Vet trip for Tia

[scats]

I’ve been a bit worried about Tia tortoise for a few weeks as she has stopped eating. Asked on quite a few of the tortoise forums I’m on and lots of people have been having the same problem, and everyone is putting it down to the weather/low pressure, but I decided to take her to a specialist exotics vet to be on the safe side.
So we trundled off to an exotic vet about 25 miles away today. Tia is a good weight and looks healthy, though she is slightly puffy at the front and there is a tiny bit of pink discolouration on her plastron, so the vet suggested we run full bloods and get her on some medication.
So I’m £300 lighter and Tia has had bloods taken and has come home with medication to be given twice a day and stuff to give her nutrient baths twice a day. Busy week for me!
Blood results should be back tomorrow or Wednesday.

Bless her, she was a bit traumatised I think so on the way home I put her on my lap and she climbed up me and snuggled into my neck (I wasn’t driving!)

 

[webble]

Oh blimey poor girl well done for finding a specialist vets

 

[Kunoichi73]

Poor Tia. Hope it's nothing serious!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Aww, {{{{{{Vibes}}}}}} hope the medication and baths help, and that the blood result doesn't show anything to worry about.

I remember seeing a Swedish veterinary show on TV, a clinic had tortoise that had been coming in for yearly checkups for some years, so they had developed a system where the owner dropped him off in the morning/let him loose to roam the clinic the whole day. By closing time the tortoise always allowed the veterinarian to actually have a look at him, but any earlier attempts was met by a firm No.
That's of course not possible when having to travel 25 miles to a vet that's specialised on exotic animals.

 

[scats]

She made us laugh because the vet sort of turned her upside down to check her underneath and Tia twisted her neck so her head was still the right way up and was looking at me as if to say “what’s this tool up to??”
Such great little characters.
I’m so glad I got her checked out. Just hope it’s nothing serious, or at least whatever it is can be treated.

I’ve decided I’m never going to be rich. Finding it impossible to get back on the straight and narrow with finances after my accident and it’s just one thing after another. Had to take out a loan recently to pay a tax bill, which I absolutely did not want to do.

Seriously starting to consider setting up an OnlyFans. Wonder if there’s much of a market for ‘Knackered horse woman holding a tortoise…’

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Pressed the Love reaction because I can just see her giving you that look at the vets.


About the Onlyfans, I assume there's lots of channels, so something unique that makes you stand out sounds like a great idea. Who knows, if you could train her to nibble your toes, maybe the two of you could attract loads of foot fetishists. Actually, some quick googling suggests some of them can get excited simply by seeing someone take off a sock, or not take off a sock, or buy your used socks...

 

[ArklePig]

I hope she feels better soon

 

[ycbm]

I’ve been a bit worried about Tia tortoise for a few weeks as she has stopped eating. Asked on quite a few of the tortoise forums I’m on and lots of people have been having the same problem, and everyone is putting it down to the weather/low pressure, but I decided to take her to a specialist exotics vet to be on the safe side.
So we trundled off to an exotic vet about 25 miles away today. Tia is a good weight and looks healthy, though she is slightly puffy at the front and there is a tiny bit of pink discolouration on her plastron, so the vet suggested we run full bloods and get her on some medication.
So I’m £300 lighter and Tia has had bloods taken and has come home with medication to be given twice a day and stuff to give her nutrient baths twice a day. Busy week for me!
Blood results should be back tomorrow or Wednesday.

Bless her, she was a bit traumatised I think so on the way home I put her on my lap and she climbed up me and snuggled into my neck (I wasn’t driving!)
View attachment 119718
View attachment 119719

You look so normal for a person with an insane pain threshold and a weird liking for realistic orang baby dolls who cuddles animals with shells.

I hope Tia is OK.
.

 

[scats]

Still no news on bloods but Tia has not been very cooperative for her syringe feed!!
My god her jaw is strong
I’m meant to syringe in 5ml of stuff morning and night but think I got about 2ml down her today. Most of it ended up on me or dribbling down her neck!
I sent my mum to the chemist to get a smaller syringe as I had dogs in back to back today (bless the pharmacist, when mum told him it was for a tortoise, he let her have it for free ) so will try again tomorrow.

