Hi all, my name's Lisa. I've just got my first tortoise after wanting one and researching for some time.
I need some advice - little Milo's not eating. Now, he's 6 months old, and had a bit of a rough time over the weekend which resulted in a vets visit and some anti-biotics. I'm hoping that he's just feeling under the weather and will pick up again really soon, but I'm just being really over-protective as he's got a heck of a lot of sentimental value to me already.
I've tried Dandiliions, clover, grated carrotand brocoli leaves.
I'm giving him baths every day to make sure that he's keeping his hydration, plus I have to bathe his little wound that he encountered.
Please don't be too harsh on me... I'm suffering enough guilt that my little man has an injury, I just want him to get better and would love some advice.
Thanks
Hi 'LoopyLoo', firstly, welcome to the forum!
What was the injury exactly? If your tortoise is on anti biotics for it then he will have to be kept at a constant temperature for them to work properly. If he has been injured, then I would expect him to be off food for a while, but have you tried tempting him with some strawberry?
Personally, I'd keep a close eye for other signs of odd behaviour, and keep up the baths more and more.
I wouldn't feed brocolli or carrot, broccoli contains oxalic acid which inhibits the uptake of calcium into his bones and shell, carrot contains alot of keratine which can lead to rapid growth.
Of course, a little grated carrot might help if they aren't feeding, but I prefer to use a piece of cucumber, or rubbing melon onto his weeds.
You won't get any harsh opinions here and anyone who is nasty ect, will be removed.
HTH
Josh
Thanks Josh for your warm welcome.
I'll go and buy him some fresh strawberries and cucumber from the farmers market in town today, and yes, he's got his uv and heat lamp on 24/7 at the moment.
With regards to his injuries, well it was a bit of a horror story for me and my hubby. Basically I had Milo out in the house, and had put the dog in the garden whilst doing so. My hubby hadn't realised and let the dog in, who took little Milo into the garden. His injuries looked horrendous - he has 2 puncture wounds to his underneath and one to his upper shell, but the worst part is is that he lost part of his shell from around his neck to his shoulder.
Obviously it was very distressing to see, and my hubby immediately took him to the vets as he had such a nasty open wound. Hence the anti-biotics to prevent any secondary infection. I'm bathing him twice a day in an iodine solution to ensure the wound is kept clean and the vet said at our check up that he's doing really well. Of course I don't see the changes as I'm checking up on him every half an hour!
This is all a fairly new injury (Friday last week) so I can understand him still suffering from shock and be off his food, but obviously I don't want him to get too underweight, and ultimately he needs the strength and the calcium dust in order for the shell to regenerate.
On the up side, he is quite lively and has done a good 4 laps of his box already this morning!
Like I said in my previous post, he really does mean a lot to me, and I just want to help him through this tough time. Of course needless to say, his secure enclosure and the dog are no longer in the same room, in fact he's now in my room!
A very guilty feeling
Lisa
If you look in the housing section, you can see an enclosure I made to keep the dog out. Might be a good idea now it is secure
Isn't it awful - your two beloved pets ripping your heart in two. I've got an old boxer dog and thankfully he is very tolerant of George. He doesn't mind george walking allover him and I know that boxers are renown for their laid back attitude (that's why we chose him) but I would never leave them alone together. I hope Milo has a speedy recovery and that daft hubby of yours is in the dog house with the mutt!!!!
All the best x
just read this post again-
I wouldn't advise feeding a tortoise strawberries and cucumbers, they need a fresh diet of weeds and natural flowers, you can find a brilliant list on:
http://www.tortoises.net
Josh