Antibiotics in turtles

RE: Antibiotics in turtles

Mark Rowland — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 19:31:12 GMT

Weekly ceftiofur injections

6 weeks at least

Ciprox eye drops

Goodluck

RE: Antibiotics in turtles

Judith Archbold — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 13:20:43 GMT

So....results of cytology on crusty eyelids:

"Heterophils and significant bacterial overgrowth. Few bacteria are seen in the cytoplasm of the heterophils however not found in phagocytise vacuoles an the cells are not degenerate hence, cannot directly confirm bacterial sepsis from the smear."

culture = profuse growth of Aeromonas hydrophilic.

sensitive to amoday-clav, ceftiofur, amikacin, enrofloxacin ( intermediate), marbiflloxacin, pot.sulph, ceftazidime.

No anaerobes and no yeasts....although non-dermatophyte fungal culture result still pending.

SO DEAR COLLEAGUES...what would you do next?

when I took these samples the eyelids were friable and almost closed completely. I've had her on Exocin eye drops pending these results.Also advised the owner to restart Vitamin A supplement.

RE: Antibiotics in turtles

Judith Archbold — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 21:35:41 GMT

Thanks Mark.

first thing I checked was the husbandry and water quality etc. That's all ok.

Other turtle in the same tank is fine.

RE: Antibiotics in turtles

Judith Archbold — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 21:34:31 GMT

Thanks Marie for AB advice.

the owner has been using vitA drops ....and it's not like any eyelid oedema I've seen before in tortoises.

RE: Antibiotics in turtles

Mark Rowland — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 21:19:44 GMT

What do you know about husbandry, specifically water quality and temperature?

Many issues in these guys have their genesis here so that needs to be right.

Once that is sorted, you can look at antibiotics if cytology and culture indicate that.

If there is no sensitivity done. I use weekly ceftiofur injections quite a lot. You may need some topicals also.

Goodluck

RE: Antibiotics in turtles

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 20:03:02 GMT

We were still able to get "Ceftaz" at the last attempt. When this fails I tend to switch to ticarcillin (100mg/kg q24-48hrs) or marbofloxacin (10mg/kd sid).

This is a bit of a weird case though... Hypovitaminosis A is common in chelonia but tends to cause oedema rather rhan crusting. Fungal/yeast/viral/bacterial blepharitis all appear fairly similar so I'm interested to hear what cytology yields. Matamatas aren't too scary though :)

Marie

RE: Antibiotics in turtles

Judith Archbold — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 19:55:59 GMT

So...answering my own question...I've flicked back through this exotics timeline and found a reply to a tortoise question in September advising ordering ceftazidime from the chemist so I'll try that.

I'd still appreciate any advice on this beast though. Thanks.