesn't get infected.
I also posted some pictures so you can all see (one is of the balcony where he fell, one is just him out of his enclosure, and other is of him sleeping where you can see his swollen foot). Any feedback is appreciated, Thank you!
(FYI, learned by lesson about taking him outside. He's only going outside in his enclosure and I'm watching him like a hawk!)