Poorly African Leopard Tortoise

jcoxa90 · 06-03-2013, 05:21 PM

Hello, We have come to an absolute last resort to make our tortoise healthy/ happy. We are away alot and the family look after him, however over the years he has deteriorated. we have changed his environment recently but he needs more than we can give. We have seen vets who have given ill avice and wrong medication and we are no-where near a specialist and have failed to find anyone we feel we can trust to help. If we cannot help him now then how can we help him for the rest of his life! Pumbaa has week back legs, slight pyrammiding of the shell, eats rarely, poos even more rarely, and currently has a small burn on his shell which a vet said may have formed an absess and has prescribed antibiotics (which are not reacting well) to sort this! We have spoken to a specialist at Bristol Univesity/ Langford vets who have said it is imperitive we bring him there- which we plan to although it is 3 hours away. We cannot afford this trip/ treatment but we cannot leave him to gradually die! We need someone who can re-home this tortoise and give him the best care he needs. We will continue to treat him for now but there is no way we can give him every thing he needs for a full recovery. Is there anyone who could care for this tortoise with a possible re-home? we are in north devon, also leicester and often london, and will contribute towards his life as much as we can. please someone help this tort- i can send photos but at the moment he hasnt opened his eyes since the vets gave him the antibiotics 4 days ago!

Easter Bunny · 06-03-2013, 09:55 PM

Oh, What a sad story... Why don't you contact the Tortoise Trust or the Tortoise Protection Group they may beable to help.
I hope you find someone to take on your tortoise.

x

NATURALIS · 06-03-2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcoxa90

Hello, We have come to an absolute last resort to make our tortoise healthy/ happy. We are away alot and the family look after him, however over the years he has deteriorated. we have changed his environment recently but he needs more than we can give. We have seen vets who have given ill avice and wrong medication and we are no-where near a specialist and have failed to find anyone we feel we can trust to help. If we cannot help him now then how can we help him for the rest of his life! Pumbaa has week back legs, slight pyrammiding of the shell, eats rarely, poos even more rarely, and currently has a small burn on his shell which a vet said may have formed an absess and has prescribed antibiotics (which are not reacting well) to sort this! We have spoken to a specialist at Bristol Univesity/ Langford vets who have said it is imperitive we bring him there- which we plan to although it is 3 hours away. We cannot afford this trip/ treatment but we cannot leave him to gradually die! We need someone who can re-home this tortoise and give him the best care he needs. We will continue to treat him for now but there is no way we can give him every thing he needs for a full recovery. Is there anyone who could care for this tortoise with a possible re-home? we are in north devon, also leicester and often london, and will contribute towards his life as much as we can. please someone help this tort- i can send photos but at the moment he hasnt opened his eyes since the vets gave him the antibiotics 4 days ago!

can i just ask if it's being tube fed ?, here's my email address contact me i will help you

jcoxa90 · 07-03-2013, 12:25 AM

First day since saturday he has not had antibiotics or been force fed- he drank in the bath, opened his eyes and had a little walk! We still have hope! Hopefully going to Bristol tomorrow or Friday- they have said they will do blood tests to check kidney failure...if that is not present they can go ahead with treatments...they have estimated £500 :/ and a very long drive!Unless someone who can take him in can give him treatments also then we will scratch to pay for whatever he needs-however he will still need a more suitable home soon as it is unfair on him to be left with the family all the time-we cannot move him around everytime we move!'Naturalis' i have emailed you back

Gordon · 07-03-2013, 07:23 AM

Please contact Chris (NATURALIS) as he will help you out

Clarrybella · 07-03-2013, 01:43 PM

Hi

Are you aware there's good herp vets in both Bideford and Newquay?

jcoxa90 · 07-03-2013, 06:53 PM

We have been to bideford and barnstaple and the three vets we have seen have admitted they dont know much about the species and none could offer fantastic advice-hes been given antibiotics he shouldnt have had and did not move or open his eyes for 5 days because of them-he is slowly getting better and we are now asking the vets to fit a feeding tube to help him get better-but they have never done it before so they may send us to someone in newton abbott-so still a long drive!every vet we speak to rings another vet to ask things as they dont know! we have been in contact with naturalis (above) who has offered loads of advice and is the 'middle man' between us and the vets if you like!fingers crossed!

