Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm trying to revive a dehydrated box turtle I found.
I'd like to start with subcutaneous fluids. where do most vets inject it?

The most common site for injecting fluids for rehydration is in the soft skin in front of the rear leg in the rear leg socket. This type of injection is more correctly called intraperitoneal or intracoelomic not subcutaneous, though. Subcutaneous means just under the skin, which would cause a huge bubble.

Dr.Z What do you think about the use of 5Þxtrose and 0.9%sodium chloride for dehydration.Vic

Hey there, Vic. I can't quite make out the first item, but it looks like 5% dextrose. Is that correct?

Bill Z

Lactated Ringer's Solution (LRS) and Normosol (.9% saline) are two of the most commonly used fluids for intracoelomic rehydration. Meant to include that info in the above post.

Thanks,I was woundering if the Vet (front desk people)gave me the wrong stuff.What is the difference in the two? Some of the adults look dehydrated by the end of winter.They stay active and eat during most of our mild winter but seem not to like the chilly water.I force them to soak at times and often see them drink.I'm judgeing this by the look of their eyes.The menbrane around the eyes are not as plump or full as I like to see it.I do worming and blood work but never see anything to alarming.Romain,and cantalope are offered at the time of these observation.Could it be some other reason they would look this way.Its hard to get a pic of this with my camera,but i'm sure you have seen it.Its not savere like a real sick tortoise,i'm just trying to keep it from getting that way.I was trying not to have to inject them to often.I'll pipe in warm water if I have to.Thanks in advance.

Hi. If the tortoises aren't SEVERELY dehydrated, I would avoid injecting fluids myself, too. It would be a lot easier to give them warmer water and soak them every other day or so to keep them more hydrated and they will probably eat better as well after the soakings.

Bill,Thanks a lot for both replys.I thought they gave me the wrong bags.On the secound post thanks.I just wanted another mind set on it.What is odd is that it didnt start happening untill I moved.After they were captives for 18 years.(which is another story altogether)I have a different kind of water here.Its loaded with calcium,the other was a deep well with a different Ph. and I could leave it running and it would be much warmer.I,ve already designed and built a small prototype of a pool with plastic over it like a little green house.I piped in hot water through a sprinkler.It stayed fairly steamy.Our winter was so mild this year I didnt build them around all 9 ponds.Some kind of large.It would be quite a construction project.I've drawn up away to use an hot water pressurewasher(I just happened to be a pressurwashing co.) that could supply warm water in a mist/flood to every pool.This way I wasnt running electric for each unit.Hot wires & H20,no,no.I was counting on globel warming!Never a dull moment,animals will always make you work.I dont want them to live "inspite of captivity" but try to get them to thrive because of it.Thanks again Vic

Sorry about the type o yes 5% dextrse and 0.9% sodium chloride inj,usp

I am not a vet, but this sounds like something that would be given IV rather than into the body cavity. The dextrose is a sugar which should give the animal strength and energy if given IV. I am not sure if the same effect would result from putting it into the body cavity, though, because it might be excreted first. We would have to ask a vet on that one, I think.

would advise against injecting sugar solutions under the skin, bad things can happen, i.e. foreign body reactions,, instead make sure to use physiological saline (0.9% NaCl).

Thanks,The Vets staff gave me the wrong bags and I didnt notice untill I got home.Kind of makes you want to go postal errrrrr! Its very slight dehydration in the making.They have been getting warm water soaking everyday.Only about a few weeks of cool left here in N.Florida so I got a year to put in the warm water tortoise hot tub,and steem room for next winter.Maybe I'll get'em a tread mill too!Thanks again, I thought that stuff sounded bad like injecting Gator Aid in them.Freekin people! you got to watch'em like a Halk. Vic personal trainer Manouria Spa