Sick Sully w/ Pseudamonas

[Tortugal]

I live in Southern CA near Ventura area and I recently took in a 9 yr old male sulcata (32lbs) who was showing signs of URI. The previous owners were considering euthanasia so I offered to at least foster the guy and get vet care for him. I have had tortoise experience with deserts and Russians, but this is my first sully. I have been researching like a mad woman and soaking in as much knowledge as I can. I've practically memorized Tom's care sheets and checked out sulcata station.org and ojaisulcataproject. He came with a wood house about 3ft long x 3ft wide x 3ft tall, and I have 2 heat lamps, one a CHE (100wt) and a purple nighttime heat light (75wt). I have been keeping his hut no lower than 70 at night and about 89-95 during the day because of his illness. He lives outside on dirt, has 2 water dishes- one large enough to soak his body and one smaller to drink. He is fed orchard grass hay, optunia cactus pads, dandelion greens, hibiscus flowers and some fresh grass. My backyard doesn't have grass, but I have picked some for him which he kinda picks at. I have cuttlebones that he eats too once a week. He does have an overgrown beak with a chip out on the left side which needs to be trimmed. The vet did a nasal swab on the nostril goo and cultured it along with a fecal sample. Both came back positive for Pseudamonas and his fecal had a lot of pinworms. I have started him on ciprofloxacin orally every 48 hours and panacur for the pinworms. I also have to give him tobramycin drops into his nares daily. The vet wanted to wait on the beak trim due to how stressed the poor guy was during the visit, and the fact he was tucked in his shell tight. Any recommendations are welcome!

 

[Yvonne G]

Good for you! Taking in a sick tortoise, especially one that big, is a good thing, indeed!

You can be trying to desensitize him by stroking his head and neck while he's occupied eating. But be careful. When they pull in fast and catch your fingers it hurts like heck! Move slowly around his head and maybe by the time you go back to the vet, he'll stay out of his shell.

 

[Dizisdalife]

My hats off to you for taking him in. This nice weather we are having should aid in his recovery. I think that he would benefit from a little warmer temperature at night. Maybe keep it a 80F until he is past this URI. When he is rid of the pin worms look out. He will be real hungry.

 

[kimber_lee_314]

I had a desert tortoise with pseudomonas once (brought to me that way) and it was a long haul, but he made it and still grazes happily in my yard today!!! I agree with keeping him extra warm and well hydrated. (My DTs drink best when I turn on the hose and they hear water splashing.) Mine had stopped eating, so I let him eat whatever grocery store greens he would eat at the time. He only wanted iceberg or romaine so I let him have it so he would stay hydrated and eating something (anything!) Slowly, he started grazing in the yard, but my point is - even not so healthy foods right now are okay while he is recovering. Thank you for helping this little one.

 

[Tortugal]

Thank you for the tips... I held a cactus pad just above my hand so it looks like I'm petting him, but I was trying to get him to see that having my hands close doesn't always mean something bad will happen. I was able to rest a finger on top of his head for a few seconds while he munched away. Progress! I will increase his night temps to 80 degrees too. I know fruit is bad but I have been hiding his cipro tablet in a quarter piece of strawberry every other day and so far he is none the wiser. How long was your DT on antibiotics for?

 

[Tortugal]

Just wanted to share a very happy update... Shelly has been doing great and has no nasal discharge or nose whistles for 7days! Vet said he is doing very well, and appetite increased a lot. I have one more dose of antibiotics to give him and hopefully he will be good to go!