hi my herman tortoise is dragging his back legs does anyone no what  is wrong with him and is there anything i can do to help her walk better.thanks lorraine

Hi Lorraine,

This tortoise really needs to see a good tortoise vet asap........do you have a tortoise vet near by?  We do have a list of recommend vets if you are struggling to find one.

In the meantime, please make sure the tortoise is well hydrated, give him several warm baths...........are his urates creamy or gritty?

Have you had him a long time or is he a recent aquisition?

Can you think of any reason why he could be dragging his legs?  What kind of environment are you keeping him in at the moment?

Sorry for so many questions, just trying to get a clearer picture, but I would definately seek veterinary advice asap.

Jo

Hi Lorraine,

What supplements do you give and what heating/lighting do you use for your tortoise.

As Jo has already said - I'd be inclined to her him to the vets. There are a few things it could be, calcium deficiency seems to the most common in growing tortoises.

You really need an x-ray to be carried out and possibly a blood test too.

HTH
Draren

Hi Lorraine,

What supplements do you give and what heating/lighting do you use for your tortoise.

As Jo has already said - I'd be inclined to her him to the vets. There are a few things it could be, calcium deficiency seems to the most common in growing tortoises.

You really need an x-ray to be carried out and possibly a blood test too.

HTH
Draren

I agree with the other posts but wondered what age is the tortoise and is it male or female?

Hopefully the vet will be able to advise and do check out our care sheets under the Tortoise on the left hand menu bar.

Please let us know how you get on as it does help others,

Take care

Elaine

hi everyone when i bought him a couple of years ago he was fine but it is only recently i have noticed him doin this he as heat lamp,heat mat and uv.he is a male after seein his bits recently he is fed on dandelions,cabbage,tortoise dry formular and has nutra bol once a week.thankyou all for gettin bac to me so quickly as i am new to this site i also have a male spur thigh as well who is in fantastic health.

hi elaine he is 5 years old and a male.

can i also say that when we got him they didnt have any uv lighting so his shell is a lot flatter than it should be but its gettin better now.

Hi Laurain, Is the UV a tube? If so this needs changing every 6 mths if 5% (it will say the % on the actual light bulb). I wouldn't think there would be any need for a heat mat to be on as well, is he indoors at night? Cabbage - not to be fed frequently and I would STOP the dried food, it is too high in protein. At 5 you could give Nutrobol twice per week and just sprinkle calcium on his food all the other days. What sort of set up do you have him in the during the day and at night if different? If you can measure the tempreture at the hot end (where the basking light is) and at the cool end and let us know. Because they have a slow metobolic rate tortoises often take a very long time to show ill health but when they do you need to act pretty quick before long term damage happens.

There will be a list of weeds on the care sheet to help get you started or in the links section go to the T-lady link (it has pictures). 

There is a lot to learn with these little fellows but stick with it and the rewards of seeing a healthy tortoise enjoy their day is all worth it!

Let's know what the vet says.

TC

Elaine

hi elaine thanks for gettin in touch with me so quickly they are both living in a 4 foot viv at the moment but i have decided to make a tortoise table the man at the pet shop said we would need to have the heat mat on as well.

Hi Lorraine,

There's no necessity for a heat mat. I would look at getting a form of good quality UVB

http://www.kimbosreptileworld.co.uk/megaray-120w-self-ballasted-p-145.html

The Megaray is one of the best on the market, both for the long-lasting quality of the UVB and they do not blow as frequently as other lamps. This lamp provides both the heat and good quality UVB

This should be suspended in a lamp holder:-

http://www.kimbosreptileworld.co.uk/clamp-lamp-p-53.html

above  a tortoise table. There are some examples here:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/58.asp

It isn't merely the calcium intake that determines strong bone & shell growth but how the body uses the calcium. In order to sythesize the calcium into shell & bone growth a tortoises requires a supply of vitamin D3 which it can absorb from a good quality UVB source and can also be given orally (e.g. Nutobal) – but it should be noted that a tortoise can overdose on oral D3. Whilst your tortoise may be taking on calcium – it may be to little effect without the D3

I would be inclined to look to build a tortoise table with a basking area of around 90deg and a cooler end so your tortoise can escape the heat when he wants to.

Hermanns Care sheets:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/88.asp

Can he drag himself around using his front legs OK?

There’s a good tortoise diet list here:-

http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/Diet.htm#plantlist

I’d strongly recommend you take him to a good vet who will no doubt take x-rays to determine the bone density and blood samples to check the ionised calcium levels. Low ionised calcium levels can result in the weakening of muscles (hind limb paralysis).

Which vet is it your friend uses Lorraine?

There’s an excellent list of tortoise vets on the website:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/157.asp

HTH

Darren