Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need help!!! I went to the emergency pet hospital with my African Spurred tortoise named Spike today. He was horrifically soft and had bruising on his belly. He is sooo very sick! The vet showed me how to inject Calcium and "normal" body fluid. He told me to stick the 3/4" needle into the very edge of his belly all the way in??? Is this right??? I am a nurse this seems too far...wont it hit an organ??? He also bent his shell to try to get him to take oral Calcium and he is bleeding now. Im very concerned about my Spike. Of course he is not eating he is too weak at this point. Please help

Hi Jennifer. The 3/4" needle should be OK to use though you didn't note how large the tortoise is. Just get the needle point under the whole dermis layer and inject into the body cavity. The fluid should go in without resistance. If it doesn't, pull back and reposition the needle and try again. If your tortoise is as bad as you say, oral calcium is not going to help very much at this time. His system is probably shutting down and he needs IV fluids and electrolytes to stabilize him first. I would get the animal to a vet who is experienced with tortoises ASAP for a workup. If you live near a vet school with an exotics department, that might be a starting point.

Ah yes sorry. He is about 5-6 cm in length and 2.5 -3 cm in depth. He is about 2 years old. I did take him to the vet and he gave me the calcium glucanate in NS. I am to give it to him every other day then follow up. He is not eating but I put food in front of him with calcium sprinkled on it. So you think it will be ok to stick the whole needle into the outer edge of his abdomenal cavity?? How does it not puncture an organ? He is very sick. I keep a close eye on him. If I can I will get him some direct sun light outsite to help with Vit D. Thanks Jen

How long have you had it? Did you get it this sick? Sometimes their to far gone.If it wasnt your fault it got this sick,its SOMETIMES better to start over with a new healthy tortoise than to spend a lot of money for low odds of recovery.Ive noticed tortoises that are treated at near death,sometimes live short and week lifetimes.I'm starting to see what I call antibiodic zombism in some tortoises.For a tortoise if they die even in twenty years not to mention four or five,we have failed.Most are very long lived.Its a HARD choice,I just dont want to see you spend more bucks and be dissapointed.On the other hand you have to live with yourself,and i've seen my Vet pull off some voo-doo on a near death bad looking tortoise.A feeding tube in the neck sounds like your only chance.Good Luck,let us know Vic