My horsefield tortoise is constipated - help

suehogg · 27-01-2009, 04:48 PM

Can anyone suggest a solution? I have tried soaking him but has not worked yet. He is still eating and urinating.

Lou · 27-01-2009, 04:52 PM

how do you know he is constipated? how long has he not poo'ed for?
When mine hasn't been in a couple I up their baths warm water for 20 minutes ish x

suehogg · 27-01-2009, 04:54 PM

He hasn't been for a week and the last one was quite hard.

ME SHELL · 27-01-2009, 04:59 PM

you could try some butternut squash, or some aloe vera.

Paulg1 · 27-01-2009, 05:01 PM

like lou said, up the temp just a little in the water. Also if a tort is constipated, it usually is because of dehydration. If your feeding correctly he has high fiber so he needs more water. Up the amount of times your soaking and if your not doing it every day, start to.

linda · 27-01-2009, 05:17 PM

try some high fiber food like plantain

what substrate are you using

from the TT

Frequency of defecation obviously varies depending on how much the turtle/tortoise is eating. If they appear to be straining to produce feces (or haven't gone for several days) try more frequent and prolonged bathing, which can ease mild cases of constipation. If this fails to encourage defecation, a trip to the vet is necessary to rule out the possibility of an intestinal obstruction

Lou · 27-01-2009, 05:29 PM

I agree with Paul, up his baths to more often... some people bath dehydrated torts once or twice a day..

I may get some people saying dont do this... but , if he IS dehydrated... you could try feeding him some iceberg lettuce .. this has high water content and while its not nutritious, it could be good to get him to have some water... I know a couple of experience keepers on here who do just this and have advised me in the past ... xxx

p.s. please make sure if you do this, that you keep all other feeding normal. This should be treated as an extra

STEWIE · 27-01-2009, 05:37 PM

Go to asda or your local shop and get some lactolose, that`ll do the trick. Recommended to me by a top reptile vet. If it doesnt do the trick then you`ve got an impacted tort.
Trust me try the lactolose, get some tonight..

Paulg1 · 27-01-2009, 05:45 PM

not stomping on stewie here but try something that is more gentle like the soakings or the lettuce thing before going the lactolose route. If it has only been a little while since he's poo'd don't panic. Water is a miracle cure most often.

STEWIE · 27-01-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulg1

not stomping on stewie here but try something that is more gentle like the soakings or the lettuce thing before going the lactolose route. If it has only been a little while since he's poo'd don't panic. Water is a miracle cure most often.

Not stomping on paulg1(LOL) here but i`m talking from experience(thats another story i`ll talk about another time).
Whilst i`m sure theres nothing to worry about at all i can see the owner is getting distressed and is trying soaking and its not working.
Lactose is very mild and natural, it can be given as a natural aid for constipation for any tort (and is often a way to diagnose if a tort is impacted or cjust constipated), harmlessly and safely. I`m not suggesting to use it liberally and regularly but if the tort hasnt done anything in a week even though being soaked then i`d suggest this as the sugar will draw water in and if it is just constipated then this will sort it out and help the tort and owner both feel better.

27-01-2009, 04:48 PM	#1
suehogg Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5	My horsefield tortoise is constipated - help Can anyone suggest a solution? I have tried soaking him but has not worked yet. He is still eating and urinating.

27-01-2009, 04:52 PM	#2
Lou Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wigan - Greater Manchester Posts: 1,172	how do you know he is constipated? how long has he not poo'ed for? When mine hasn't been in a couple I up their baths warm water for 20 minutes ish x __________________ Louise... Horsfield: 1.0.2 Walter / Izzy / Tilly Redfoot : 1.3.0 Ruby / Scarlet / Merlot / Ginger Goldfish : 0:0:1 Splodge Bearded Dragon : 0:1:0 Zuki Springer Spaniel : 1:0:0 Bailey

27-01-2009, 05:01 PM	#5
Paulg1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,116	like lou said, up the temp just a little in the water. Also if a tort is constipated, it usually is because of dehydration. If your feeding correctly he has high fiber so he needs more water. Up the amount of times your soaking and if your not doing it every day, start to. __________________ 0.1.0 G. sulcata/Larry 0.1.0 G. pardalis babcocki/Leo 1.0.0 G. pardalis pardalis/Tino "Stop the world, I want to get off!"

27-01-2009, 05:29 PM	#7
Lou Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wigan - Greater Manchester Posts: 1,172	I agree with Paul, up his baths to more often... some people bath dehydrated torts once or twice a day.. I may get some people saying dont do this... but , if he IS dehydrated... you could try feeding him some iceberg lettuce .. this has high water content and while its not nutritious, it could be good to get him to have some water... I know a couple of experience keepers on here who do just this and have advised me in the past ... xxx p.s. please make sure if you do this, that you keep all other feeding normal. This should be treated as an extra __________________ Louise... Horsfield: 1.0.2 Walter / Izzy / Tilly Redfoot : 1.3.0 Ruby / Scarlet / Merlot / Ginger Goldfish : 0:0:1 Splodge Bearded Dragon : 0:1:0 Zuki Springer Spaniel : 1:0:0 Bailey

27-01-2009, 05:45 PM	#9
Paulg1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,116	not stomping on stewie here but try something that is more gentle like the soakings or the lettuce thing before going the lactolose route. If it has only been a little while since he's poo'd don't panic. Water is a miracle cure most often. __________________ 0.1.0 G. sulcata/Larry 0.1.0 G. pardalis babcocki/Leo 1.0.0 G. pardalis pardalis/Tino "Stop the world, I want to get off!"

27-01-2009, 04:54 PM	#3
suehogg Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5	He hasn't been for a week and the last one was quite hard.

27-01-2009, 04:59 PM	#4
ME SHELL Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,484	you could try some butternut squash, or some aloe vera.

27-01-2009, 05:17 PM	#6
linda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: west midlands Posts: 17,134	try some high fiber food like plantain what substrate are you using from the TT Frequency of defecation obviously varies depending on how much the turtle/tortoise is eating. If they appear to be straining to produce feces (or haven't gone for several days) try more frequent and prolonged bathing, which can ease mild cases of constipation. If this fails to encourage defecation, a trip to the vet is necessary to rule out the possibility of an intestinal obstruction

27-01-2009, 05:37 PM	#8
STEWIE Member Incubating Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: wirral Posts: 158	Go to asda or your local shop and get some lactolose, that`ll do the trick. Recommended to me by a top reptile vet. If it doesnt do the trick then you`ve got an impacted tort. Trust me try the lactolose, get some tonight..

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