Re: Leopard not digesting?

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Posted by Marissa on February 02, 1999 at 09:33:48:

In Reply to: Leopard not digesting? posted by Chris on February 01, 1999 at 23:40:08:

Where are you located? What made you decide to get a WC Leopard tortoise? Obviously most people advise against that, as it keeps the collectors busy taking wild tortoises from their natural habitats, and WC specimens ALWAYS tend to have more problems adjusting to captive life, and are almost always loaded with parasites, worms, etc. I think a vet visit immediately is in order. Even if you do not have a herp vet, a regular vet will have to do. Get the vet to examine the tortoise, and have him send a fecal sample to the lab for culture and examination. If the tortoise has worms/parasites, then the vet can treat for those. If the vet doesn't know what to do, we can help him with dosage information and possible get him in touch with a reptile vet. Even through ARAV (Association of Reptile & Amphibian Veterinarians-they have a website online). Your leopard could be having a number of problems, so a vet visit should clear up any issues. Also, I would not advise just dosing your tortoise with Metranidazole (Flagyl) without finding out if/what parasites it has. Flagyl can cause sterile gut syndrome and give your tortoise even more digestive problems, so that's why a fecal exam should be the first step. Have your vet check also for Giardia and Hexamita Parva, just in case. Good luck!

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: Where are you located? What made you decide to get a WC Leopard tortoise? Obviously most people advise against that, as it keeps the collectors busy taking wild tortoises from their natural habitats, and WC specimens ALWAYS tend to have more problems adjusting to captive life, and are almost always loaded with parasites, worms, etc. I think a vet visit immediately is in order. Even if you do not have a herp vet, a regular vet will have to do. Get the vet to examine the tortoise, and have him send a fecal sample to the lab for culture and examination. If the tortoise has worms/parasites, then the vet can treat for those. If the vet doesn't know what to do, we can help him with dosage information and possible get him in touch with a reptile vet. Even through ARAV (Association of Reptile & Amphibian Veterinarians-they have a website online). Your leopard could be having a number of problems, so a vet visit should clear up any issues. Also, I would not advise just dosing your tortoise with Metranidazole (Flagyl) without finding out if/what parasites it has. Flagyl can cause sterile gut syndrome and give your tortoise even more digestive problems, so that's why a fecal exam should be the first step. Have your vet check also for Giardia and Hexamita Parva, just in case. Good luck!

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