Very sick Sulcata

[Brittni61886]

So i purchased a sulcata from petland a couple of months ago where they told me to just feed him romaine lettuce or a container of tortoise food and Squirt would be fine on that. I bought Rep-Cal Tortoise food as suggested by someone who has had sulcatas and are now atleast 15 years old and older. I also put calcium and vitamin powder on his veggies. I built Squirt a 3 by 4 foot enclosure and used bed-a-beast. I keep his temp at about 82-90 degrees with the lights he has plenty of water and i feed him twice a day. He has recently developed what looks like shell rot on his plastron,his plastron is getting soft. Also tonight he had this baby formula spit up squirt out of his bottom and shoot out about 3 feet. After that he did poop but it was very pebblely. I'm taking him to the vet as soon as i can get an appointment (exotic vets are hard to find and very far away), but until then I was just wondering if anyone had any idea on what i can do to make him more comfortable until then. Id appreciate any advice.

 

[Brittni61886]

So i purchased a sulcata from petland a couple of months ago where they told me to just feed him romaine lettuce or a container of tortoise food and Squirt would be fine on that. I bought Rep-Cal Tortoise food as suggested by someone who has had sulcatas and are now atleast 15 years old and older. I also put calcium and vitamin powder on his veggies. I built Squirt a 3 by 4 foot enclosure and used bed-a-beast. I keep his temp at about 82-90 degrees with the lights he has plenty of water and i feed him twice a day. He has recently developed what looks like shell rot on his plastron,his plastron is getting soft. Also tonight he had this baby formula spit up squirt out of his bottom and shoot out about 3 feet. After that he did poop but it was very pebblely. I'm taking him to the vet as soon as i can get an appointment (exotic vets are hard to find and very far away), but until then I was just wondering if anyone had any idea on what i can do to make him more comfortable until then. Id appreciate any advice.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I'm kinda guessing here but that could be urates...urine. That's not a diet. Romaine is not a diet. Here's a couple of care sheets to help you as I'm not able tonight to sit here long enough to type.

http://africantortoise.com/

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/sulcatacare.htm

You can read up on these while you are waiting for someone who can really help you

 

[nrfitchett4]

maybe urates. You wouldn't think it is old enough to deposit calcium deposits, do you? I would definitely change the diet and take the poo and the tort to the vet.

 

[TKCARDANDCOIN]

What kind of lighting do you have for squirt? Do you have a UVB Bulb?

 

[Kristina]

You say he has plenty of water, but do you actually SOAK him everday?

Kristina

 

[dcoolguy68]

If his was pebbly that might not be a good sign, unless it was dried up then it could be his urates which is normal if he doesn't do it so often. If your taking his poo to the vet make sure its a fresh sample from that same day. But as a warning his first visit might be quite expensive. How old is Squirt by the way?

 

[Brittni61886]

He has a uvb light and he gets soaked every other day and he is about 3 months old. We took him to a vet today that honestly had to look online for info and i really wasnt satisfied with the results, but she did give us some medicine for his shell and is ordering some orchard grass hay for us. She recomended alfalfa hay which i read wasnt good for sulcatas. I'm getting him an appointment with a vet that is about 2 hours away (closest i can find) who is supposed to specialize in exotics and specifically tortoises.

 

[TKCARDANDCOIN]

What did the vet have to say? I would keep up on the soaks(daily) just to make sure he is getting some fluids.Especially if he is on meds.I hope everything works out.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

He has a uvb light and he gets soaked every other day and he is about 3 months old. We took him to a vet today that honestly had to look online for info and i really wasnt satisfied with the results, but she did give us some medicine for his shell and is ordering some orchard grass hay for us. She recomended alfalfa hay which i read wasnt good for sulcatas. I'm getting him an appointment with a vet that is about 2 hours away (closest i can find) who is supposed to specialize in exotics and specifically tortoises.

Would you mind telling me what city you live in? It's possable to find one on Vets list I have...

 

[Laura]

If your tort is that young, he probably wont eat the orchard grass. but if you get Spring Mix salad at the store and chop up the hay and sprinkle it on top or place in a bag with the salad mix some water and shake it.. then he will get some of it that way.
If you can get him outside into Real sun.. that is best.
good luck.
Our Petland refuses to sell sulcatas.. the one good thing about the store!

---

oh and you can buy orchard or timothy hay in small bags for rabbits at your local walmart.. much cheaper them other stores..

 

[nrfitchett4]

possibly soak him in the sweet potato baby food would help with hydration and nutrition. I did it for mine the first couple of days when she was on a hunger strike.
Now every morning when I get home from work, she is all wet, just having finished her bath by herself.