you need to get him to the vets ASAP. IT sounds like it couldbe an RI and they can be fatal, its a matter of every second counts before it develops into pneumonia or worse.

what is his basking temp? what is he kept on? how old is he? where did you get him from? do you have a red light bulb??

 

Definitely sounds like an RI, but is opening and closing mouth a symptom of this?

 

ok, can you give us more info please. Is his mouth and tongue a nice pink coulour? Has anything got in his eyes that could be irritating them? Is his nose runny? and how often do the bubbles come out of his nose?

i am concerned that this could be RNS - runny nose syndrome but wait for one of the more knowledgeable folks to come online before coming to any conclusions.

 

It does sound like he needs a vet, and most of them don't come cheap! Sorry I don't known any in your neck of the woods, but I am sure someone will help you.

 

Out of interest, where did you buy your tortoise from? did he/she come with article 10 certificate?

 

At Home With The Presley's

Whats one of those??
Got mine from what I thort was a reputible rep shop??
Thanks
A x

Out of interest, where did you buy your tortoise from? did he/she come with article 10 certificate?

 

if his head is extended like he is looking at the sky and then opening his mouth its normally indicative of low temperatures. this also means the odd nose bubble happens but it rapidly leads to pneumonia.hence the question about the red lightbulb. the temps need to be increased ASAP and all through the night to try an combat it. then a vet can be sought tomorow.

 

I have heard from a post on shelled warriors that there is a good herp vet in Northumberland - Prescotts - Morpeth 01670 512275 - I dont know how far away that would be from you.

 

thats miles away im inteeside,
the recomended vet to me was jaquie peaterson Grange Veterinary Hospital, The > Veterinary Services in Darlington area
Tel: 01325 465371 - Grange Veterinary Hosp Victoria Rd, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 5SJ (1.55 miles) some people like her others dont .shes a specialist vet tho


herd that vets for pest is good in darlington never been tho

 

thats miles away im inteeside,
the recomended vet to me was jaquie peaterson Grange Veterinary Hospital, The > Veterinary Services in Darlington area
Tel: 01325 465371 - Grange Veterinary Hosp Victoria Rd, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 5SJ (1.55 miles) some people like her others dont .shes a specialist vet tho


herd that vets for pest is good in darlington never been tho

I agree it's not on your doorstep but if they are very good then it's only about 16 miles away - I travel further than that to make sure mine go to a specialist - just a thought !!!!

 

he is 1 years old and kept in a vivarium he has a basking lamp that gets to 90 farenhight (spelling) but it isnt red. he hasnt been eating food i give him for the last 3 weeks but has eaten a few dandelion leaves in the guarden. that means i havnt been able to give him his vitamins and calcium supplement. we got him from Tortoise Centre over the phone and he didnt come with any certificate :/ i have only seen 1 bubble since he started yesterday morning. can someone tell me about how much a vet would cost ? iv never been to one before.. :/

 

If it did not come with any certificate then it is illegal, it was also illegal for them to sell you it. Tort should never be kept in vivariums! tortoise tables only!
sorry but why do people always have to be told this?

 

Please be carefully about naming a company and implying that they are selling illegal tortoises. T-Bo will get a writ otherwise.

There is no chance that Wilton's would sell an illegal tortoise it is a Horsfield and does not need paperwork.

Now this sounds like a RI infection and this torts needs to see a vet, specialist if possible but a normal should be able to follow reptile texts. A Viv is fine for a horsfield but it must be modified, IE huge vet holes and if possible take the glass out and place a barrier in front to stop him falling out.

As a lot of people know I had a problem with my tortoise Mad eye last week luckily I had access to some baytril.

A normal visit will cost about £25 and then there will be further visits to inject the rest of the dose

 

all vets are different prices. can go between £15 and £40 for a consult.

is he breathing with his mouth open and his head extended? if he is you should really try to increase his temps (red lamp at night time) to atleast 27-28c and keep it that way all night and then raise it a little more in the day with a white basking lamp. he could have pneumonia. you should get him a vet asap, regardless of the cost. if you dont have the money get googling for your nearest PDSA and explain. if there is no PDSA, call ANY vet and tell them whats happening. they will shouldtry to sort out a paymant plan for you.

 

and if you DO have a vivarium KEEP HIM IN IT. it will be much easier to manage the temperatures and create a warmer environment to help him fight this. if you have a heat mat and thermostat, use it to raise the temp to 27-28c. hopefully Ed will be able to give soem more advcie

 

If he is a Horsfield (think that is what you said before) you don't need any paperwork for him.

