Ibera digestion issue
 

It's a very long time since I visited but have been happily enjoying my tortoise keeping/ breeding for many years.
I have a very large 25 year old female ibera who has tended to suffer from digestive issues most of her life.
I've had her tested for worms many times over her lifetime and none have been found.

This year has been problematic with her usual leaky cloaca not resolving post hibernation.
A couple of years ago I consulted a well respected Exotics vet, sadly now passed on.
He said she had a particularly heavy load of protozoa which while not abnormal she was a bit stressed by.
She had a shot of metronidazole and it resolved well.
Life has changed since lockdown/shielding and other issues and I no longer have easy access to a specialist exotic vet.

There's not a lot I haven't learnd about husbandry over the years but this has me stumped. Does she need medication or are there specific actions/dietary solutions.
Expert help required please.

Is nobody there any more ????? !!!

There’s not many of us on here now. :(
I’m afraid I’m really not sure what it can be. Have you ruled out sterile gut?

Many years ago an elderly female ibera I had had a poor digestion and I was advised to try banana, natural yoghurt and even the poo of newborn hatchlings not sure any of these made much difference and in the end she had medication from a specialist vet which sorted the problem out but can't remember what she was given.

Finding a good tortoise vet is very hard to find too:0)

There are a few of us here, however, if we don't know the answer, we don't respond. I hope you are able to help this tortoise.

Have you tried offering her greens that are high in fiber? Maybe some sort of manufactured pellet? Here in the States we have a product called Mazuri Tortoise Diet and feeding this occasionally seems to help firm up the stools.

Yes she does have sterile gut but is a big healthy tortoise who eats well. Have tried suggestions like tough greens and also mazuri. I've come across this herbal product called Verm X for reptiles which has some good reviews but contains some plants like garlic and peppers not recommended for tortoises.
Caused a bit of a storm in more Conservative quarters. Has anyone heard of it in a tortoise context?
Yes she had Metronidazole 3 or 4 years ago but the problem has returned this year.

Sorry Shellonia , lockdown has created its own little micro climate lockdown on SW and taking it me to get back into the stride again - certainly with me anyway. I had a similar with one i rescued and her poop stank also. I tended to feed her the same thing everyday, plain weed, nothing dry, for about a month and she refused to eat but her digestive tract (or certainly poop) did get better once she was hungry enough - took ages, it was a bit like she had an allergy or something but had been fed on sausages, cabbage, bread and dog food so unsurprisingly it had disrupted everything. not sure if same, CB

and try tiny chopped up mint on her food also maybe....CB