Worms and restless box turtle?

[Cowboy_Ken]

I must admit, the picture doesn't look like worms to me. More like sphagnum moss. Worms usually are more like noodles. The tape worm segments are like flattened grains of rice, but the long worms like what you think you see in the picture would be full bodied like a noodle.

This is my thinking as well. Have you had a fecal done by a qualified veterinarian?

 

[smileyranger]

It's never a good idea to get a dosage of poison, yes, de-wormer is poison, from the 'net. You should always get your first dosage from a qualified vet. After that, you can administer yourself, but first get the correct dose from the vet.

Panacur comes in different strengths. The correct dose is figured using the weight of the animal and the % strength of the de-wormer.

I must admit, the picture doesn't look like worms to me. More like sphagnum moss. Worms usually are more like noodles. The tape worm segments are like flattened grains of rice, but the long worms like what you think you see in the picture would be full bodied like a noodle.

There are no qualified vets within hours of where I live, and driving hours, sadly, is not an option. I've not even found anyone who would give information as to what I should do over the phone.

It definitely looks different than it did when I found it in the water. (The picture was taken a day or so after that.) It was white, and sort of twisted up. I should have taken a picture then, but I guess I just wasn't thinking. Plus, the other symptoms do seem to match up with it being a worm.

The weight of the turtle is 11oz/300-ish grams, and if someone has experience in giving turtles panacur, I could provide information from the box, which coupled with the provided turtle weight, would be far more accurate than than anything I've found out thus far.

Like I've said, a vet visit would be ideal, however, it's not possible, and apparently, not legal either.

Thanks!

 

[leigti]

You don't necessarily need a reptile specialist. Any vets can do a fecal sample check for worms. and they can tell you the dosage based on the weight. well that's can also do an Internet search to tell them exactly what dosage to give a tortoise. you just have to find a vet that will work with you a little bit.

 

[smileyranger]

You don't necessarily need a reptile specialist. Any vets can do a fecal sample check for worms. and they can tell you the dosage based on the weight. well that's can also do an Internet search to tell them exactly what dosage to give a tortoise. you just have to find a vet that will work with you a little bit.

The only vet I've talked to so far that sounds like they might be willing to bend the rules and do that won't be available until Monday.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

A fecal is a fecal is a fecal. Get a real diagnosis and the dosing can be retrieved.

 

[smileyranger]

I haven't found anything to take in for a sample in a few days. Any advice on how to get that to happen?

 

[smileyranger]

There was a bowel movement, however, it seems like it consisted largely of the wood chunks that the bedding is made of. Could that be part of the strange behavior? It doesn't seem like there are worms in any of it, after using a microscope to double check. Should I still take the sample to get it tested? Also, does it need to be fresh to be accurately tested? The place that seemed like they might do it is about 15-20 minutes away, and it closes in about 30 minutes, and the exotic vet won't be there until Monday.

 

[leigti]

It can be from the night before or that morning. My tortoise is always polite enough to give a sample when they put her on the scale what do you mean by "bend the rules"? you can soak your Boxturtle to get a sample.

 

[smileyranger]

I have an update: The crazy behavior stopped for a while and then returned, and has been going on for the past few weeks. I haven't been home this week much at all, so I was more than surprised to see this...


It's about the suggested temp inside the house already, and sadly I did turn it before reading not to, but I figured I'd post this in case there's any follow-up turtle care that needs to happen! There's just one egg, and my turtle hasn't been around another turtle since 2006, so I'm guessing it's unfertilized after nearly 9 years, but still, it was quite the discovery!