My horsefield tortoise is constipated - help

[alotoffluff]

Originally Posted by STEWIE

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.

Just a question, how do you give a tort lactolose?

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by STEWIE

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.

I'm totally confused here Are you talking about Lactolose (which I have never heard of) Lactulose (which I've had and it gave me the sh&*%s) or Lactose which is found in dairy products I think?

[STEWIE]

Hi,
Sorry about that just thought there was only one as my reptile vet gave me it and i then saw it in my local supermarket, you only need a tiny drop on a small piece of food per tortoise once or twice a day. Just thought people knew, sorry about that, i was at work typing quickly aswell so didnt think of the spelling
,
I think the correct spelling is here in the section regarding constipation,

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/article...ondisease.html

[Paulg1]

I'm not going to try to get this into an arguement. I will simply explain my suggestion. In the post this person says their tort is constipated. Tried soaking, though it's not clear how long or how frequent. Otherwise the tort is eating and urinating. Always go simplist answer to more complex. Clearly what needs to happen is hydration needs to be uped here because this is most likely the reason for the constipation in the first place. Before we start using chemicles that may cause the tortoise to become even more dehydrated, yes. The last thing you want is to dehydrate this guy more by making him have dierrea. Up the length of time the tort is bathed, warm the water a bit more to stimulate the bowels, and up the frequency to maybe twice a day until such time the little guy goes poo. If this doesn't work then go more aggressive. By the way, my experience. Thank you, bow, exit stage left.

[STEWIE]

Originally Posted by Paulg1

I'm not going to try to get this into an arguement. I will simply explain my suggestion. In the post this person says their tort is constipated. Tried soaking, though it's not clear how long or how frequent. Otherwise the tort is eating and urinating. Always go simplist answer to more complex. Clearly what needs to happen is hydration needs to be uped here because this is most likely the reason for the constipation in the first place. Before we start using chemicles that may cause the tortoise to become even more dehydrated, yes. The last thing you want is to dehydrate this guy more by making him have dierrea. Up the length of time the tort is bathed, warm the water a bit more to stimulate the bowels, and up the frequency to maybe twice a day until such time the little guy goes poo. If this doesn't work then go more aggressive. By the way, my experience. Thank you, bow, exit stage left.

Sorry again mate, didnt mean to get your back up. I`m only going from a reptile specialists advice as and identical thing happen to me and it saved my torts life. Also lactulose isnt agressive and it actually doesnt cause lose stools it merely draws water into the bowel quicker than a soaking would do, my tort had exactl the same symptoms and the lactulose kept the stools hard and not soft at all.
Sorry mate just trying to help with advice i was given by one of the best vets i know

[suehogg]

Hi thanks for all the advice. I have only been soaking him for about 30 mins once a week. I will try soaking daily and hopefully this will sort my little chap out.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone

[STEWIE]

Originally Posted by suehogg

Hi thanks for all the advice. I have only been soaking him for about 30 mins once a week. I will try soaking daily and hopefully this will sort my little chap out.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone

Best of luck, hope you and he feel much better soon, and he gets sorted really quick

[sky]

Long soak's, change once or twice, butternut squash is good. Good luck.

[Lou]

hope that your little guy is sorted.... I would recommend Pauls advice , go from the simplest thing possible up the more extreeme... I know that sometimes meds can make torts feel really out of sorts.... so best to try uping his baths... like Paul said.. hatchlings need lots of hydration hope the little guys ok xxxx

[linda]

Originally Posted by suehogg

Hi thanks for all the advice. I have only been soaking him for about 30 mins once a week. I will try soaking daily and hopefully this will sort my little chap out.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone

i think daily bathings are a good idea
im hoping
within a week you will be rewarded by a pressie from your tort

i may have missed this fact
but what substrate are you using