She has however, had her two nutrient baths successfully.
I should get the bloods back tomorrow but I might have to speak to the vet about a different way to get the stuff in her (a feeding tube was mentioned). I’ve also ordered a new UV strip light as mine is a spot light type and the vet suggested trying a strip instead, so that should be here tomorrow.

Fingers crossed that we get something in her tomorrow!

 

[Kunoichi73]

Sending positive vibes for Tia!

 

[Ratface]

And yet more positive vibes from me, Old Horse and Madam Fatty Chatty Carrie Catty. XXX

 

[FinnishLapphund]

At least she's not a box turtle. I recently saw some videos about them on YouTube, and I imagine it's not easy to get medication into one of them, if they don't want to.

Hope you have better luck with giving Tia medication tomorrow.

 

[scats]

At least she's not a box turtle. I recently saw some videos about them on YouTube, and I imagine it's not easy to get medication into one of them, if they don't want to.

Hope you have better luck with giving Tia medication tomorrow.

I’m coming back as a box turtle!

 

[scats]

Blood results are in and she seems to have high calcium levels that may indicate a reproductive issue. She is point blank refusing to open her jaw for her feed so the vets said to continue with the nutrient baths and if she doesn’t start to eat over the weekend, she will go back in for imaging at the start of next week. Think they are looking for follicular stasis, which would mean she would need surgery to be spayed.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Fingers crossed the nutrient baths helps her body fix the problem herself.
But if it doesn't help, even though I assume it's a bit complicated to spay a tortoise, presumably either having to cut a hole in the shell, or somehow try to reach what needs reaching between the two shells, at least you're not out of treatment options.

 

[scats]

Fingers crossed the nutrient baths helps her body fix the problem herself.
But if it doesn't help, even though I assume it's a bit complicated to spay a tortoise, presumably either having to cut a hole in the shell, or somehow try to reach what needs reaching between the two shells, at least you're not out of treatment options.

Fingers crossed.
I’ve booked an appointment for Tuesday thinking that I can always cancel it if she suddenly starts eating, but at least it’s booked for if she doesn’t. I think it will be a case of them admitting her to carry out the scans/X-rays and then surgery if needed.

 

[Esmae]

Lawks!! Spaying a tortoise!! Not saying you shouldn't but never, ever heard of that.

 

[SilverLinings]

Only just seen this thread @scats, I hope Tia starts eating soon and makes a speedy recovery. She seems like such a sweet little character, although hopefully her cooperation on the feeding front improves ASAP.

With possible surgery on the horizon I hope you've taken the sage advice of @FinnishLapphund and started selling your socks on ebay- maybe you'll get more if Tia wears them first? Then you can attract foot fetish tortoise fans (or tortoise foot-fetish fans?)

 

[scats]

Lawks!! Spaying a tortoise!! Not saying you shouldn't but never, ever heard of that.

Unfortunately it’s the only option for follicular stasis as even if they remove them, the chance of it happening again is very high as the tortoises reproductive system has a problem.
I’ve been reading up on it today and it will kill a tortoise eventually if you don’t neuter those affected.

I’m terrified of losing her under anaesthetic but she’s only 4 so I’m going to give her a chance of a long life.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Unfortunately it’s the only option for follicular stasis as even if they remove them, the chance of it happening again is very high as the tortoises reproductive system has a problem.
I’ve been reading up on it today and it will kill a tortoise eventually if you don’t neuter those affected.

I’m terrified of losing her under anaesthetic but she’s only 4 so I’m going to give her a chance of a long life.

I usually don't quite like when people talk about anaesthetic as if it's nothing, of course there's risks with it, but at least they've gotten so much better, and knowledgeable about exotic pets these days than compared to let's say 25 years ago.
I live in Sweden's second largest city, and I'm not sure the then only emergency vet hospital that was open 24 hours in my city, even had an exotic pets department 25 years ago. But they do have one now.

