Reptile & Amphibian Forums

THE DISPATCH (Moline, Illinois) 01 October 05 Fejervary Zoo tortoise undergoes surgery (Mark Martin)
Bubba won't be greeting her fans at the Fejervary Children's Zoo in Davenport. The 50-pound sulcata tortoise is recovering from surgery to remove a belly full of gravel.
The 12-year-old tortoise went on the operating table at the North Brady Animal Hospital after she stopped eating and her digestive tract stopped working properly, said veterinarian Dr. Kathy Van Buer.
"She's supposed to be eating hay and vegetables and fruits and things, but if they're on the ground, she'll snarf them all up," the veterinarian said of the gravel found in the tortoise's digestive tract.
"... She was depressed. Normally, she's a very outgoing tortoise."
The gravel showed up on X-rays. Surgery was required for Bubba after multiple turtle enemas and a laxative failed to free the gravel. It turned out the stones had mixed with grain to form a "blob" that got stuck in her colon and part of her small intestine.
A team of doctors and nurses performed the surgery and pulled out the gravel-filled sludge. It took 45 minutes just to cut through the shell. The tortoise was bandaged on her head and front legs.
The zoo said Friday afternoon that Bubba will stay with the veterinarian through the weekend. She may be able to return to the zoo next week. Until she heals, zookeepers must feed and medicate the tortoise through a tube.
She won't be on display while she recovers.
Fejervary Zoo tortoise undergoes surgery

... SOMEONE needs a substrate change! (hopefully)