Swelling

[Peggynurse]

I am a total worrier I came home from work and my little leopard tort has a mild swelling in her neck and I noticed she didn't eat all her food as usual I am going to book a appointment for her to see a vet but it may be a while since it is very hard to get a appointment any thoughts she acts normal otherwise ??

 

[Jan A]

I am a total worrier I came home from work and my little leopard tort has a mild swelling in her neck and I noticed she didn't eat all her food as usual I am going to book a appointment for her to see a vet but it may be a while since it is very hard to get a appointment any thoughts she acts normal otherwise ??View attachment 331320

To me, a lay person, it looks like your tort got its neck caught on something, like it's own shell, substrate, etc. So I'll leave it to our experts, but welcome to the forum. Someone will be along soon.

Is your tort having any problems breathing, eating or other symptoms? How long have you had him & how old is he? He's definitely a cutie.

 

[Peggynurse]

Less the one year old tort we have had it for a few months now not eating as well as normal that is what has me concerned. I was able to get her / him a appointment today after calling like 20 Vets ! No trouble breathing

 

[ZenHerper]

Make sure that your habitat contains the proper environment for Leopards...use this information to check your parameters:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

www.tortoiseforum.org

The most common reason for inappetence/illness in captive torts is incorrect environment.

 

[Peggynurse]

Make sure that your habitat contains the proper environment for Leopards...use this information to check your parameters:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

www.tortoiseforum.org

The most common reason for inappetence/illness in captive torts is incorrect environment.

Yes this care sheet is the only one I follow temp is 80 to 100 and humidity is usually 70 to 80 % enclosed environment soak her a few times per week she has been great until now I did catch her trying to eat the bark chips the other day Wich has me concerned that I maybe looking at a foreign body in her cheek

 

[ZenHerper]

Yes this care sheet is the only one I follow temp is 80 to 100 and humidity is usually 70 to 80 % enclosed environment soak her a few times per week she has been great until now I did catch her trying to eat the bark chips the other day Wich has me concerned that I maybe looking at a foreign body in her cheek

Foreign objects are problematic with youngsters...when was the last stool?

They hate it as much as human babies do...but you can try to visualize the mouth/upper throat by gently wiggling a tongue depressor into the side of the mouth.

Increase soaks to once daily -- add pureed grass clippings or curly endive for the nutrition. They can drink or even absorb some liquid through the tail vent.

 

[Peggynurse]

Foreign objects are problematic with youngsters...when was the last stool?

They hate it as much as human babies do...but you can try to visualize the mouth/upper throat by gently wiggling a tongue depressor into the side of the mouth.

Increase soaks to once daily -- add pureed grass clippings or curly endive for the nutrition. They can drink or even absorb some liquid through the tail vent.

I will leave the opening of the mouth to the Vet !! Haha last BM was this Am she is eating just not like her usual lawn mower self

 

[wellington]

I will leave the opening of the mouth to the Vet !! Haha last BM was this Am she is eating just not like her usual lawn mower self

I would not jump into running to a vet unless you know 100% he/she has a lot of experience with tortoises. Usually they don't and do more harm then good.
Just keep an eye on it. If it starts to look like it's getting a actual sore then put some neosporin on it or you can do that now.
If anything else gets worse then consider a vet. It may be a bug bite, or any of the other suggested causes.

 

[ZenHerper]

If she's eating, there's nothing in her mouth/throat preventing her biting and swallowing.

Do you keep a weight diary? Appetite can wax and wane (especially when sunlight is reduced, they can strongly cue from the actual outdoor environment -- if it's been cloudy or any smoke layer reaches to you in SD, CA) but weight will tell you a lot about actual week-to-week health status.

Do a daily grass-water soak just for the supplementation and keep an eye on things.