 

[Esmae]

Unfortunately it’s the only option for follicular stasis as even if they remove them, the chance of it happening again is very high as the tortoises reproductive system has a problem.
I’ve been reading up on it today and it will kill a tortoise eventually if you don’t neuter those affected.

I’m terrified of losing her under anaesthetic but she’s only 4 so I’m going to give her a chance of a long life.

I really hope that all goes well, Just couldn't imagine how anyone would get to her bits. Bless her.

 

[scats]

I really hope that all goes well, Just couldn't imagine how anyone would get to her bits. Bless her.

I was wondering this so yesterday I did some Googling and I found a vet website with a case study and pictures of the procedure. They basically cut a trap door out of the plastron, remove what they have to, put the trap door back and then cover it in a waterproof sealant that kind of looks like tar/treacle. Apparently tortoises heal quite slowly and it can take up to 2 years for the plastron to heal itself!

If she has this procedure I will photograph the recovery and post in on her as it might be interesting to see.

 

[Esmae]

I was wondering this so yesterday I did some Googling and I found a vet website with a case study and pictures of the procedure. They basically cut a trap door out of the plastron, remove what they have to, put the trap door back and then cover it in a waterproof sealant that kind of looks like tar/treacle. Apparently tortoises heal quite slowly and it can take up to 2 years for the plastron to heal itself!

If she has this procedure I will photograph the recovery and post in on her as it might be interesting to see.

Sending shell like healing vibes to Tia

 

[oldandgold]

Keeping fingers crossed for Tia.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I was wondering this so yesterday I did some Googling and I found a vet website with a case study and pictures of the procedure. They basically cut a trap door out of the plastron, remove what they have to, put the trap door back and then cover it in a waterproof sealant that kind of looks like tar/treacle. Apparently tortoises heal quite slowly and it can take up to 2 years for the plastron to heal itself!

If she has this procedure I will photograph the recovery and post in on her as it might be interesting to see.

My curiosity made me also do a bit of googling last night before going to bed. I found a page talking about that due to a big increase in the number of desert tortoises ending up in tortoise rescues in some parts of USA, a veterinarian in 2015 or 2016 involved with one such rescue, developed a new, less invasive spaying method, which involves incisions near the back legs.
But perhaps it's not possible on all breeds of tortoises? Or maybe it's not a method your veterinarian have had a chance to learn.

 

[scats]

Little bit of positive today- she ate some romaine lettuce! Really tucked into it!
Aside from that she had a bit of a dig as it was water jug day (I tip water in and churn the substrate up) and had her two nutrient baths.
Hope I can tempt her with some more food tomorrow.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Not just nibbling, without really tucking in, oh, that sounds so positive. But I don't want to take out too much in advance, so I'll just say a small yay!

Fingers crossed for more improvements.

 

[SilverLinings]

I have my fingers crossed that she eats again today Scats, and that you are able to avoid surgery if possible. Hopefully as she ate some lettuce yesterday it has whetted her appetite.

 

[scats]

Unfortunately she’s back to not eating today. I can’t tempt her with anything. She’s just had her nutrient bath and now she’s gone to bask under her heat lamp.

 

[scats]

We returned to the vet this evening. Tia had an ultrasound and she does have follicles on each ovary. Follicles are normal provided they are released and develop into eggs. The problem is that some females, particularly when not around a male, get stuck in the follicle stage and either keep producing more and more, or they get very big and infected (and tortoises can’t swell up to accommodate this). The blood results with high calcium and liver enzymes also point to this.
The vet said he is reluctant to jump in just yet with surgery, as it’s a big operation. He said he’d like to try supportive care for a few more days and then rescan her to see how things are looking.

So it was either a feeding tube (£600…) and she came home with us or they’ll keep her in the hospital and syringe feed everyday (£70 hospitalisation per day, plus extra for meds). We will see if this stimulates her appetite at all. If not, we will make a better plan at the end of the week but the next step will likely be surgery. Another reason to give her a few days of supportive care is to strengthen her up for surgery, as she’s not properly eaten now since the start of July.

Good vibes appreciated, I do love my little tortoise.