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Misty Corton, The Care Centre, Natal, South Africa
On obtaining your tortoises, ask around until you find a capable
veterinarian who is familiar with treating these animals. Pay him a
visit and get him to check your animal over to ensure that there are no
obvious problems. Ask him/her to do a fecal to check for parasites and
if necessary to de-worm the tortoise. Record their weight, origin and
the date you received tortoises for future reference.
It is outside the scope of this web site to give details of all diseases
that these reptiles can acquire. The following are the most common
problems encountered and will give you some idea of what to do should
the worst happen.
Without a doubt "runny nose syndrome" is the most frequent complaint
encountered in South Africa, therefore, this is covered in some depth.
Respiratory disease: "Runny nose syndrome"
RNS is not a disease, but rather a term used to describe an upper
respiratory tract infection which may have several causes. It can occur
in any species, but seems to be especially prevalent in Geochelone
pardalis, the Leopard tortoise. It can occur at any time of the year,
can be fairly difficult to spot in the early stages, and has a nasty
habit of recurring, despite treatment. Any animal that has been infected
can, and often does, become a carrier. They may not display any symptoms,
but can infect any tortoise that comes into contact with them. Leopard
tortoises are the worst affected, perhaps because of their size,
nutritional state and a general inability to cope with our humidity and
dampness. Those that recover often relapse, especially if treatment is
stopped because "he seems much better now".
RNS is more common in large and mixed collections, and can spread
alarmingly quickly if prompt action is not taken. Never ignore a runny
nose in the hope that it will clear "when the weather improves". If no
treatment is obtained, RNS can develop into chronic or acute pneumonia
which can be extremely difficult to cure. Quite often stomatitis (mouth
rot) accompanies RNS which can complicate matters even further.
There are several factors that increase the chances of your tortoise
developing a respiratory tract infection: dusty conditions (resulting in
irritation of the mucus membranes), foreign bodies lodging in the
nostrils, inappropriate humidity or temperature, lack of sunlight,
confinement in damp grassed areas with no access to sand, overcrowding,
malnutrition, and stress.
This active tortoise will have muscles that are firm and strong, his
metabolism will be functioning in top gear, and his vitamin/mineral
intake sufficient to ensure that his immune system gives him sound
protection against invasion of disease causing organisms. A tortoise
suffering from malnutrition has no such protection against disease, he
has no defenses left to fight invaders, and will often succumb to a
minor infection.
Do not add any new tortoise to your existing collection without a
quarantine period - 6 months is the minimum recommended. Your new
tortoise may have had RNS or some other bacterial, mycoplasmic or even
viral disease and may now be a carrier. There is no way of identifying a
carrier with any certainty.
Avoid stress - dogs or other animals worrying your tortoise, overcrowding,
competition/aggression from other tortoises, or children allowed to
"play" with the animal is stressful. Stress causes a number of
biochemical changes in the animal, among them the production of steroids
which in turn suppresses the immune system - such animals are more
likely to succumb to an infection than a healthy non-stressed tortoise
exposed to the same infectious agent. Stress is almost impossible to
detect until it is too late, and can have serious long term effects on
the general health and resistance of the animal.
Avoid sleeping quarters that are in a damp area. Provide a dry, snug
bed at night.
The single most important thing you can do to prevent RNS (and many
other equally serious diseases) is NEVER TO ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN
DIFFERENT SPECIES. Animals from different areas have different abilities
to resist 'alien' pathogens; an organism which may be harmless to one
can kill another.
Treatment:
The worst has happened, your tortoise has a runny nose - what should
you do?
First check that there is no foreign body lodged in the nostril - grass seed,
grass etc. If one is found it should be removed without delay and drops
used as outlined below to clear up any infection it may have caused.
If a foreign body is not the culprit, ask your vet (or your normal doctor or
pharmacy) for a sterile swab. Take a smear of mucous from his nose and
get this sample in to your vet or doctor for immediate testing. The
results of this test will tell you which organisms are causing the
infection and which antibiotics will work effectively against them. This
is most important, it is unrealistic to expect a single antibiotic to
work against all "bugs". Most infections in reptiles are caused by what
are known as "gram-negative" organisms, and this knowledge enables a vet
to hazard a pretty good guess as to what will work. Thus, if testing is
out of the question, and/or while you are waiting for the results of the
testing, treatment is commenced with an antibiotic effective against
gram-negative organisms.