I personally would not have him in a viv, he can't get out of the heat when he needs too. I only use tort tables with a spot light at one end for basking and a UV tube.

Have you been bathing the tort? He could be dehydrated. Bath him in hand warm water a couple of times a day.

You are lucking at probably a minimum of £25 just walking through the door at the vets. Who knows what the cost will be to sort the little guy out. Have you had him long? If you haven't I would be taking it up with who you bough the tort from.

 

I personally would not have him in a viv, he can't get out of the heat when he needs too.

for the sake of controlling an illness and treating suspected peumonia its important to raise the ambient temperature so the tortoises body tries to fight the infection. it will raise his metabolism and help to produce white cells. even the TT agree on that one, its also one of the best times to use a heatmat for a tort. I really hope you get him to a vet, he will need antibiotics and to stay in a temp controlled viv for the treatment.

 

I wasn't on about while he is ill, I was on about generally..... And I am not a member of the TT, I wonder why their name always has to be brought up if happen to be against vivs.

 

i didnt mean it in a bad way!! its just that its not very often all of the people agree all of the time. its turning into a witch hunt with all of this TT stuff, its like a cross between a secret password and a plague sign! cant wait til all of the antaganism passes. and for future reference, i AM a member of the TT!

 

I'm not a member of the TT... but I do agree the best place for a very sick tortoise is kept nice and warm in a viv... they can't thermoregulate properly when they're ill and the heat aids the work of the anti-biotics.

 

Anyone can be a member of the TT, it costs £12. Its no biggy

 

Okay Im sorry if this is going to seem harsh but I feel it has to be said.

If you cant afford to take an animal to a vet then why buy the animal.

As others have said this tort needs to be seen by a vet asap, if thats not affordable then maybe it shouldnt have been bought.

Sorry if that upsets anyone.

Saying that I do hope he/she gets better soon.

 

the guy only asked how much the vets would be as he had never been to one before. at the risk of sounding like an old hag, there have been enough judgemental threads lately without a newby being told he shouldnt have bought the animal, when he has come here looking for advcie and guidance. i know you didnt mean to offend anybody but if he turns around and says " i aint paying for a vet" THEN you can have a go at him. but he hasnt said that. and the tortoise shop charge a fortune so it would make sense that he is going to protect his investment and get a consult. : victory:

 

Tomorrow is the bank holiday, Vets will be scarce and few will want to work. Lets just hope the little guy makes it, Hope all turns out well.

Sorry if that was a bit harsh but Im a realist.
I have my fingers crossed for the little guy

 

we can all be a realist but that doesnt give us the right to jump on a newby without knowing the facts. we have ALL been in a position where we dont know the answer, so what do we do? we ask for advice. he only asked how much a vets was as he hadnt been to one before. thats a perfectly reasonable question. and if we all did SOOOOO much research before getting our torts and reps, why the hell is there a forum for getting advcie??

every other thread in every section is a new person APOLOGISING for asking for help. that is sad, and the people that make the newbies feel that way should be ashamed. we all come here for the same reason. they have as many rights as we do, regardless of how many posts they have or status.

 

well, I think people try to help. But its hard to correct people without sounding patronising. I might have come off as patronising and a bit angry bit I am only trying to help and sometimes I get a bit worked up and thrash the hell out of the keyboard.

 

hell, dont we all!! its VERY easy to get heated. but it must be very intimidating for a newby to be bombarded by people telling them they suck. even more of a reason NOT to go to the vets for fear of reprisals and even prosecution.

 

Thats exactly how i felt when I joined. people end up explaining the same things over and over and I think after a while it gets annoying. Maybe some new care sheets are in order, made especially for newbies? like a full and comprehensive one?
just an idea

 

Newbies are entitled to ask questions. If other users don't like explaining things 'over and over' then they don't need to post. Care sheets don't cover everything and even if they did new people still need reassurance. Reading and researching is excellent but there will always be questions to ask when you actually keep the species - whether you've kept them for 1 day, 1 year or 30 years.

There is also now a Newbie section where new users/keepers can post and if other users don't want to help new users then they don't need to go in that part of the forum.

 

fully agree with you tina, but have you noticed most shelled members dont go on any other section? if newbies post there they are told to go to shelled as nobody can help them!

 

fully agree with you tina, but have you noticed most shelled members dont go on any other section? if newbies post there they are told to go to shelled as nobody can help them!

I have noticed and it's a shame. There's a new user right now looking for help with a 3 year old Leopard they've been given if anyone fancies a trip into the Newbie section right now.

 

I agree with you as well tina, I wasnt saying that newbies shouldnt ask for advice. I was one once! ( and kind of still am)