Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi...I have a question. My R.E.S. was vomiting all day yesterday. I didn't realize it until I got home from work. By then she was very lethargic and just sort of floating around her tank, with her legs partially retracted. I called all the vets in the area, but no one was open after 6, that knew anything about turtles, so I had to make an appointment for 1st thing this morning. I turned up the heat in her room, and in her water, and this morning when I got up she was back to her old self! Very excited to see me...she started splashing me when she saw her jar of treats! She was swimming energetically and in a great mood.

I brought her to the Vet anyway, and they had a look...said it was hard to tell, and that she seemed very healthy. They said it may have been too cold in her tank and the increased heat was what helped (H2O Temp was 82F, and I increased to 85F). I brought her home, and she's been fine all day. Now tonight she is puking again. she is also sort of rubing at her head with her front paws. I'm attaching a picture of her getting ready to vomit...

Can anyone help me? I have no idea what is wrong!!! I'm supposed to be going away for the weekend, and I don't want to leave her with friends in this condition!

Phone the vet, and see if there are any diagnostics they recommend. I'd recommend bloodwork and X-rays as a starting point. Also perhaps ask if they can hospitalize/board him over the weekend, find a friend who's herp savy and you trust, or unfortunately cancel your trip.

It's just a shot in the dark, but is there a possibility of foriegn body ingestion? There are many things that may cause vomiting, but this might be higher on the list.

Ian

If the water temperature was orginally 82 degrees then increased to 85 cool water temperature was not the cause of her vomitting (it really wouldn't be anyway). I would have to agree with the other person who posted that further investigation is warranted. X-rays, fecals at least for start.
Impaction could be the problem or parasites. There are, indeed, a host of things that could be wrong or perhaps nothing at all.

At the very least if an xray yeilds nothing and fecals come up clean AND the animal is acting normally eating and defecating then she should be fine. BUT I really do agree that some tests to determine if there are any real problems are in order
Good luck
Steve

X-rays and fecal, sure, but bloodwork will reveal a lot more than a fecal (parasites aren't usually a reason for vomiting anyways). In addition to a blockage (usually diagnosed with imaging), organ failure will cause vomiting... detected by bloodwork. Renal failure is not uncommon in RES.

Ian