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.

I assume you are aware that swollen eyes are a secondary symptom of repiratory infection and that you won't see immediate results from the medication, so they will remain swollen for awhile. See that the turtle is soaked for a brief period regularly to keep the lids flexible and try putting a little triple antibiotic ointment on them (trade name Neosporin or generics) from time to time. While it won't cure the underlying disease, it often helps lubricate the eyes. Puzzling - they rarely withdraw but are usually at least partially extended with a severe respiratory infection. Don't expect the animal to begin feeding until symptoms are resolved.

Possibly this was the animals reaction to the baytril shot. It is a rather painful injection. When my redfoot was getting them for a respiratory infection she would withdraw the leg where the injection was given and run frantically around her pen. She even regurgitated as well.

I have since treated other torts with oral baytril (I was lucky as the ones I was treating still had very healthy appetites and would not turn down a small piece of banana with the meds in it.