Sub-Q (or SC) injections for hydration - DO NOT DO IT AT THIS LOCATION!!!

[Mantissa3]

My little 3-year-old RF Gibby has had it rough lately. I put all that into another post here, with before and after xrays documenting the hard object Gibby swallowed, and has since passed:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/green-and-yellow-mucous-please-help-with-experiences.118173/

I just wanted to warn everybody not to ever let a vet do sub-Q or Subcutaneous fluid injections at this site in the uploaded x-ray.

I've circled the regions where they gave Gib fluid injections, and his back legs and tail became paralyzed and he's now pawing with his front feet and dragging his back end to try to walk!!!

The vet said she'd never seen anything like it. Then she called an experienced herp vet and he said sure- it has happened a lot in tortoises that get the injections under the skin in the location just above the legs- there is a baggy flap of skin in the hollow of the shell, just above (towards the head) of the legs.

He also said he believes it will be transient paralysis, but nobody knows the damage sustained, so we are waiting hopefully and prayerfully that Gibby can walk again.

Just wanted to warn you all- I've seen posts saying back legs and tail paralysis are from impacted digestive tract, MBD, and calcium imbalance, but I can't find anything on the tortoiseforum.org detailing this injection site being dangerous for nerve bundles and paralysis of the back legs and tail....

Here's Gibby's x-ray, and the red circles are the injection sites - DO NOT LET ANY VET USE THAT SITE FOR INJECTIONS FOR YOUR TORTOISE EVER.

Hope this helps others,
Karen, Gibby, Pumpkin and Bump

 

[Yvonne G]

I certainly do hope your baby is able to get past this trying time. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Mantissa3]

I certainly do hope your baby is able to get past this trying time. Thanks for the heads up.

Thank you for the good wishes! Just hoping we can quickly get past the back leg paralysis, and that there are no lasting ill effects!

Karen and baby Gibby

 

[Carol S]

I hope Gibby gets well soon.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks for sharing. My vet actually owns a tortoise and still seemed a bit vague as in knowing what to do about my sick Redfoot.

 

[Jodie]

Thanks for sharing. I am hoping for a speedy full recovery for Gibby.

 

[Randi]

My reptile vet had told me to never let anyone inject anything in the back legs or near the back legs. She had said there are too many complications with the back legs. Mine got subcutaneous fluid in the front legs. I'd see if there's a vet association that you could contact - I'd let them know about your situation. The vet has to be held responsible.. I'm sorry for your troubles. I hope it all works out and your tort regains the use of the back legs. Best of luck to you and yours.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

So sorry to hear about this.
Sending good vibes that poor Gibby makes a full and speedy recovery.

 

[crimson_lotus]

My vet also told me to inject in the front legs as well. Wishing you the best.

 

[Mantissa3]

First- everyone here- thank you so very much for your help and support. Yesterday, I felt Gibby give up a little- previously, every single day he would get up and go at it- trying to do his normal routine. Red foots love, love, love their normal routines (I once moved Gib's water dish a few inches and put in a new little plant for shade for the summer and he hid and pouted for 3 days....) Yesterday, he just laid around and most of the day didn't even try to get up and walk around or react to his normal routine.

So- I went on LocalVets.com and found a vet fairly close to my home that is an independent, and has amazing affiliations with the UC Davis Vet Medicine College, and lectures and travels talking to other vets about tortoise care. I got in, magically, and he helped me so very much with some common sense advice and very minimal treatment yesterday- he simply gave Gib a few mL of a "warm tortoise ringers enema". He uses base chemistry from lactated ringers solution, but modifies it chemically to maintain the calcium to phosphorous ration needed by red foots.

He told me that they have an amazing ability to "recycle" fluids inside their bodies for many days- sometimes a couple of weeks, so I shouldn't be surprised if Gib didn't pass any feces for a while. Or he could have a bowel movement, or he could just expel the fluids back out during the night (that's what happened). He did a complete set of x-rays focused just on Gibby's legs- there are no breaks in the bones, and the hip, knee and ankle joints are not dislocated, thank God! He said to keep Gib warm and safe, give him food and exercise on his timeline- not ours, and to basically just love him and wait. Best advice I've had across 4 different vets who pumped him full of chemicals, injected crap into his little system at the wrong anatomical points on his body, ran random lab tests, and didn't even listen to what the others had done previously.

This amazing vet listened and reviewed all Gib's recent records for about 15 minutes prior to even asking to see Gibson. He was thoughtful and kind to Gib when he handled him (other vets have been rapidly tipping him upside down and kind of rough with him- which traumatized him further...)

Anyway- if anybody needs a good vet in the San Francisco Bay Area, I highly recommend this great clinic. Yvonne G. is going to put him on our tortoiseforum.org list of reliable and helpful tortie vets next week.

Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital Call510-731-6004
Hours: M-F 8:00am - 6:00pm
Services: Animal Flea Control, Animal Microchipping, Bird Vet, Exotic Animal Vet, Reptile Vet, Small Animal Vet, Spaying/Neutering, Veterinarians, Veterinary Dentistry, Veterinary Euthanasia, Veterinary Medical Specialties, Veterinary Surgery, Veterinary Vaccinations
Description Bios

Dr. Rene Gandolfi Dr. Rene Gandolfi, founder and chief veterinarian at Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital, brings extraordinary experience and resources to the hospital:

Dr. Gandolfi graduated second in his class from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1981; he has been serving the Castro Valley Community since 1987.

He is a board-certified specialist in Canine and Feline Animal Care and a recognized expert in exotic species, including ferrets, bats and fish.

He routinely lectures on a variety of subjects at veterinary symposia and conferences.

He is the Veterinary Director of Fix our Ferals, an all-volunteer spay and neuter clinic for homeless cats.

He teaches the critical care course for the RVT program at Western Career College, and sits on the College's advisory baord.

He conceived and acted as Veterinary Director of the 1991 (Oakland) Firestorm Lost Pet Hotline.

Prior to becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Gandolfi taught high school (Chemistry, Astronomy and Algebra), and continued to work with children by referreeing high school and youth soccer.

Dr. Gandolfi is very interested in the professional growth of his staff, and approaches every situation with integrity, and compassion.
2509 Lessley Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Call 510-731-6004 Now To Make An Appointment

 

[Mantissa3]

My dear little Gibby died today- my heart is broken.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Oh no!! I'm so sorry

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

OMG, I'm so terribly sorry.
Tragic.

 

[Randi]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope the memories you two made bring you comfort and peace.

I know this will probably be the last thing you'd want to do.. I'd see if there's a place to report the vet that injected the back legs. I doubt you are the only one they've done it to and it may prevent things like this from happening again to others.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. Keep your chin up.

 

[sissyofone]

So Sorry For Your Loss. Please take comfort in knowing you did your best. And your little ones not suffering anymore.

 

[Mantissa3]

Thank you, all of you, for taking the journey of the past 3 weeks with little, dear Gibby and me. It means so much that you all understand the huge hole, the loss, the guilt and wondering constantly, "What if I'd done this, or not done that..." I miss him terribly. Am starting a new thread now in the RF section to memorialize what he meant to my husband and me. Thank you to you all so very much,
Karen

 

[Mantissa3]

My tribute page is up here: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...gibby-my-heart-is-broken.119101/#post-1102957