In mild and short-standing infections, treatment consists of antibiotic
drops given into the nasal chambers once daily. Those most often used
are Oxytetracycline (Terramycin), Tylosin, and, especially, Enrofloxacin
(Baytril). First wipe the animal's nose with a disposable paper towel to
remove as much mucous as possible. Then a syringe with a short rigid
tube is used to instill one drop of antibiotic into each nostril once
daily whilst holding the animal in an upright position (to ensure the
drug goes well into the nasal cavity).
This is best done toward late afternoon before the animal beds down for
the night. If the weather is damp or cold it is preferable to place the
tortoise in a box indoors at night in a warm area. Beware of using
clip-on lamps as these can be dislodged, causing a fire hazard. Severe
cases will need to be kept under heat for the duration of treatment.
Heaters mounted onto the wall are best for this purpose as they cannot
be dislodged.
This simple treatment is continued for a week or two after symptoms
have disappeared to prevent relapse. Whilst on the subject of antibiotics,
bear in mind that some tortoises (Leopard and Cape angulate tortoises in particular) can
be allergic to Baytril. Most
allergic responses are vomiting and/or frothing at the nose and mouth. If, of course, the results of the test come back
indicating that a different antibiotic is required, you should switch
over immediately. Cortisone should never be used as it suppresses the
immune system of an already compromised animal.
While this treatment usually works, remember also that the conditions
that initially caused the infection may still prevail (stress,
malnutrition, dampness etc.) and that this should be rectified if you
wish to avoid relapse.
This isn't working!
You have tried the drops, and they don't seem to be working. Now
what? Some infections are complicated. More than one organism could be
involved, necrotic stomatitis could be complicating the infection, acute
or chronic pneumonia could be setting in. There are any number of
reasons, and whatever the cause prompt action must be taken. Veterinary
advice must be obtained without delay as a course of injectable
antibiotic will usually be necessary. These injections are usually given
every 48-72 hours because metabolic take-up is slow and the drug could
build up in the tortoise's system and reach toxic levels.
It is vital to keep the tortoise at a higher temperature for the duration of
treatment, this speeds up metabolism and drug distribution and also
boosts the animal's immune system. A temperature of around 28-30 degrees
is usually recommended. It is most important that hydration be
maintained, if the animal is not drinking water your vet can inject
fluids subcutaneously (under the skin) or intracoelomically (into the
space between the intestinal canal and body wall). Some drugs affect the
renal system and renal failure can result if hydration is not maintained.
A course of five to ten injections are usually required, depending on
the drug used. Where nephrotoxic drugs (damaging to the renal system)
are used they should be injected into the forelimbs, otherwise severe
kidney damage could result. With other drugs the rear limbs can be used.
In severe cases nebulisation can be used to aid treatment, using the
antibiotic recommended by your vet, mixed 1/2 ml antibiotic with 5ml
saline. This should be done 4 times daily if possible. Yes, a tortoise
can stop breathing for a considerable time, but a sick animal usually
hasn't the strength to do so and therefor nebulising does work in a
number of cases and certainly should be tried.
Finally, do not make the mistake of comparing RNS to the human
common cold or flu, and think that it will clear by itself if given time.
It won't. Treatment is essential, and as soon as possible. The longer
RNS is left the more difficult it is to clear. RNS can and does kill,
don't let your tortoise become a victim. Inspect nostrils daily if
possible and get expert help fast if you spot any nasal discharge.
Constipation: Soak the tortoise in a bath of tepid water for 30 minutes,
with the water level just covering the plastron. If this does not work,
consult your veterinarian for advice. This condition is almost
invariably the result of poor dietary management. Increase fibre intake
substantially. Laxatives commonly used are liquid parafin and lactulose.
Dandelion root added to feed will often work here too.
Abscesses: These are quite common in tortoises, especially in the
ears. Take your tortoise to your vet at the first sign of any abnormal
swelling. Abscesses can also follow minor bites or other injuries, such
as a thorn penetration. Abscesses in tortoises will not respond merely
to antibiotic treatment; they must be physically drained and all
necrotic material removed surgically and the wound left to drain without
stitching. Good post-operative follow-up is vital.
