new horsefield blowing bubbles

tombee · 22-07-2012, 06:43 AM

hi. we just bought an 18 month old horsefield from "s******* *******" in kirkcaldy,fife for my sons 8th birthday on thursday 19th july, and by the next day,friday 20th, she was blowing bubbles through her nose and is now making squeaking sounds now and again. we are getting rather worried about the wee thing as ive read it may be a respiratory infection and need vet treatment. i was also wondering if the supplier should pay the vet fees in this case? my son would be heartbroken if anything should happen to his wee lisa lol..he had £140 birthday money to spend and had his heart set on a tortoise..obviously we will pay the vets fees if we have to but i think its a bit unfair to pay vet fees due to illness so soon after a purchase..we explained to the supplier that we could not buy the neccessary lighting until the following monday so we were sold the tortoise and a heat mat plus some aspen shavings, and told that the tortoise should be okay until we bought the UVB/UVA lighting and basking lights..i thought initially that the tortoise was just adjusting to her new home as she came from a warm vivarium and travelled through to our home and she is now in a tortoise table set up..she is not eating either and spends her time sitting still in the shade..i have removed the heatmat as advice i received told me that the underside could receive thermal burns and she should only be heated from above..id be grateful if anyone could give us any advice they may have..thanks very much

**Bindi** · 22-07-2012, 09:28 AM

Hi, and firstly, welcome to the forum.
It does indeed sound like your tort may have a respiratory infection - sorry, I'm sure that's not what you want to hear, but a tortoise should never really have moisture coming from it's nose

In my experience it will need vetinary treatment, usually a course of antibiotics does the trick, depending on the severity of the infection, it can clear up quite quickly or in some cases takes a long time with repeated bouts.

The tortoise really needs to see a specialist vet asap, as many ordinary vets have limited or outdated info on tortoises. Quite often specialist vets can charge a little more.

In order for the antibiotics to work effectively the tort really needs to be kept warm 24/7, so the heatmat will be ok for now, some people attach then to the sides of the enclosure to minimise any risk of burns. She really does need to be kept warm

I'm afraid if it were me I would take the tortoise back,to the shop, and buy from elsewhere. Obviously you can go down the vet route and yes, I agree with you the shop should pay the fees but I don't know how you would guarantee them doing that and this could be an ongoing thing.

She will not eat unless she has reached her ideal body temperature, by the way, and the illness could put her off also.

gwenq · 22-07-2012, 10:44 AM

I think at the very least the tortoise should have a spotlight to enable her to warm up. An ordinary spotlight would be fine and it would enable her to bask, then she can warm up and until she does this she won't eat or function properly.

MeImNot · 22-07-2012, 11:10 AM

A normal bulb for light/heating will do until you have a uvb bulb. Make sure you have a gradient temp ranging from 35C to 24C 24/7, the 24C should be where she sleeps. Ive dealt with RI and those are the temps that helped me, also I would not take her back but demand the seller to pay for her treatment which should be given by a specialist vet ASAP.

burnt toast · 22-07-2012, 05:20 PM

She may not eat because of the illness as they cant smell their food. But she wont eat anyway if not warm enough. Does your table have a hide? Could you attach the heat mat to either a wall or the ceiling of the hide (could you provide a temp hide?) s

She needs to be warm. As said a spotlamp would be better than nothing. Make sure to give her warm baths too - just keep an eye on her.

I hope you get on ok at the vets & yes I think you certainly should approach the supplier regarding vets fees.

Good luck

NATURALIS · 22-07-2012, 06:47 PM

if you can get it to me i will sort it for you i live not far from perth

gwenq · 22-07-2012, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NATURALIS

if you can get it to me i will sort it for you i live not far from perth

That's really kind of you. People on this site are so nice!

kezbosnez · 22-07-2012, 08:08 PM

I am sorry to hear your tortoise is not well, we have been looking for a tortoise for a while now and was thinking of going to have a look at the shop in kirkcaldy tomorrow glad I read this first. Naturalis I noticed u breed tortoises do u have any tortoises for sale at the moment (I can't work out how to pm you)

**egyptiandan64** · 22-07-2012, 08:15 PM

Kez you won't be able to use the PM facility until you have 5 posts. If you put your e-mail address in a post than Chris (Naturalis) can get in touch with you.

Danny

kezbosnez · 22-07-2012, 08:20 PM

Hi I am sorry your tortoise is not well. I have been looking for a tortoise for a while and was thinking of having a look there, think I will avoid it now.

