I just took our female ch redfoot to another vet b/c she still was eating well (has only eaten a few bites) since she has arrived (12/06). She is very anemic (pcv 14) and her albumin is (.1). have tried every type of food imaginable since her arrival, and the other is doing well and eating like a pig. I was keeping and eye on their wts. and they were holding steady. The husbandry is good according to the vet- good temps, humidity and plenty of hides.
Several fecal floats have all been negative as has a giardia and campylobacter test.
Anyways, she is in the hospital for a few days, getting a feeding tube placed.
Was sick before she came, or is this all from not eating? From the answers I have gotten before on here everyone said to be patient, that this is not uncommon for them not to eat.They tried to get blood from the second trortoise to compare- but he was not co-operating very well, he did have a negative fecal. Any advice or experience would be appreciated.
Thanks and keep your fingers crossed.
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Anemic tortoise
Replies (3)
Still haven't tried the Flagyl, have you.
I have one Cherryhead that Ive been nursing for almost three years now. I thought for sure I was going to loos it. It too is now eating like a pig but is still anemic even with iron supplements.
I also recently found out that if you give too much iron and the kidney is already in failure the iron makes the anemia worse as i understand it.
I have some Chaco tortoises that have taken a turn for the worse. It is mostly the males but the vet couldn't find anything wrong with them.
I'll let you know how the necropsy turns out.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
Have B-12 injections been tried?? B-12 is easily depleted in vegetarian animals and very hard to replace. I would think that your vet would probably know this. The blood smear would come back as macrocytic ovalocytes with hypersegmented neutrophils. So check the blood test results.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