Pneumonia:The most common causes of respiratory disease are: unhygienic
and damp conditions, overcrowding, inadequate temperatures and exposure
to "carriers".
Symptoms: Acute - gaping, stretching neck and respiratory difficulty, often
mucous in nostrils and mouth, leg weakness and poor retraction,
dehydration, depression, open mouth breathing. Some tortoises run about
blindly. Urgent veterinary help is needed if the tortoise is to survive.
Begin injected antibiotics at once. Even a few hours delay can prove
fatal.
Symptoms: Chronic - persistent low level discharge from nose, weakness,
poor head and limb retraction.
Probably the most common disease found in tortoises. The tortoise should
be treated by a competent veterinarian immediately.
Eye infections: Infections usually respond to treatment with either Genoptic
(gentamycin) eye drops or terracortril eye suspension. Mild cases
respond to Neomycin or Chloramphenicol eye ointment. Where you see
severely swollen eyelids there is usually a primary bacterial infection
in which case a course of antibiotics will be essential. Some eye
problems are simply an indication of vitamn A deficiency. Supply vitamin
A and use a mild eye ointment, if the condition does not respond fairly
quickly get veterinary help.
Egg retention: Signs include reluctance to walk, lethargy and general signs
of septicaemia. Here prevention is better than cure - provide good
nutrition with plenty of calcium, the correct laying environment for the
species, and keep levels of stress to a minimum. X-rays can be taken to
confirm diagnosis and your vet can then determine the best treatment.
Laying can be induced using a combination of injected calcium and
oxytocin.
Renal dysfunction: Signs include oedema (water retention), pale mucous
membranes, lethargy, reluctance/inability to urinate, weight increase
due to fluid retention. Often seen following long term anorexia,
dehydration and bacterial infection. Get veterinary help immediately. In
early stages, regular warm baths and physiotherapy of back legs can help
release any blockage. Always ensure that your
tortoise has access to clean, fresh water.
Diabetes: Symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, weakness. Your vet can
do a blood test to ascertain whether diabetes exists.
Shell rot: This is often caused by injuries and sometimes ticks. Treatment
includes the removal of any loose shields and thorough cleaning daily
with a solution of Nolvasan or Betadine. Exposure to air will aid cure.
Where this treatment fails, flamazine can be applied once daily after
thorough cleaning. Advanced cases may need simultaneous administration
of an injectable antibiotic from your veterinarian.
Anorexia: Observe closely for other symptoms. May indicate a severe
parasite infection, a metabolic problem such as renal or liver
dysfunction, or even a broken jaw or ear abscess which causes pain on
eating. Requires further investigation by your veterinarian.
Parasites: For any external parasites you can dip the tortoise in Alugan
or diluted tritix (Amitraz) 1-2ml/litre. Ticks can be removed manually
- coat with alcohol or vaseline, turn on its back to loosen its grip and
pull off. Apply a little betadine to the spot where the tick was
attached.
Symptoms of worms: diarrhoea, anorexia, sometimes vomiting, Some
tortoises splutter small volumes of liquid from the mouth. If left
untreated, infection with worms can cause serious perforation of the
intestine or intestinal blockage.
Treatment and prevention: Avoid overcrowding. Worm eggs can survive
on the ground for long periods and can infect other tortoises feeding in
the area. It is recommended that routine worming with Panacur or Oxfen
be carried out twice yearly, once in the spring and once in the autumn.
Never - ever - try to worm tortoises with any preparation containing
Ivermectin - this product has proved consistently FATAL in tortoises of
all species. Dog or cat wormers based upon piperazine should also be
avoided.
Required dose rates are high compared to mammals: 3 ml of a 2.5% solution
per kilogram of the tortoise's bodyweight. Recommended dose of
panacur is 25-50mg/kg, dose again after two weeks and have a fecal done
two weeks later to check that you have in fact eliminated the infection.
Infestations of hookworm are better treated at weekly intervals with the
lower dosage rate until a fecal tests clear. All companions should be
treated at the same time.
To deworm hatchling hingebacks: inject the correct dose of dewormer into an
earthworm and feed this to the tortoise. This saves them the stress of tube-
feeding.
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