Sick greek

[kirby2591]

Its been about a week now that Juno (golden greek) has had a bubbly nose. She is still eating and has regular bowel movements. I raised her table temps and lowered the humidity to try combating the illness (Temps are 80-85F day and night and humidity 40). I've read that it takes torts a long time to do anything and this includes getting sick or more importantly getting better . Just wondering how long is long enough to start worrying.... and what's my next step.

Thank you in advance

 

[AZtortMom]

I'm not very familiar with your specific tort, so I hope someone with experience on your breed can chime in for you... I would think you would start to see something soon. Maybe a Vet visit is warranted since there has not been much improvement? Have you done any warm soaks or baby food soaks?


Life is good

 

[kirby2591]

Warm water soaks everyday since we've noticed and normally twice a week... somedays she seems to be getting better then her nose starts up again...

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Haven't done baby food seeing as she is still eating normally

 

[AZtortMom]

Ahh.. Poor baby a call to the vet may not hurt. I'm not sure what the normal temps are for your tort. I know the temps for sullies..


Life is good

 

[snickers]

Hey Kirby2591
In most cases, when tortoises start developing a nasal discharge it is a sign of a respiratory issue. This most commonly is found to be a bacterial pneumonia. A vet visit is definitely warranted in your case as his symptoms have not resolved and a course of antibiotics may be necessary to clear things up.

This may be a strange question but have you administered any oral fluids or medication via syringe? It is not uncommon when doing this that the fluid tends to come out of there nose (similar to some people when they laugh and milk comes out of there nose )

Hope this helps

 

[BeeBee*BeeLeaves]

Greek tortoises, I have read, are notorious for RNS, runny nose syndrome. Stress can cause it. It is not always bacteria induced. I would keep temps up, keep hydrated with available water and soaks. If eating and pooping, great. The thing about running off to the vet is that if it is stress and not bacterial they are going to give it medicine anyway to justify your visit and antibiotics can stress them even further internally and you are just going around in circles, and paying for it at that.

Antibiotic is just that, anti=against and bio=life ... you kill the bad and the good and you need good bacteria to fight the bad bacteria and now you have neither. Boost up the immune system with appropriate temps, or a little higher, hydration - maybe even baby food soaks, sunshine and a variety of foods in order to get all possible micro nutrients in there to help. My o-pine. : )

 

[kirby2591]

Snickers- no meds have been given, however we often feed Juno during her soaks and we spray her leaves down before putting them in the dish. Would this be considered enough oral fluid to cause a problem? She will still have a bubbly nose multiple hours after feeding. The thought behind wetting the food is to force her to hydrate some.

Beebee- I'm with you on the no antibiotic unless need be. I'm thinking about a vet visit regardless of the sickness. We purchased her from petsmart 2 months ago and while I don't think she has worms, I would like a check up and test just to rest my mind. I know a manager where we purchased her and they have a reptile specialist who also works at the brookfield zoo. I was told he observes and quarantines all new inventory.
As far as the stress goes, besides the minor tweaking done in the first week or so not much has changed. We feed her just about the same everyday. Lights are on timers. Every wed and Sunday morning I tend to her enclosure while she soaks next to me munching away. Would it take 2 months for the stress to show?
Also temps have been bumped up 5F(and not droppong at night), try to give as much variety food wise (limited to grocery store till outside temps cooperate), and no natural sun for the same reason as food.

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't keep Greek tortoises, and know next to nothing about them, however, I DO have Calif. desert tortoises and they are notorious for bubbly noses. I don't do anything at the first sign of a bubbly nose, as long as the tortoise is still eating and behaving normally. If the discharge turns colored, thick, or if the tortoise stops eating, then I take it to the vet for antibiotics. But I also request the vet do a mucous smear to find out what kind of bug we're dealing with so we know the correct antibiotic to administer.

 

[kirby2591]

I ment to ask if a test could be done to test that it is indeed an illness and not just stress. And by your response that would seem so.
The snot is thicker than water but not by much and the coloring seems to be clear. Do your DT's noses stop, if so about how long is each episode assuming it is not an illness?
Again thank you all for the help.

 

[Yvonne G]

Bubbly noses is sometimes caused by stress. I have a few females in with one male and when he's feeling amorous, I sometimes see bubbles on one or the other females.

Likewise, sometimes they come out of hibernation with bubbles. Hibernation is pretty stressful on tortoises too.

With allowing them to just be tortoises, good food, water and plenty of sunshine, they usually get over it in a week or so.

( I THINK it's called a culture and sensitivity test)