RE: tortoise dyspnoea

Gareth C. — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 10:33:24 GMT

no runny nose and mm all look OK.

RE: tortoise dyspnoea

Gareth C. — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 10:30:32 GMT

thanks for that. we had started enrofloxacin yesterday. will scan abdomen today but dont have endoscope.

RE: tortoise dyspnoea

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 10:16:09 GMT

Reptiles have pretty low oxygen requirements so can cope admirably even with the moderate reduction in inflation that these eggs would produce. There is however also a soft tissue increase in the coelom so there may be further compression from other sources (ascites/oophoritis/pre-ovulatory follicle retention) which may further compromise breathing. Even so I would assume respiratory infection until proven otherwise (herpes, mycoplasma, oportunistic bacteria/fungi) in a cold and already compromised tortoise. Are you able to do a cranio-caudal view to skyline the lungs? Any oral lesions/nasal discharge?

The eggs look to be from two different cycles, the older ones will be those that have the more defined shell as these will have sat in the shell gland for longer, newer ones will have the thinner shell. There may be a chronic problem that lead to retention last year (calcium issues - bones don't look that well mineralised, oviductal torsion, pre-existing chronic resp infection or many slowly progressing problems!). Alternatively the eggs may not be in the oviduct (free in coelom/in bladder) so passage has not been possible.

Ideally I'd scan looking for free fluid, and if there take a tap for cytology/culture plus assess ovaries for follicles and see if location of eggs can be determined. With resp problems I would be tempted to start antimycoplasma antibiotics (oxytet, enrofloxacin, tylosin) plus acyclovir if oral necrotic lesions are present. Bloods will give you further info hopefully on the cause of oedema.

If no clear answer (no fluid/unable to get further info) and medical therapy doesn't help, or there is a surgical issue then I would stabilise fluids/nutrition/resp issues then GA and put a scope in via the pre-femoral fossa and see what is going on inside and retrieve eggs/do ovariectomy via this approach if indicated.

I always feel disheartened with these garden tortoises that present with multiple problems in a state of chronic debilitation after decades of progressive decline, their prognosis is much worse than for a tortoise that is kept properly and gets a true acute infection/dystocia.

Marie

RE: tortoise dyspnoea

Gareth C. — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 09:52:09 GMT

two x rays from 60 FE spur thigh. Kept with male hermans since the 1980's, blue peter style hibernation. awainting blood results. Generalised mild oedema, dyspnoea main clinical concern. Wasnt expecting eggs on x ray but I think these may be the cause of dyspnoea due to space occupying effect on lungs. 8 eggs 2014, none 2015, this 2016. I am thinking the more radiolucent eggs are last years, is that likely?

procceding with oxytocin and calcium plus rehydration, awaiting bloods from lab.

will these eggs be causing dyspnoea? any further tips appreciated. thanks

RE: tortoise dyspnoea

Gareth C. — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 09:48:42 GMT