Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I finally convinced the Vet to tube feed her. With 4 people, we finally managed it! He did tell me he wouldn't anesthetize her so we could pry her mouth open easier and I think it just stressed her out REALLY bad. (He also said that it was a shot in the dark and he HOPED he had not put it into her lungs. ???)
We gave her a mixture of Pedialyte, mushed up fruit, hand-feeding formula for baby birds, (for vitamins, nutrients) and some Panacur and Flagyl. (About 60 mL worth total)

Anyway, she is doing ok today after a long soak.

Keep your fingers crossed, but I THINK she took a couple bites from a banana....or she stepped in it. I think she took a nibble, but I am really hoping.

Question: After all that stress, if she doesn't actually start eating, would it hurt to tube feed her again?? Anyone have a better suggestion??? Thanks all!!!

Brittani

What about a pharyngostomy? It sounds dreadful but is actually much less stressful for the tort. In practice the plastic tube is just taped to the tortoise's shell so that it can continue to walk around, and then you feed it through the tube as necessary. See below what I've copied from another forum:

Nina

Basics

A Pharyngostomy tube is a tube that is surgical set into the neck of the tortoise and feeds directly into the stomach, allowing the keeper to feed via the feeding tube, usually strapped to the top of the shell.

Cost: Approximately £40 from any Qualified Reptile Vet.

The procedure takes around 5 minutes although the tortoise will require sedating so as not to go through the pain of the procedure. The vet advised that the tortoise has to be relevantly active in order for the procedure to go ahead. If they are too ill and inactive they may not survive the sedation at the beginning of the procedure, however your vet will advise you on this.

This procedure is normally carried out when a tortoise requires constant manual feeding to avoid the stress of having the owner trying to open the tortoise’s mouth to administer food, should the tortoise not be healthy enough to eat on its own.

>>What about a pharyngostomy? It sounds dreadful but is actually much less stressful for the tort. In practice the plastic tube is just taped to the tortoise's shell so that it can continue to walk around, and then you feed it through the tube as necessary. See below what I've copied from another forum:

If it's any help to see what that looks like we did this with a box turtle who was hurt badly by a dog.
We used Ensure at first but it's sticky so it clogged up the tube. We switched to a mixture of Pedialyte and Oxbow's Critical Care Formula for herbivores. While Oxbow sells all the rest of their foods to the public, the critical care formula can only be ordered by a vet. Your vet would have to call or order online through their website to get that formula. After feeding him this way for about 2 weeks he seemed like he felt wonderful so on a Monday he pulled the tube out himself. By Friday he was eating solid food on his own. Today, 7 months later he's doing great.

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PHRatz

Thanks for the info. That's not in any of the "Reptile Surgery and Medicine" Books that the vet here has. That would be something to keep in mind. Do you have any books that the Doctor can look at? (As in the names so I can find them)

Can that be used on a toroise that is shy and keeps her head pulled into her shell? Will it stay in place? (I would assume sutures? Also if she starts eating on her own, can she swallow with the tube in place?)

We tube fed her again yesterday. She climbed into her water tub and stayed there for almost 24 hours. I put a fresh plate of food down for her this morning, then went to work and when I cam home she was sitting on her dish. I moved her and it looks like some of the food is missing. (Or smashed very well) I honestly can't tell wether she started eating or if she is just stepping/smashing/burying it. ???

Again, vets here don't know that much about reptile surgery, so any help or info would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks so much everyone! You have been a great help!

Brittani

>>Do you have any books that the Doctor can look at? (As in the names so I can find them)

Reptile Medicine and Surgery from Douglas Mader.
Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles from Stuart McArthur are both good textbooks for a reptile vet to have.

>> Can that be used on a toroise that is shy and keeps her head pulled into her shell? Will it stay in place? (I would assume sutures? Also if she starts eating on her own, can she swallow with the tube in place?)

Yes the tube actually goes in at the side of the neck so it doesn't interfere with swallowing. That way if they decide to eat on their own while the tube is in place, they can do that.
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PHRatz