Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My leopard has a respitory infection so I got her to the vet as soon as I could. She is still a baby about a year old, maybe less. I do not know how she got the infection, I keep the enclosure quite warm. Anyway, she is on Baytril injections every 48 hours. She stayed in her shell for hours after the doctor gave her the first injection. Now she will not open her eyes. Is there anything I can do to get her eyes open. Please help, I dont want to lose her. Thank you.

What is your perception of 'quite warm'?
I'd recomend 80 to 100F as a range for now and daily soakings.
If you can get the mouth open I'd suggest you use the baytril as an oral antibiotic instead of injection. Talk to your vet about this
Ed

Injections are very painful to torts so don't be surprised when they clam up. Also, Baytril should ONLY be given via injection the first time. Oral for every other dose.

Keep it warm (per Ed) and offer a little of its favorite food and see if that helps.

Good luck

I have used Baytril extensively with my Egyptians when they have developed a respitory infection. I am somewhat aware of the problems that can develop by the injections, however I have never experienced the problems myself. I believe the vets call this problem "sluffing of the skin" or "necropolis". (Correct me if I'm wrong on this EJ) Keepers should also know that there is a small animal Baytril and a large animal Baytril. I recently used the large animal type on my 13 pund Sulcata with great results.
I have found it difficult if not impossible with most of my tortoises (small and big) to give Baytil orally. Some tortoises allow manipulation for this, some are too strong. Many of mine are just too small.

Set the possible side effects aside that are mentioned above, what is more detremental to the tortoise? 15-20 mins of trying to give Baytril orally by poking, pulling, and prodding it, or a 5 second shot in the meaty portion of it's arm. This really is a question on that point. I am inclined to think the tortoise is more stressed by trying to force something into it's mouth, but I am open to being enlightened on this.

For what it's worth...

Tortuga

i had to give sullivan injections of baytril but in the thigh area, is that not the right place to inject?
i herd somthing in the last post about injecting in the meaty part of the arm.
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1 sulcata ( sullivan )
1 russian ( foxy )
3 cockerspaniels (wilbur, charlotte and torre )
1 betta ( frederica )

i thought baytril was designed to be first injected and then (in the same course) to be administered orally. I ma not sure who told me this. does it sound crazy?

I was the one that posted about the injecting in the "arm". I mean one of the front legs, I guess this could also be called the thigh and is probably a more accurate description. I'm sure you injected in the right area.

Tortuga

There is no way that I could give an oral dose to my tortoise. She is just to small and shy. I could never get her mouth open, but she does let me take her "arm" for a few seconds. My doctor told me not to give the injectins in her back "legs".

it seems this back legs thing is considered an obsolete idea with aquatic turtles (which i know little about) i wonder if the better vets are saying the same thing about it with regard to tortoises (about which i know almost nothing)

Apparently mnay aquatic turtle hav soem sort of structure that permots bypassing of the kideneys of some parts of the bloodstream and the vets no longer worry about problmes with rear leg injectiuons with them. anyone know about the deal with this with tortoises?

Whats with all these vets giving a fluoroquinolone?? The treatment of choice for Mycoplasma infection are macrolide antibiotics ie. erythromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin. Most resp. infects are mycoplasma in torts. If you see no improvement suggest this to your vet.

While I don't necessarily agree that most RI in tortoises is due to Mycoplasma I do agree that it has gone from being relatively obscure to being a fairly common problem.
A combination of oral Doxycycline and nebulized Baytril(or nose drops) should render excellent results in the majority of cases.
Keep in mind that most authorities on the matter agree that it is doubtful that the pathogens can be completely eradicated.
Therefore a tortoise which has tested positive should never be exposed to healthy stock.
Jackie Lapradd

I just read in Reptiles mag, that Mycoplasma is the most common cause of colds in tortoises

I'm devastated! I just can't believe I was wrong LOL!
Seriously though could you give me the issue in which you read this? I am always interested in reading new findings.
Thanks in advance
Jackie Lapradd

Chill out coroner!!! Jackie appears to be one of the more informed posters on this board. I too would like to know in what reptiles mag you read about resp. illness??

if i understood this post it might just mean something.
Ed

Baytril is a fluoroquinolone, the vets seem to dispense it to treat resp. infxn. The most common resp. infxn. in torts is Mycoplasma. The treatment of choice for mycoplasma are macrolide antibiotics. I was just wondering why vets choose Baytril for everything???