A bit of blood......

[yuna1971]

My active tort Lily has just been having a "simulated" bonk with one of her cuddly tort girls...but he let out a little wee just before he...um...got going,..and in it was a little bit of blood. He has been out roaming about in the garden today, likes to go on the dirt and nibble stones..is this what it is, did this nip him in the ...u know what? or is it the u know what just getting too amourous and strained something a bit hard...
sorry - its not meant to be rude, but this is what happened about 10mins ago, now he has gone to bed (worn out I expect...)
Please....do I have anything to worry about or just wait and see if it continues for a couple of days?
thanks....

[Star]

Hi,

I would check him over and see if you can see anything visible that may have added to the blood in the wee.

He could have caught himself on something.........I would check him over, see how he acts tomorrow and take it from there.

What colour was the blood, if it was red, then its fresh and most probably from a graze, if its brown then its old blood and could be internal.

[yuna1971]

It was red blood star, it was only say a quarter of a teaspoon, not much. But it was definitely not brown. He wee-ed too, and it was in this as I was cleaning up.
I am hoping he has just perhaps nicked the tail or wotsit on something...can they strain too much when doing naughties...and this happens, or is that just myth?
He has gone to bed now, dont really want to get him out but I can certainly check him when i get up tommorow.

[Star]

I don't blame you, best to let him rest

I'm not sure if straining could bring out blood, but it could pull a muscle but I wouldnt think that could cause the blood.......I would keep an eye on him, make sure you give him the once over tomorrow, and if nothing is visible and more blood appears, a visit to the vets would be recommended.
Try not to worry to much...its not unheard of that a male torts manhood has been grazed on something..but it is serious enough to keep an eye on it, especially with it being more than a few drops

[yuna1971]

Yes I will keep an eye. It is only approximate for how much was there, really - it really was a few drops. I dont like doing the vets thing I have to be honest. I dont drive and I dont trust vets in my area...I think alot of them they CLAIM to know about torts but I just dont think they do, and Lily hates the travelling...
But I will check him over, and if i do see anymore then will have to call upon my Dad to help me get him there...all the vets seem to do is give them a jab (of which Lily detested big time last time) and they dont half manhandle them...like their bleeding rugby balls.
(sighhhhhh.....)

[Star]

I do understand, especially if the vets are not familiar with tortoises..........which area are you from? Many specialist for tortoises can be found in the forum here, it might be a good idea if you put a thread up for anyone that can recommend one in your area, for future reference, and just in-case you need them.......many of them are very friendly and a call can usually resolve any problems you might have, and if not then a quick visit.....some vets are even good and do payment schemes, for people that struggle to find the money to pay the bills............so you can find some really nice ones that do care

[yuna1971]

oh star you are so lovely... yes ok, will put up a post for a vet in Bristol. It would be nice to get one recommended to me. As for money...Lily has his own bank account! (well...I opened one up and I put money away every time I get paid) - its his "just in case" funds! xx

[Star]

Your very welcome

Lily sounds like he has everything sorted, a very lucky and extremely well cared for tortoise

I wish you both all the luck in the world, I am sure you don't need it

[yuna1971]

I have emailed the vets but one thing does bother me with the "call the vet" thing. Lily is still eating, still active, still running around. Surely if it was internal or any thing serious then he would not be doing any of this, especially - going off his food. I do not want the upheaval of taking him to see a vet and find that is nothing in the first place. Yes, this has happened before, couple of months ago. It was isolated. Afterwards, there was no blood, no nothing and this blood was not brown, nor last nights, which was significantly less. I think if I notice it happening again today, and tormmorow then I think I will have to take him up to a vet. But - he is still active, and not acting like he is unwell. Whilst I dont want to minimise this as if its nothing - do we all just jump the gun and say take it to the vets too easily without seeing if there are any new developments first?
As I say - I think if I saw the blood again today, and tommrrow - then thats 3 straight days in total. I would then say, Lily you gotta be checked over. But if there is nothing today, eating food, pooing, weeing, and running around - surely if it was internal or otherwise - this isnt the behaviour of a sick tort is it??

[Star]

Hi Yuna,

At the end of the day, your decision is the final one.

As with the blood in the urine, yesterday you said you had seen this before and that it was much more then..............

There are many possibilities as I said, but one of them is as a result of over feeding dandelions: if she has been over eating on dandelions, this can cause a reddish discoloration of the urine as well so it may not have been blood, but again, I am not certain as I didnt see what Lily produced in her urine.

If this does happen again then try and take a picture, it could help.

Does Lily have full access to water? if you could give a brief overview of her housing conditions and daily routine, that may also help in trying to identify any additional issues that could have contributed....

Good luck again