Re: nebulising f10 in a tortoise?

Nicola Lawlor — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 22:27:39 GMT

Thanks Mark - that is a great lot of information there which I shall work my way though :-)

Re: nebulising f10 in a tortoise?

Mark Naguib — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 20:13:46 GMT

Hi Nicola,

I'm sure you will have done already, but if not then double check the environment. Warm end temperature of 28-32, cool end low 20s and 35-40C under the basking lamp. If they're in a table/pen setup, check the background room temperature and ensure there are no drafts. Equally important is adequate ventilation - a particular problem in vivaria. Don't rely on the stick on dial type thermometers - a digital one with a probe you can move around is best. Maximum/minimum thermometers are even better, as are infra red temperature guns.

Latent herpes and mycoplasma infections are a common cause of recurring URT disease and are difficult to completely eliminate, flaring up at times of immunosuppression, stress and concurrent disease. PCR tests are available for both (Mycoplasma, as with mammals, is difficult to culture). I'd be keen to perform general bacterial culture and sensitivity, given that this has recurred/not quite gone away - resistant Pseudomonads etc are not uncommon and mixed infections alongside herpes/mycoplasma are common. Make sure you check for concurrent stomatitis and conjunctivitis.

Radiographs (DV, horizontal beam lateral and horizontal beam AP) and full bloods would also be advisable in case there is lower respiratory involvement or concurrent disease that is predisposing them to this. If there is any compression of the lungfields on the horizontal beam laterals, then ultrasonography is warranted to ensure there aren't any follicular problems.

For nebulising, you can use 1:250 F10:saline (Either F10SC or F10 Antiseptic solution). Make absolutely sure you never nebulise neat F10! It's easiest to make it up by adding it to a sterile bag of saline and withdrawing it as needed. Most nebulisers will take 20-30mins to nebulise 5ml - four times a day is fine if you can manage it. Topical treatment directly into the nares (using an iv cannula without stylet or a tear duct cannula) is tolerated by many tortoises and can be very useful in my experience - you can use either F10:saline (1:250 again) or antibiotics based on c & s.

Good luck,

Mark