 

[Peggynurse]

Well less vet visit went ok I guess I let them put her on a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and that was it didn't want them to get too crazy so we will see how she does she did come home and eat a little of her soaked mizuri pellets wouldn't touch the herbivore critical care they gave me so we will see

 

[Peggynurse]

If she's eating, there's nothing in her mouth/throat preventing her biting and swallowing.

Do you keep a weight diary? Appetite can wax and wane (especially when sunlight is reduced, they can strongly cue from the actual outdoor environment -- if it's been cloudy or any smoke layer reaches to you in SD, CA) but weight will tell you a lot about actual week-to-week health status.

Do a daily grass-water soak just for the supplementation and keep an eye on things.

I do think she maybe having a little trouble swallowing ??? Maybe that's why she isn't eating as much but no open mouth breathing she isn't pawing at her face just the little swelling under her cheek she marches around her enclosure as usual

 

[Peggynurse]

Well less vet visit went ok I guess I let them put her on a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and that was it didn't want them to get too crazy so we will see how she does she did come home and eat a little of her soaked mizuri pellets wouldn't touch the herbivore critical care they gave me so we will see

Hell if she will not eat the critical care maybe I will soak her in it !!!??

 

[ZenHerper]

Drug clearance in reptiles is very slow - be sure to do a twice-daily soak.

Use a probiotic replacement labelled for reptiles. Disruption of the gut flora can be quite serious.

Whizz the Critical Care with some water in a blender to suspend the nutrients...then, yes you can use it to soak.

 

[Peggynurse]

Drug clearance in reptiles is very slow - be sure to do a twice-daily soak.

Use a probiotic replacement labelled for reptiles. Disruption of the gut flora can be quite serious.

Whizz the Critical Care with some water in a blender to suspend the nutrients...then, yes you can use it to soak.

Is there a particular probiotic you recommend ? Sprinkle on her food and hope she eats it ?

 

[Peggynurse]

Thank you all for being so helpful you all probably have more knowledge then the vet I saw today I do have a backup appointment set if she is not getting better they just couldn't see her for another week and this little tort means the world to my son she got him through his Covid depression

 

[ZenHerper]

Is there a particular probiotic you recommend ? Sprinkle on her food and hope she eats it ?

This is a powder:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058DVVAM/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This is a paste:

PETAG Bene-Bac Plus Bird & Reptile Gel Supplement, 15-g tube, 1 count - Chewy.com

Buy PetAg Bene-Bac Plus Bird & Reptile Gel Supplement, 15-g tube, 1 count at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

Thank you all for being so helpful you all probably have more knowledge then the vet I saw today I do have a backup appointment set if she is not getting better they just couldn't see her for another week and this little tort means the world to my son she got him through his Covid depression

Let us know how you're getting on.

 

[Peggynurse]

Well so far the little Tort is still eating little bits here and there ordered probiotics getting the anti-inflammatories into her has been a challenge she did like nibbling on the hibiscus flower I gave her

 

[Lyn W]

When I fed my tort critical care I made a paste of it and spread it on romaine leaves which was the only thing he was interested in. That may not be very helpful if he isn't eating though. I hope he's better soon.

 

[zovick]

This is a powder:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058DVVAM/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This is a paste:

PETAG Bene-Bac Plus Bird & Reptile Gel Supplement, 15-g tube, 1 count - Chewy.com

Buy PetAg Bene-Bac Plus Bird & Reptile Gel Supplement, 15-g tube, 1 count at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

Let us know how you're getting on.

Just FYI, Bene-Bac comes as a powder as well as a paste. Just pick which brand and type (paste or powder) you think your tortoise will eat most readily and try it. I always used the powder personally as I found the pastes more messy and harder to get my tortoises to accept.

PETAG Bene-Bac Plus Bird & Reptile Supplement, 4.5-oz bottle - Chewy.com

Buy PetAg Bene-Bac Plus Bird & Reptile Supplement, 4.5-oz bottle at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

 

[ZenHerper]

I know. Have ya seen the price? lol