22-07-2012, 06:43 AM	#1
tombee Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1	new horsefield blowing bubbles hi. we just bought an 18 month old horsefield from "s***** ****" in kirkcaldy,fife for my sons 8th birthday on thursday 19th july, and by the next day,friday 20th, she was blowing bubbles through her nose and is now making squeaking sounds now and again. we are getting rather worried about the wee thing as ive read it may be a respiratory infection and need vet treatment. i was also wondering if the supplier should pay the vet fees in this case? my son would be heartbroken if anything should happen to his wee lisa lol..he had £140 birthday money to spend and had his heart set on a tortoise..obviously we will pay the vets fees if we have to but i think its a bit unfair to pay vet fees due to illness so soon after a purchase..we explained to the supplier that we could not buy the neccessary lighting until the following monday so we were sold the tortoise and a heat mat plus some aspen shavings, and told that the tortoise should be okay until we bought the UVB/UVA lighting and basking lights..i thought initially that the tortoise was just adjusting to her new home as she came from a warm vivarium and travelled through to our home and she is now in a tortoise table set up..she is not eating either and spends her time sitting still in the shade..i have removed the heatmat as advice i received told me that the underside could receive thermal burns and she should only be heated from above..id be grateful if anyone could give us any advice they may have..thanks very much Last edited by Bindi; 22-07-2012 at 09:11 AM.*

22-07-2012, 09:28 AM	#2
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	Hi, and firstly, welcome to the forum. It does indeed sound like your tort may have a respiratory infection - sorry, I'm sure that's not what you want to hear, but a tortoise should never really have moisture coming from it's nose In my experience it will need vetinary treatment, usually a course of antibiotics does the trick, depending on the severity of the infection, it can clear up quite quickly or in some cases takes a long time with repeated bouts. The tortoise really needs to see a specialist vet asap, as many ordinary vets have limited or outdated info on tortoises. Quite often specialist vets can charge a little more. In order for the antibiotics to work effectively the tort really needs to be kept warm 24/7, so the heatmat will be ok for now, some people attach then to the sides of the enclosure to minimise any risk of burns. She really does need to be kept warm I'm afraid if it were me I would take the tortoise back,to the shop, and buy from elsewhere. Obviously you can go down the vet route and yes, I agree with you the shop should pay the fees but I don't know how you would guarantee them doing that and this could be an ongoing thing. She will not eat unless she has reached her ideal body temperature, by the way, and the illness could put her off also. __________________

22-07-2012, 06:47 PM	#6
NATURALIS Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: cheshire Posts: 3,472	if you can get it to me i will sort it for you i live not far from perth __________________ Home bred tortoise's available all year round, Hermanns , spur-thighed ( ibera ) pm for details

22-07-2012, 08:15 PM	#9
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Kez you won't be able to use the PM facility until you have 5 posts. If you put your e-mail address in a post than Chris (Naturalis) can get in touch with you. Danny __________________

22-07-2012, 10:44 AM	#3
gwenq Member Hatchling Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 507	I think at the very least the tortoise should have a spotlight to enable her to warm up. An ordinary spotlight would be fine and it would enable her to bask, then she can warm up and until she does this she won't eat or function properly.

22-07-2012, 11:10 AM	#4
MeImNot Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Malta Posts: 204	A normal bulb for light/heating will do until you have a uvb bulb. Make sure you have a gradient temp ranging from 35C to 24C 24/7, the 24C should be where she sleeps. Ive dealt with RI and those are the temps that helped me, also I would not take her back but demand the seller to pay for her treatment which should be given by a specialist vet ASAP.

22-07-2012, 05:20 PM	#5
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,246	She may not eat because of the illness as they cant smell their food. But she wont eat anyway if not warm enough. Does your table have a hide? Could you attach the heat mat to either a wall or the ceiling of the hide (could you provide a temp hide?) s She needs to be warm. As said a spotlamp would be better than nothing. Make sure to give her warm baths too - just keep an eye on her. I hope you get on ok at the vets & yes I think you certainly should approach the supplier regarding vets fees. Good luck

22-07-2012, 08:08 PM	#8
kezbosnez Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Fife Posts: 7	I am sorry to hear your tortoise is not well, we have been looking for a tortoise for a while now and was thinking of going to have a look at the shop in kirkcaldy tomorrow glad I read this first. Naturalis I noticed u breed tortoises do u have any tortoises for sale at the moment (I can't work out how to pm you)

22-07-2012, 08:20 PM	#10
kezbosnez Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Fife Posts: 7	Hi I am sorry your tortoise is not well. I have been looking for a tortoise for a while and was thinking of having a look there, think I will avoid it now.

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