Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was giving my little guy his injection yesterday and his mouth was open and I swear he hissed at me! Do they hiss or could the sound be something to do with his respitory infection? He was definitly very very upset and doesn't want anything to do with me now. One more shot to go...he is totally going to hate me. How long do they remember things like this? I hope he dosn't hold a grudge!
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

They do hiss, or sort of a sharp, quick exhalation of breath (which I guess is a hiss, lol!). My marginated, Percy, is still a little shy, and he does it when I pick him up, and so does the box turtle I rescued. My Hermann's, Moxie, is totally used to being handled and never does it. It could also be related to the RI, but I'm not sure about that.

Sounds like your tortoise has made the connection between you and something bad (shots). You could try making the connection a more pleasant one by hand-feeding treats, especially once you're done giving the shots. Eventually, the memory of the unpleasant connection will fade in favor of the more pleasurable one (hopefully).
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Thanks Sohni!

I sure hope he starts liking me again. I am the only one that feeds him and handles him so I'm hoping he forgets all about this bad time we have been through and knows I won't hurt him. It makes me sick thinking that he is afraid of me. He is my favorite.
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

I just finshed giving my yellowfoot the last of her 11 shots. I don't know if it's a hiss or not, by the time I finshed with the shots she was no longer makeing the noise. She seems to be doing real will now but she didn't like me when I was given her the shots, I know I was glad when I gave the last one.
Terry

2-5 Redfoots
1-1 yellowfoots
2 yellowfoots to youg to tell
3-1 russian's

Thanks for the info. It sure isn't fun having to give them shots. Unfortunately Sam in not doing well. He has one more shot due tomorrow but I don't think it is working. I'm taking him to the vets tomorrow to get checked out. He was breathing with his mouth open again tonight and now I see bubbles coming out of his nose. Not good. Hopefully there is something that can be done. How is your tort doing? How long did it take her to get better?
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

First of all that Baytril HURTS so he will hiss and complain.

How warm are you keeping him at this point? Good idea to get him back to the vet for further exam. If he is still behaving this way then he will definitely need further treatment.

Is he eating anything? I have successfully treated my torts for RI with baytril in pill form. Just tucking it in a piece of banana or grape or even chicken baby food (I have redfoots and a yellow foot) and had great success with that. I prefer it to injectibles. Of course if he is not eating then you have no choice. Keep us posted.

He is going to the vets first thing in the morning. He is not better...still breathing with his mouth open sometimes and now the bubbles are coming out of his nose. The Baytril did not work. He is going to a different vet this time that hopefully knows more about torts than the other vet. I had no idea there was a pill or I would have requested it. He is still eating. Not as much but on his own right now. He is very small...only four months old...so is there anyway you can crush the pill or something? He might need a different med since this one isn't doing anything. Just when I think he is looking pretty good he suddenly starts gasping for air and scares the heck out of me. I sure hope we can find out what is up with him before it is too late. His basking spot is around 95 degrees....the middle of his pen is around 77 to 80 degrees...and his cool side is around 70 degrees right now. I got a nite time heat bulb but it wasn't very strong and kept the temp around 76 degrees during the night. Is this warm enough for night time while he is sick? Any suggestions to help him out would be greatly appreciated!
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

Umm he is a Herman's right? Just trying to remember. If the vet gives him oral meds you may not have to crush it up. Baytril can even be in a liquid form. If you put the liquid or even a tablet (which if he is that tiny may NOT be an option as you can't cut a pill that small) into a little bit of banana. Not that banana is the best thing to feed torts all the time but a tiny little bit for for the duration of his meds wouldn't hurt him. Also if liquid is given you can certainly smear that onto a dandelion leaf or chickory or whatever leafy greens he eats and he will eat no problem. His problem may be more severe that the other vet thought. A vet with a bit more herp experience is a good idea. Did your other vet try and culture anything. (swab his any discharge and see what grew?)