NATURALIS · 07-03-2013, 08:13 PM

Thanks for getting in touch with me today joanne , tortoise now getting sorted.

06-03-2013, 05:21 PM	#1
jcoxa90 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 3	Poorly African Leopard Tortoise Hello, We have come to an absolute last resort to make our tortoise healthy/ happy. We are away alot and the family look after him, however over the years he has deteriorated. we have changed his environment recently but he needs more than we can give. We have seen vets who have given ill avice and wrong medication and we are no-where near a specialist and have failed to find anyone we feel we can trust to help. If we cannot help him now then how can we help him for the rest of his life! Pumbaa has week back legs, slight pyrammiding of the shell, eats rarely, poos even more rarely, and currently has a small burn on his shell which a vet said may have formed an absess and has prescribed antibiotics (which are not reacting well) to sort this! We have spoken to a specialist at Bristol Univesity/ Langford vets who have said it is imperitive we bring him there- which we plan to although it is 3 hours away. We cannot afford this trip/ treatment but we cannot leave him to gradually die! We need someone who can re-home this tortoise and give him the best care he needs. We will continue to treat him for now but there is no way we can give him every thing he needs for a full recovery. Is there anyone who could care for this tortoise with a possible re-home? we are in north devon, also leicester and often london, and will contribute towards his life as much as we can. please someone help this tort- i can send photos but at the moment he hasnt opened his eyes since the vets gave him the antibiotics 4 days ago!

06-03-2013, 09:55 PM	#2
Easter Bunny Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 5,337	Oh, What a sad story... Why don't you contact the Tortoise Trust or the Tortoise Protection Group they may beable to help. I hope you find someone to take on your tortoise. x __________________ Lynne x

07-03-2013, 08:13 PM	#8
NATURALIS Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: cheshire Posts: 3,472	Thanks for getting in touch with me today joanne , tortoise now getting sorted. __________________ Home bred tortoise's available all year round, Hermanns , spur-thighed ( ibera ) pm for details

07-03-2013, 12:25 AM	#4
jcoxa90 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 3	First day since saturday he has not had antibiotics or been force fed- he drank in the bath, opened his eyes and had a little walk! We still have hope! Hopefully going to Bristol tomorrow or Friday- they have said they will do blood tests to check kidney failure...if that is not present they can go ahead with treatments...they have estimated £500 :/ and a very long drive!Unless someone who can take him in can give him treatments also then we will scratch to pay for whatever he needs-however he will still need a more suitable home soon as it is unfair on him to be left with the family all the time-we cannot move him around everytime we move!'Naturalis' i have emailed you back

07-03-2013, 07:23 AM	#5
Gordon Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 5,674	Please contact Chris (NATURALIS) as he will help you out

07-03-2013, 01:43 PM	#6
Clarrybella Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 60	Hi Are you aware there's good herp vets in both Bideford and Newquay?

07-03-2013, 06:53 PM	#7
jcoxa90 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 3	We have been to bideford and barnstaple and the three vets we have seen have admitted they dont know much about the species and none could offer fantastic advice-hes been given antibiotics he shouldnt have had and did not move or open his eyes for 5 days because of them-he is slowly getting better and we are now asking the vets to fit a feeding tube to help him get better-but they have never done it before so they may send us to someone in newton abbott-so still a long drive!every vet we speak to rings another vet to ask things as they dont know! we have been in contact with naturalis (above) who has offered loads of advice and is the 'middle man' between us and the vets if you like!fingers crossed!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)