Re: Help!!! Leopard not eating!!!..plus eye infection

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Posted by Heather on May 05, 2000 at 23:17:54:

In Reply to: Help!!! Leopard not eating!!!..plus eye infection posted by Siobhan on May 05, 2000 at 20:42:09:

Hi,

Although upsetting, tortoises have the capacity to go for periods of time without eating. She will not die of starvation immediately, but you are right in wanting to get her to eat.

As someone else asked - do you see any signs of respiratory illness? Labored breathing, legs going in and out as it breathes, discharge or bubbles from the nose?

At what temps are you keeping her?
Generally, increased temps and soaking are in order for sick tortoises.
Hydration is very important to a sick toroise -
soak in warm water for 15 minutes at least 2 times a day. Even if your tortoise does not drink, she can soak up water through her cloaca.

If all else fails, try some Romaine lettuce - even though it isn't very nutritious, most torts can't refuse it and it is full of water so that can be a way to get water in her also. Once she starts eating again, you can incorporate the other foods and wean her off of it.

I just had a very sick CDT and she basked and basked, to the point where her shell was pretty warm to the touch. I increased temps a little, soaked several times a day and gave her Romaine soaked in a 50/50 pedialite/water solution.
It is important to keep her warm and moving around. If the tortoise is too cool, its system will shut down and won't fight sickness. If it is warm and moving, its system will be up and fighting.

BTW - Kale isn't a good tort food anyways...
I would also ditch the calcium drops as they are pretty useless - order some cuttlebone or powdered supplement from Annie instead

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: Hi, : Although upsetting, tortoises have the capacity to go for periods of time without eating. She will not die of starvation immediately, but you are right in wanting to get her to eat. : As someone else asked - do you see any signs of respiratory illness? Labored breathing, legs going in and out as it breathes, discharge or bubbles from the nose? : At what temps are you keeping her? : Generally, increased temps and soaking are in order for sick tortoises. : Hydration is very important to a sick toroise - : soak in warm water for 15 minutes at least 2 times a day. Even if your tortoise does not drink, she can soak up water through her cloaca. : If all else fails, try some Romaine lettuce - even though it isn't very nutritious, most torts can't refuse it and it is full of water so that can be a way to get water in her also. Once she starts eating again, you can incorporate the other foods and wean her off of it. : I just had a very sick CDT and she basked and basked, to the point where her shell was pretty warm to the touch. I increased temps a little, soaked several times a day and gave her Romaine soaked in a 50/50 pedialite/water solution. : It is important to keep her warm and moving around. If the tortoise is too cool, its system will shut down and won't fight sickness. If it is warm and moving, its system will be up and fighting. : BTW - Kale isn't a good tort food anyways... : I would also ditch the calcium drops as they are pretty useless - order some cuttlebone or powdered supplement from Annie instead

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