Steve

No...they didn't take any cultures that I know of. They kept him for about an hour...had a heck of a time giving them the oral meds for the pinworms that Ella had. They gave that to Sam also just in case. I think she just took by word for it that he was sick because of the way he acted and the sounds that I had been hearing. She really didn't know much about what to do for him. Hopefully we will have better luck tomorrow. I feel bad for him to have to suffer for this long. Mostly he seems like he is doing okay so I'm hoping he isn't too bad. I will let you guys know what the vet says tomorrow. Thanks for the info!!!
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

My Yellowfoot is doing just fine. By the forth day of shots she was not making the wissing sound any more. She would give me a look like she knew when I was going to give her a shot. I hope your's get's better, I know how you fell, you get attached to them fast.
Terry

I am so glad your tort is getting better! I know what you mean by the look. They are smart little guys. Mine seem so know when it is time for his shot too...and he lets me know he is not happy about it! Good luck! I hope your little one stays well.
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

Hi, Yes they do hiss.. Sage(4 month redfoot} went to the vet today and got his first shot of baytril for his respirtory infection(that was caught very early, thanx)...Poor little guy held his mounth wide open and hissed and hissed.... I thought the vet had killed him with that shot...Sage bubbled at the mouth and nostrils, hissed, peed all over, and with neck outstetched and mouth wide open he crawled around in circles with the little leg that he got his shot in pulled in so far that I thought it was stuck!!!I swear I could hear his unspoken screams...It was just the sadest thing I had ever seen...sage had been a happy little tort,who loved to be petted just before the shot....He settled down after a nice warm soak when we got home and went staight to his hide....When Sage was mad he Hissed...I have 5 more shots to give at 72hr intervals. The shots look like they do more harm than good...I don't want to put him thru the shot ordeal, but like my children, it's for Sage's own good, but it breaks my heart to see his reaction...From what I have witnessed tortoise hiss when they are extremely upset....Shawne1

Can the vet give you an oral solution for the Baytril? I believe one is available (help me out here, Ed). Sometimes it's a bit of work getting them to take meds orally, but sounds as though it might be the better way to go in your case.
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Thanks Sohni!

I had no idea there was an oral med for this. I will definitly check it out. We only have one more shot to give him tomorrow so we might as well get it over with, but if he isn't well and has to get more I will check that out. I would really rather not have to go through injections again.
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

That is exactly what Sam did when we gave him his shot!!! It is so upsetting! Just wait till you have to give him the shot instead of the doctor. You might want to think about bringing him in for his shots each time...I know it is a pain but at least yours won't hate you after the shots. I think next time if this happens again I will probably have the vet or a nurse do it instead. Hopefully that will never happen! Good luck with your little one! I hope he does okay.
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

reading you guys' posts makes me feel bad about when my redfoot had to get an injection for an upper respiratory infection. thankfully the one shot did the trick, and i'm kind of glad i didn't watch it being administered.

junior does the huff/hiss thing sometimes when he's pissy, i think. he's generally very personable, even with people he doesn't know well... but sometimes if i wake him up (i soak and feed him in the mornings), he huffs. i suppose that's his way of telling me to let him go back to sleep... too bad i can't always work around *his* schedule, though!

my boyfriend and i joke about how that's his first word ("NO!".

My first russian also had to be given shots. What I found was to twist the needle as you push it in. Kinda like a drill. Seems to reduce pain somewhat. Also try injecting on the front legs right between the big scales. It seemed like there were less nerve endings there.

Also, I'm pretty sure baytril can come in a pepto-bismol looking solution. Pour that on a piece of red bell pepper and you're ready to rock.

Thanks for the tips. I will give it a try and see what happens. Unfortunately he has to get another shot in his little hiney now also. He really didn't seem to mind that one too much but it takes awhile to push in all the fluid so it is just awful to go through! Thanks!
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
4 Finches
1 Betta

My poor wc russian Yevgeni had to endure way too many pokes and prods. It broke my heart every time. he didn't like them, but he didn't seem too traumatized. What was even worse was oral medications however. He hated those. I'm sure that stuff tasted vile.
Sadly he passed away 6 months after I got him.