Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Jo Cobbett — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:50:40 GMT

There was an article in the most recent Companion magazine about "Tortois parties", and I was wondering about disease control with those. Does anyone on here do them?

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Gareth C. — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:18:31 GMT

They are all given a pre hib check and hx and housed seperately within the chiller. Most are tortoises and clients we know. Standard hygiene precautions are taken and they have no contact with each other. You do need a big chiller to accomdate them in their boxes!

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:35:09 GMT

It was actually more about mixing client's tortoises rather than the accommodation. I have considered offering a hibernation service, as so few people do it properly, but we have had quite a few herpes cases in recent years (including a breeder who lost 40+ Hermans) and I would be very worried about spreading disease. Difficult one.

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Gareth C. — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:56:57 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Gareth C."]We are seeing quite a few tortoises (currently hibernating 11 of them).[/quote]

Hope you don't mind me asking- but how are you doing this? I assume they are client's pets rather than your own?

[/quote]

We use standard chiller refridgeration method (see the Tortoise Trust website for details). check them min twice a week. we have just invested in a large chiller made by "Husky" (I think I'm on their facebook page) which has a very accurate electronic thermostat and displays the temp on the front. Mine is in there and ten paying guests. Its not a bad way to spend the winter! This is the fifth year we have been doing it and so far has been very successful. A few in there are in their fifth year with us.

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:26:38 GMT

[quote user="Gareth C."]We are seeing quite a few tortoises (currently hibernating 11 of them).[/quote]

Hope you don't mind me asking- but how are you doing this? I assume they are client's pets rather than your own?

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Gareth C. — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:15:25 GMT

We are seeing quite a few tortoises (currently hibernating 11 of them). Can you reccomend a good textbook? We have a huge general reptile one, but was wondering if there are any chelonian specific vet texts? Also what's a good source for anaesthesia tips? Thanks[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]

Hi,

I would be suspicious that this is actually the cloaca - it can become massively oedematus when prolapsed and appear thickened and fluid-filled. The bladder in tortoises is bilobed and thin walled and rarely herniates as a single organ prolapse.

First aid would be analgeisa (morphine 1mg/kg sid +/- meloxicam 0.2mg/kg q 2d), antibiotic cover as ulcerated mucosa is present (baytril 10mg/kg sid, ceftazidime 20mg/kg q3d) and glucose compressed to reduce oedema and allow replacement. I tend to hospitalise them overnight to ensure they don't reprolapse, if so then they have a mattress suture placed across the vent to prevent ongoing prolapse while the tissue heals. Injectable anaesthesia is preferable (for you too!) and either alfaxan or propofol can be given without too much fiddling via the subcarapacial sinus and even IM alfaxan is an option.

The really tricky bit is working out why the prolapse has happened and dealing with it. Anything that causes straining, muscular weakness or increased coelomic pressure can be responsible. In a young tortoise I would be considering intestinal parasitism, hypocalcaemia and bladder stones as significant differentials but the list is endless. If you can get the prolapse internal and the tortoise comfortable then further work up can wait till they can book in with the other vet if you're not happy to work it up yourself.

Marie

[/quote]

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:16:46 GMT

[quote user="Jo Jones"]Presumably if the bladder did prolapse it would be inside out and no longer fluid filled? [/quote]

The bladder would still be fluid-filled - but it may just be inflammatory fluid and free fluid from the coelom.

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Tamsin Livermore — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:56:48 GMT

Thank you so much that is very helpful... a little nervous about injecting into the sinus but will definitely consider it! Feel a bit stupid for not giving pain relief and antibiotics last night! I think the sight of it at the end of a busy day just finished me off!

Thanks again

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Jo Cobbett — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:52:27 GMT

Presumably if the bladder did prolapse it would be inside out and no longer fluid filled? Unless it had passed through a ruptured rectal wall or something similar? Just postulating, please correct me if I'm wrong!

Re: Tortoise ?bladder prolapse

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:31:25 GMT

Hi,

Marie