Dragging back legs & not eating or passing, HELP

trevor morgan · 10-09-2007, 05:47 PM

Hi, new to the forum and really need some help. I have a tortoise called Gluck, thinks he's a spur thighed, who is approx 36 years old. I've had him since I was 2. Last year he developed a limp on one of his back legs so I took him to the local vets (realise after reading some posts on here I should have gone to a specialist) who said it was probably arthitus and gave him a vitamin injection and sent me home. He's been quite alright up until this last week or two but hasn't passed liquid or solid for a couple of weeks and not really eaten much. Even more concerning is that the other rear leg seems to be failing now and he is more or less dragging himself around by the front legs. He is booked in with a specialist at the end of the week but was hoping someone on here may be able to shed some light on his condition before hand. I have been bathing him in warm water twice a day which seems to perk him up for a while, any input would be useful, thanks.

**egyptiandan64** · 10-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Hi,
Make sure when you see the specialist he takes a blood sample to be tested. It could possibly be gout that he has, which is very serious.
Keep us updated as to how he does at the vets.

Danny

trevor morgan · 10-09-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by egyptiandan64

Hi,
Make sure when you see the specialist he takes a blood sample to be tested. It could possibly be gout that he has, which is very serious.
Keep us updated as to how he does at the vets.

Danny

Thanks, I will make sure a blood test is done. Is gout treatable? Would be devastated if I lost the old fella but neither would I like to see him suffer.

helen1 · 10-09-2007, 06:39 PM

Correct me if I am wrong but is this not usually caused in torts by a diet too high in protein? Blood urea can rise too and become dangerously high. Obviously there may be other causes this is only what I remember from a tort that came to me sometime ago.

trevor morgan · 10-09-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helen1

Correct me if I am wrong but is this not usually caused in torts by a diet too high in protein? Blood urea can rise too and become dangerously high. Obviously there may be other causes this is only what I remember from a tort that came to me sometime ago.

Hi Helen, thanks for the reply. Over the past 4-5 years his diet has been good due to research on sites like this but previously, 30 years +, it wasn't ideal.
If it is due to high protien can anything be done to correct it?

helen1 · 10-09-2007, 06:54 PM

I am not sure someone like Hannah may reply who has more experience. It probably isnt reversable but could be kept at bay and treated symptomatically. As I say I am guessing. I would certainly keep up bathing it can do no harm. I did not mean to suggest you gave him protein, apolgies if it came across as such; I was just stating what I had heard in the past.

helen1 · 10-09-2007, 07:02 PM

Forgot to mention Allopurinol is used in people to either reduce the amount of uric acid or prevent it occuring, if it is gout it may be that the equivalent/same is prescribed. It sound like gout though as it is periodic.

trevor morgan · 10-09-2007, 07:04 PM

No appology needed Helen, I'm the first to admit his previous poor diet, in the 70's there wasn't much info on tortoises so my parents followed the pet shop keepers advise which I now know was not the best.
Many thanks for your help.

**sarah** · 10-09-2007, 07:22 PM

Where abouts are you localted so we can point out a good vet?

trevor morgan · 10-09-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarah

Where abouts are you localted so we can point out a good vet?

I'm in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, spoken to a vets in Birmingham but am open to recomendations.

10-09-2007, 05:47 PM	#1
trevor morgan Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11	Dragging back legs & not eating or passing, HELP Hi, new to the forum and really need some help. I have a tortoise called Gluck, thinks he's a spur thighed, who is approx 36 years old. I've had him since I was 2. Last year he developed a limp on one of his back legs so I took him to the local vets (realise after reading some posts on here I should have gone to a specialist) who said it was probably arthitus and gave him a vitamin injection and sent me home. He's been quite alright up until this last week or two but hasn't passed liquid or solid for a couple of weeks and not really eaten much. Even more concerning is that the other rear leg seems to be failing now and he is more or less dragging himself around by the front legs. He is booked in with a specialist at the end of the week but was hoping someone on here may be able to shed some light on his condition before hand. I have been bathing him in warm water twice a day which seems to perk him up for a while, any input would be useful, thanks.

10-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#2
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Hi, Make sure when you see the specialist he takes a blood sample to be tested. It could possibly be gout that he has, which is very serious. Keep us updated as to how he does at the vets. Danny __________________

10-09-2007, 06:39 PM	#4
helen1 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NORTH WEST Posts: 1,977	Correct me if I am wrong but is this not usually caused in torts by a diet too high in protein? Blood urea can rise too and become dangerously high. Obviously there may be other causes this is only what I remember from a tort that came to me sometime ago. __________________ I CARE FOR TORTS

10-09-2007, 06:54 PM	#6
helen1 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NORTH WEST Posts: 1,977	I am not sure someone like Hannah may reply who has more experience. It probably isnt reversable but could be kept at bay and treated symptomatically. As I say I am guessing. I would certainly keep up bathing it can do no harm. I did not mean to suggest you gave him protein, apolgies if it came across as such; I was just stating what I had heard in the past. __________________ I CARE FOR TORTS

10-09-2007, 07:02 PM	#7
helen1 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NORTH WEST Posts: 1,977	Forgot to mention Allopurinol is used in people to either reduce the amount of uric acid or prevent it occuring, if it is gout it may be that the equivalent/same is prescribed. It sound like gout though as it is periodic. __________________ I CARE FOR TORTS

10-09-2007, 07:04 PM	#8
trevor morgan Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11	No appology needed Helen, I'm the first to admit his previous poor diet, in the 70's there wasn't much info on tortoises so my parents followed the pet shop keepers advise which I now know was not the best. Many thanks for your help.

10-09-2007, 07:22 PM	#9
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	Where abouts are you localted so we can point out a good vet? __________________ Click: www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk STRUGGLING TO FIND WEEDS? LOOK AT OUR DRIED WEEDS 'READY TO FEED' Home of 'Grow Your Own Food' Bearded Dragon, Tortoise, Rabbit, Hamster seed mixes from 89p FREE POST Livefood, Thermostats, Housing, Heating, Mercury Vapour bulbs, UVB etc etc CHEAP PRICES TORTOISES ARE MY PASSION

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