MBD advice needed / updated.... respiratory problem

[topsyturvy]

Hi, i got a new tortoise at the weekend he was in a very poor way, he was in a viv with no heat bulb only an energy efficient bulb to light it. I was told his diet was strawberries, cucumber, tomato and salad, which i think means lettuce.
His substrate was wood shavings and he had some plastic plants in there with him.
When i saw him i was quite shocked, his shell looked very flat, and he was only able to paddle with his legs he looked like he was trying to swim.
I decided to have him, i felt so sorry for him, i am pretty sure its MBD hes got through bad diet and no sunshine.
Now iv got him hes coming along nicely he can pull himself along with his legs but drags his shell on the ground.
What i would like to no is with good diet etc will he ever be able to walk properly, if so how long would you think it should take for him to get strength back in his legs.
Also what would be the best substrate for him to be on, at the moment he has news paper as i thought he would be able to pull his shell along better on that, rather than soil.
Any advice for me please.

[Easter Bunny]

Aww, well done for taking him on
Have you any photos? loveto see him.

Hopefully someone will be along soon to answer your question xx

[egyptiandan64]

Newspaper is probably the worsest substrate for a tortoise with leg problems. I'd either go with topsoil or shredded aspen bedding. Either one will give good traction to build up his leg muscles. It will take at least a year with a good diet and a good substrate for him to start walking properly.

Danny

[Rhiellie]

Ahh glad you hear that your tortoise is now in a good home. Would love to see some pics of him, I am sure after a year of good care from you he will feel like a new tortoise

[suttysue]

your a star for caring could luck to him & you please post some photos if you can
Sue

[EJ]

I would suggest getting the temperatures up to at least 80F and soak it daily. For food I would recommend any of the complete tortoise diets such as mazuri, nutrazu, pretty pets, komodo, or monster diet. Add powdered calcium carbonate to the diets mentioned. Try to offer dark greens such as plantain, dandelion and milk thistle liberally sprinkled with a calcium supplement with D3. It's not a good idea to add this kind of supplement to a complete diet because complete diets already have D3 in it.

The tortoise does need good footing. I'd sugges an indoor/outdoor carpeting until it gets on its feet so to speak. Then you can move to a sand/soil or wood based bedding.

You are correct in the assumption of having MBD from your discription.

You might also want to take it to a good herp vet for better guidence.

Here is a good basic guide to help with some of your questions...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Tort.../dp/0793828821

Originally Posted by topsyturvy

Hi, i got a new tortoise at the weekend he was in a very poor way, he was in a viv with no heat bulb only an energy efficient bulb to light it. I was told his diet was strawberries, cucumber, tomato and salad, which i think means lettuce.
His substrate was wood shavings and he had some plastic plants in there with him.
When i saw him i was quite shocked, his shell looked very flat, and he was only able to paddle with his legs he looked like he was trying to swim.
I decided to have him, i felt so sorry for him, i am pretty sure its MBD hes got through bad diet and no sunshine.
Now iv got him hes coming along nicely he can pull himself along with his legs but drags his shell on the ground.
What i would like to no is with good diet etc will he ever be able to walk properly, if so how long would you think it should take for him to get strength back in his legs.
Also what would be the best substrate for him to be on, at the moment he has news paper as i thought he would be able to pull his shell along better on that, rather than soil.
Any advice for me please.

[topsyturvy]

Thanks Dan for the advice, i will get him onto soil sustrate tomorrow.
Already it has been so rewarding to see him looking so contented basking under the heat lamp. He looks a lot brighter than he did when i first brought him home last weekend, i thought then that he may die in the night, but the warmth seems to hve done wonders.

Here are a few pics

[topsyturvy]

Thanks EJ for your helpfull advice, he is already eating some dandelion leaves with nekton supplement on. I expect it will take him a while to get used to different foods. But i have mixed the dandelion in with a bit of lettuce so he will get used to it.
By using carpeting for him to walk on do you mean ordinary household carpet ?
I was suprised at him eating so quickly as iv only had him a few days, but he must know hes on to a good thing now.

[EJ]

That is not bad at all. If you get it on a substrate where it can get traction I'll bet it walks relatively normal. I don't see any real sign of MBD.

There is a little pyramiding but that is not a sign of MBD.

[topsyturvy]

Thanks i hope its not bad, but the photos dont seem to show up how flat and slopping his shell is.