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Old 04-06-2017, 09:02 PM   #1
kazzie
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Default Tortoise operation

Hi,
I am not sure if its advice or re assurance I need,
Our female herman tortoise (Mrs tortoise) who is 8/9 years old, we have had her since she was about 18 months, hadn't been herself for a few days, not much energy and hardly eating and had a swelling along her tail end. We took her to our tortoise vet on Friday, who diagnosed a prolapse, she was x rayed and the x ray showed 2 eggs, she was kept in and given an injection to try and encourage the eggs out, she had 2 of these injections to no avail. therefore Saturday lunch time, they heavily sedated her, and tried to break the egg, and surgically remove it, unfortunately the egg was too hard to break and moved up the canal, so the only option we have now is for her to have a major operation, where they cut through the plastron and remove the eggs, they will also spay her at the same time, so we/she doesn't have to go through this again.
Its costing us around £1000 but she is one of the family, so well worth it.
I am after advice on anyone who has been through this, tips on what to do when we get her home, how dangerous is the anaesthetic for her...
The vet did explain a lot but when your in shock its hard to remember everything.....
Any advice greatly received.. Kazzie
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Old 05-06-2017, 01:00 AM   #2
SuziRed71
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Try not to worry Kazzie. I've been through this with one of my Hermanns.. It is a massive deal having a tort spayed but it's a life saver.. Pansy was spayed about 3 years ago now and we have never looked back . Expensive yes.. Risky yes.. Worth it absolutely. She staid in the vets just one night after surgery and was discharged later the following day with antibioticsand pain relief. She was off her food for a few days and she got a lot of swelling in her back legs and they appeared to have no feeling and were lame . I gave her hydrotherapy with a fish tank air pump directed at her back legs which helped with her swelling really quickly .. It was a much quicker convalescence than I expected and she has gone from strength to strength .. Her story is on my website www.homebredhmanntortoises.com Pansys story.. good luck xx
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Old 05-06-2017, 10:38 AM   #3
tortydat
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One of my Horsfield tortoises had this operation around ten years ago and has never looked back. I don't remember her having any problems and the patch in her plastron was sealed with something that is used for horses hooves. I just remember keeping her inside on newspaper for a while and don't ever remember her not eating or moving around. Obviously things have moved on in 10 years and although it is a risky operation there is always a risk with any treatment. Good luck and I wouldn't hesitate in going ahead with any of mine should the need arise in the future.
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Old 07-06-2017, 09:55 PM   #4
Jan W
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Do keep us updated. Good luck!
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Old 11-06-2017, 08:13 PM   #5
burnt toast
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How did it go Kazzie?
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Old 21-06-2017, 08:36 PM   #6
kazzie
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Hi, Thanks everyone for your messages, Sorry for the delayed reply.
Mrs Tortoise has come through the operation, it was a very scary time, as the operation took nearly 3 hours in the end, at first she wouldn't wake up after her operation, heat beat was strong, but not waking up, the vets were saying, if she doesn't wake up in the next 2 hours, we need to make a decision, luckily she burst into life, at the 11th hour, she came home 4 days later and has been staying with mother in law since, as she needs regular baths and exercise while she is recuperating. She was very withdrawn when she came home, whenever we went near her she retreated into her shelf, slowly she has returned to her self, and is now eating and going to the toilet properly. She has been going back to the vet 2 x a week for antibiotic injections, this is now going to once a week. her piece of shell that was removed and put back in has now gone pink, the vet has said this is bruising..... We do have along road ahead of us, but heading in the right direction.. xxx
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Old 21-06-2017, 09:05 PM   #7
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That's brilliant news I hope that she continues to improve.
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Old 21-06-2017, 10:18 PM   #8
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That's great news. Interesting your allowed to bath her, my friend has an old spur thigh who had this op last year. (Cost a fortune, she stopped counting @ £3k!) And she wasn't allowed to bath her for ages! Now doing very well
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