Posted by:
streamwalker
at Wed Jul 26 08:12:50 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by streamwalker ]
The symptoms you are now describing may be signs of a devitalised prolapse. It would require careful surgery by an experienced rep vet. However there are so many causes for organ prolapse that to try and define what caused your boxies problem without him being carefully examined by a experienced rep vet would be futile.
For example, Diet can cause it( due to long duration being fed on high protein with no fiber). A blockage in the intestine due to a myriad of factors like a twist in the colon, ingesting inert matter( such as roofing tile or rocks), liver poisoning, liver failure or infection, extremely weakened condition due to poor diet, inadequate living conditions related to low heat and rotting food in the intestines....being dropped and spun as he fell so as to rupture or damage the intestines... or none of the above. He may have extended his penis as male boxies often do and before retracting it; was bitten by another boxie that led to an infection.
His condition as you have described it; is very poor and requires a thorough knowledge of chelonian medicine. Keeping the prolapse moist and warm are pluses.
I once heard of a treatment for prolapse involving putting a boxie in a tub of warm concentrated sugar water. For some boxies the sugar caused the organ to shrink. Sounds weird but in early prolapse cases and ones that did not involve infection or twists it worked. It may do nothing for him; but at this point the alternatives are much more invasive and his condition and treatment can be life threatening.
Sorry I don't have better news. I don't think it's something your other boxies are going to catch. It's more likely that you gave the best care; but something caused this inflammation in his intestines that you had no control over.
Ric
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RE: Box Turtle With Prolapse - streamwalker, Wed Jul 26 08:12:50 2006