RE: Help with wheezy Hermann Tortoise please

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 20:34:54 GMT

Hi,

those blood results are fairly non-specific, a run down and immunosuppressed tortoise. It is hard to tell if there is a primary respiratory disease causing debilitation and immunosuppression (e.g. mycoplasma or chlamydia which would both respond to baytril but not fortum, or one of the testudo herpesviruses). Alternatively there is another problem causing immunosuppression with opportunistic infection/recrudescence of a secondary infection. You say husbandry is fine but don't mention details of enclosure type, diet, temperatures, heat source type and whether UVB source is changed regularly. All of these factors can be significant in suppressing immune function or enhancing respiratory compromise.

There is possible evidence of mild renal compromise (uric acid elevated but low urea suggesting dehydration is not responsible), but this is not marked and would merit resampling in 2-3 months but is not a current concern.

I would be tempted to evaluate the husbandry in great detail and modify any deficient areas, check for mycoplasma and herpes using PCR on choanal and oral swabs, have the xrays reviewed by someone familiar with the species and discuss with the owner that in the worst case scenario there may still be further diagnostics needed (BAL, tracheoscopy and even CT/MRI scan) and if finances are restrictive already at this stage then you can't be confident of fixing this tortoise.

Marie