Hello! my name is Carol! i have three spur thighed tortoises that are 2 years old! in the last week i have noticed one of them is not eating much at all and tonight she seems very lethargic compared to the other two! and  i noticed she keeps stretching her head out and opening her mouth wide! i am very worried and intend taking her to the vets! can you help at all.

Thanks Carol

Hi Carol,

It sounds as though it is a respiratory problem. May I ask some questions please?
Is her nose dry?
What sort of enclosure are they kept in?
Are you bathing them daily?

It would certainly be worth taking her to a good tortoise vet, there is a list of recommended vets here:-

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

Regards

Steph

Hi Steph

They are kept in a tortoise table that my husband built following instructions from the tortoise trust! they have topsoil & playsand for their bedding! they are bathed daily and fed on dandelion & sedum with added nutrobal & limestone flour. Her eyes look bright and her nose dont look no different to the other two! i will definitely get her to her vets! do you think she will be ok?

Carol

Hi Carol,

It sounds as though she either has a foreign object lodged in her nasal passage or it could well be RNS (a respiratory infection) which can be treated with antibiotics - usually Batryl, treatment should be undertaken as soon as possible to avoid the problem becoming worse and affecting the lungs. If your try pressing gently but firmly under her chin (in her jawline) it will expel air through her nostrils.

Did you manage to find a vet on the list at all?

Please let us know how you get on

Best Regards

Steph

Hi Steph

Thank you for your reply! today we are off on our holidays we always take our dogs and tortoises with us! there is one vet there that has lots of exprience in the breed of dogs we have! so as soon as we arrive we will get the tortoise to the vet! i wont have access to a computer while away but i maybe able to get the website from my phone to let you know how we get on.

None of those vets are near where we are going! its Lincolnshire so if any member knows a vet there it will be handy! as i said i will try to get any messages from my phone.

Many thanks for advice.

Carol

Hi Carol,

I've checked the BCG vet list, they haven't any recommended vets in Lincolnshire either.

Here's the list, maybe there is one nearer to where you are going:-

http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/vetscorner/vetlist.htm

HTH
Kindest Regards

Darren