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Posted by Paul V on July 06, 2000 at 07:26:29:
In Reply to: Suggestions to stimulate appetite posted by Tammy on July 06, 2000 at 00:45:02:
Separate the two tortoises for a while and feed them while they are apart. The dominant male may be intimidating the other tortoise.
You may also need to wean the tortoise off their accustomed diet. Add decreasing amounts of fruit to the proper diet until the animal is eating greens with the same zeal as they ate the fruit. And you needn't omit fruit altogether either. Although the bulk of the diet should be high-fiber, low fat/protein greens, a little fruit now and again will certainly not harm the tortoises. In the wild they eat whatever they happen upon, and fallen fruit is occasionally taken.
If that does not work, ask your vet about intercoelomic vitamin B injections. I cannot tell you the exact dosage, but my vet has used these successfully for some of my animals to stimulate appetite. But also keep in mind that if you must resort to medicinal treatment for appetite stimulation, there may be a more significant underlying problem that needs attention.
If I did it right, there should be a link below to the Tortoise Trust's website and an article regarding anorexia, but I say basically the same thing it does.
Ultimately, if the tortoises condition degrades far enough, it will be necessary to seek a vet's services to put in a pharyngostomy (feeding) tube. This is a considerably more involved, not to mention expensive, procedure.
HTH,
Paul V.
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