Re: Newbie question: What regular vet checks do tortoises need?

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Posted by EJ on June 09, 2002 at 08:43:31:

In Reply to: Newbie question: What regular vet checks do tortoises need? posted by Harry on June 09, 2002 at 03:35:38:

none if you pay attention to what is 'normal'.
The initial checkup is a strong suggestion whether it is captive born (CB) or wild caught (WC). Key indicators are activity, apatite, and fecal condition (gross,I know). You want to see the guy running around at least 8 hours a day. Mostly in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. You want to see the guy foraging when it is active. If you feed it every other day, look to see that it is interested in the food when you place it in the enclosure. Finally, the crap, or the fecal pellets, it sould be well formed and a little on the dry side depending on what you are feeding. If you are feeding moist items it is not going to be well formed which is not good considering you are using this as an indicator. With a good diet and the fecals are runny there is a good chance you have parasites and a vet visit is in order. Any deviation from this you really need to look into if something is 'wrong'
A vet visit can run 35 to 85 bucks in the US, depending on what the vet does. Most vets will do a fecal exam as part of the basic check up which is the lower end of the cost.
hope this helps.
Ed

Follow Ups:

Caresheets say that "a tortoise needs regular deworming" what is that? n/p Harry 06/09/02 (2)
- Re: Caresheets say that "a tortoise needs regular deworming" ... EJ 06/09/02 (1)
  - Thanks EJ. n/p Harry 06/09/02 (0)

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: none if you pay attention to what is 'normal'. : The initial checkup is a strong suggestion whether it is captive born (CB) or wild caught (WC). Key indicators are activity, apatite, and fecal condition (gross,I know). You want to see the guy running around at least 8 hours a day. Mostly in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. You want to see the guy foraging when it is active. If you feed it every other day, look to see that it is interested in the food when you place it in the enclosure. Finally, the crap, or the fecal pellets, it sould be well formed and a little on the dry side depending on what you are feeding. If you are feeding moist items it is not going to be well formed which is not good considering you are using this as an indicator. With a good diet and the fecals are runny there is a good chance you have parasites and a vet visit is in order. Any deviation from this you really need to look into if something is 'wrong' : A vet visit can run 35 to 85 bucks in the US, depending on what the vet does. Most vets will do a fecal exam as part of the basic check up which is the lower end of the cost. : hope this helps. : Ed

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