Can anyone advise me how often my 2 year old Horsfield should pass urates please? I know they are all individuals but just wondered if there was an average.

Many thanks

Julie :-)

Hi Julie,

I must admit it's not something I've ever noted, maybe someone alse has?

TC
Darren

Hi Julie
My two pass urates almost everyday, which I thought was healthy, as long as they are soft and white like toothpaste and are not gritty.  I was just reading on another site, that if they are well hydrated then they don't pass urates very often! abit confused because I thought it was good for them to pass urates as they are toxins, and as long as they are not gritty , which would indicate that they are dehydrated.  I consider that my two are well hydrated, they drink well and have a daily bath and the urates look like they should do.
I would be interested to hear others comments too. Sorry Julie I haven't really answered your question but hopefully someone will be able to put us both right.
Regards

Jane

Hi Jane

Thanks for your reply. My little one passes urates approx every 7 to ten days and it looks a bit like yoghurt. It doesnt appear gritty or anything. I guess with the worry of getting the hydration right, I wanted to check if this was normal. I make sure slow coach has a bath every day and sometimes she has a good gulp of water and other times she takes little sips. Just being an over protective newbie lol

Many thanks

Julie

Hi Julie, I have quite a few torts so it is hard to monitor as its hard to know who's done what!!  As long as they are creamy I dont worry.  But I would say mine are the same as yours passing them every 7- 10 days.

Regards Vivienne

Hi
Oh no ...why are mine passing them nearly everyday? the urates look normal.   Julie we are all newbies as something new happens that we are unsure of all the time!! for me anyway.
So back to urates, why would mine be passing them so frequently, they are both  fed on 100% weeds only and outside in their outdoor pens (apart from the night time) they have a bath everyday even the big one and drink well?
Jane

Hi Vivienne

Thank you so much for putting my mind at rest.

Regards

Julie :-)

Hi Jane

Oh no - a sad face. Maybe each tortoise is different - just like us; please dont be sad

Take care

Julie :-)

Hi Jane,

I wouldn't worry at all. The important thing is the consistency of the urates:-)

TC
Darren

Thanks Guys,
Yes I should know really that they all differ and different life styles gives different behaviour (scratch head) I hope that made sense. Anyway Julie we will go back to  as it is a lovely sunny day here and my two are having a lovely time, and I get to see it all!!!
Also how ironic, neither of mine passed urates today!!! 
Darren I was just about to say about Molly's poo again and out popped another this morning all healthy loooking, maybe I need to get a life 

Everyone have a good week-end
Jane Keya & Molly x

Hiya Jane and Molly

Im so glad you are smiling again

Take care

Julie

Hi, I'm worried because my Horsfield has just passed what looked like clear water, is this a normal thing?

JB.

Hi JB,

Yes this is absolutely fine

HTH
Darren

Thanks Darren,

I thought this always had to be creamy coloured, is it the same thing? I was very worried.

JB.

The creamy stuff is urates (concentrated uric acid) which is flushed from the bladder when a tortoise passes fluids - usually shortly after it has taken on replacement fluids. This can be in the form of water extracted from solids or after drinking. If a tortoise is passing urates every time it passes fluids, it may be a sign that there is too much protein in the diet.


HTH
Darren