How to Quarantine your sick Tortoise

[hermannslover]

excellent info, im quarantining a tort at the mo and from those points and those that've been added.... im doing everything right!

[cornpython]

putting a few drops of lemon juice into the bath water helps to clear up 'runny nose' sickness as well

[dot1]

please give me some ideas on how to get my leopard tortoise to start eating for me

Originally Posted by wohic

HOW TO QUARANTINE YOUR SICK TORTOISE!


This is for anyone who is not quite sure on each step you will need to take when your tortoise needs to be in quarantine! I.E. If they have Runny Nose Syndrome !.


1) Take tortoise away from any other torts and keep in a table on its own, if in the house I would also say to keep in a different room to the other torts as well so they are not sharing the same air supply.
2) If outdoor enclosure, when stepping into one that has a contagious tortoise clean shoes with disinfectant
And try to leave them to last to help with this process.
3) Always wash hands with anti-bacterial soap or sanitizer every time!! you handle the tort! Or you could use disposable gloves, every time you handle the tort.
4) If you think any bodily fluids of any kind has got on your cloths , change them before going near any other tort or pet!
5) Sterilise there water pot every day and slate that you feed them on, using boiling water or a tortoise safe disinfectant!
6) When tort is better, thoroughly sterilise there indoor and outdoor enclosure and put fresh substrate in and fresh bedding, you wouldn’t want to re catch the illness through a dirty home!.


Written by Rachael ( Mollbags)

[Tortoise Trust]

Can I just correct the impression given in this thread that alcohol-based 'sanitiser' gels or liquids are an adequate method to present cross infection? They are not. They should absolutely NOT be relied on as the main or only defence. They are a secondary measure only. They do not work if your hands are even slightly dirty, and you need a minimum 30 second all-over exposure. Even then, they are of limited value against many pathogens encountered in tortoises and they offer practically no residual activity. A much, much better option is to first wash hands in soap and water, and follow up with not an alcohol-based gel, but one based on benzalkonium chloride. These are much more effective. They are also kinder to skin and are safer (they're non-flammable - an issue around heaters/lights). You can get it under various brands, including as 'Wipeout 4'.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[helen2]

Thanks for that Andy....I sure neber realised that my gel wasnt worth its salt...so to speak.

What about F10?

Will get soem Wipeout for the new tort room after xmas....which is when it is finished...

[Tortoise Trust]

F10 is based on quaternary ammonia and a Biguanidine compound, Polyhexanide, I believe.

It's kill time for some of the nastier pathogens that might be encountered in chelonia is very slow (30 minutes+ for some viruses, and 15 minutes+ for some fungi). For environmental disinfection something like Virkon-S is substantially more potent. Good old bleach, used properly, is also very effective (not on hands, obviously). For hands, soap and water and benzalkonium chloride is the best route.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[wizzasmum]

Originally Posted by Tortoise Trust

Can I just correct the impression given in this thread that alcohol-based 'sanitiser' gels or liquids are an adequate method to present cross infection? They are not. They should absolutely NOT be relied on as the main or only defence. They are a secondary measure only. They do not work if your hands are even slightly dirty, and you need a minimum 30 second all-over exposure. Even then, they are of limited value against many pathogens encountered in tortoises and they offer practically no residual activity. A much, much better option is to first wash hands in soap and water, and follow up with not an alcohol-based gel, but one based on benzalkonium chloride. These are much more effective. They are also kinder to skin and are safer (they're non-flammable - an issue around heaters/lights). You can get it under various brands, including as 'Wipeout 4'.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

I am so glad this has been pointed out as I have seen so many people use alcohol based gels as though they somehow magically make everything OK.

[Romski]

Could you add Andy's comments on hygene to the post on quarantine as together they form a stronger and broader statement?

Rom

[frayer91]

Hay i got a yellow bellied slider and im a bit worried about it because he/she isnt eating. What should i do?? Please let me know asap please. Thanks

[scottishtortoises]

Hi there,

Would just like to say hand sanitizer lotions should be used as a first protection. BUT before handling other pets exspecially torts you must wash your hands with hot soapy water. And dry with paper towels which can be then binned!

Dylan