Leopard Tort may be sick-please help

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Posted by Andrew on June 05, 2000 at 10:48:28:

I need some fast guidance because my little Leopard Tort (5") may be getting sick.

I took him to the vet two days ago and despite getting a clean bill of health, he hasn't been the same since. All the vet did was do a visual inspection, looked inside his mouth (which the Tort really hated) and checked for worms. However, I had to wait 90 minutes to see the vet and it was a pretty cold day (daytime high was 62). I kept my little guy in a box cushioned in an old blanket. The vet put him under a heat lamp in the examination room because he was pretty sluggish when I finally got in. The only other notable thing about the vet trip was the fact that my little guy was clearly nervous and peed about every ten minutes.

Since going to the vet, he's been pretty lethargic, just laying right under his basking light (which is set at about 90 degrees directly under it). On top of that he's spending a lot of time drinking water. I can understand that because of the amount of peeing he did at the vet. However, when he drinks he puts his whole face under the water and gets a lot of water in his nostrils. As a result, he makes a lot of bubbling noises afterward and water dribbles out of his snout. He also looks distressed because he pops his head in and out of his shell a few times and rubs his head against one of his front legs after drinking. I'm really worried about these noises because it sounds almost like he's aspirating water. He also seems to be eating less than he did.

I hope to heck he hasn't started getting a respiratory problem. Should I plan on getting him right back to the vet ASAP?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Follow Ups:

Thanks for the responses Andrew 06/05/00 (2)
- Re: Thanks for the responses EJ 06/05/00 (0)
- Great news Andrew, that tort's in good hands. n/p Terry 06/05/00 (0)
Re: Leopard Tort may be sick-please help EJ 06/05/00 (2)
- Re: Leopard Tort may be sick-please help Terry 06/05/00 (1)
  - One Final point. Terry 06/05/00 (0)
Re: Leopard Tort may be sick-please help Terry 06/05/00 (0)
Re: Leopard Tort may be sick-please help EJ 06/05/00 (0)

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: I need some fast guidance because my little Leopard Tort (5") may be getting sick. : I took him to the vet two days ago and despite getting a clean bill of health, he hasn't been the same since. All the vet did was do a visual inspection, looked inside his mouth (which the Tort really hated) and checked for worms. However, I had to wait 90 minutes to see the vet and it was a pretty cold day (daytime high was 62). I kept my little guy in a box cushioned in an old blanket. The vet put him under a heat lamp in the examination room because he was pretty sluggish when I finally got in. The only other notable thing about the vet trip was the fact that my little guy was clearly nervous and peed about every ten minutes. : Since going to the vet, he's been pretty lethargic, just laying right under his basking light (which is set at about 90 degrees directly under it). On top of that he's spending a lot of time drinking water. I can understand that because of the amount of peeing he did at the vet. However, when he drinks he puts his whole face under the water and gets a lot of water in his nostrils. As a result, he makes a lot of bubbling noises afterward and water dribbles out of his snout. He also looks distressed because he pops his head in and out of his shell a few times and rubs his head against one of his front legs after drinking. I'm really worried about these noises because it sounds almost like he's aspirating water. He also seems to be eating less than he did. : I hope to heck he hasn't started getting a respiratory problem. Should I plan on getting him right back to the vet ASAP? : Thanks for any help you can provide.

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