Post by jacquisunderland on Oct 22, 2011 21:56:12 GMT
Hiya everybody.. an update for
those following my dilemma on 'closed swollen /eyes? ' I've had my latest aquisition, a little yellow belly I've called Dec back to the vet and Ben our resident vet here on turtle rescue website was right, my vet Debbie, a reptile enthusiast diagnosed a serious vitamin defiency especially vitamin A which was causing the eye problems and can also cause resporatory problems. Comparing him with his liitle friend he came in with she showed me that he was also calcium deficient by holding him and gently squeezing his belly he was quite soft and pliable in comparison to the other one.
The previous owner said he only fed him on prawns and crickets, Debbie doubted he had had many crickets and basically lived on prawns, which are fine only if they are fed in moderation with the shells on, as part of a balanced diet. I doubt they had their shells on as thay are cheaper without.
The previous vet had given him a steroid injection and 'Baytril' antibiotics which I have been giving him with Arkvits high vit A mulitvitamins powder. Interestingly Debbie explained that mixing the antibioctics with the multivitamin was counter productive as they reacted with each other and cancelled each other out. She gave him a vitamin A injection and gave me some more 'Baytrill' as well as some 'Critical care' formula which is a nutritional powder, a must for any rescue to have in stock at all times for malnutruition which as we know is very common. Starting him on very low doses to begin with as with him not eating for so long his system needs to be awakened gently for too much to soon could also be dangerous. So for the last two days I've been giving him orally by syringe, mixed in water, the Arkvits multivatmin with a tiny amount of critical care in the morning before I go to work and then at night the antibiotics and a proper dose of critical care. This morning when I picked him up and turned him round ONE OF HIS EYES WAS OPEN!!!!
I cant tell you how pleased I was, can you tell!? it was a lovelly surprise! I know its early days yet as Debbie says vitamin defiencies can take upto 6 months and his eye is closed again tonight but its a fab start, it makes the hard work worthwhile and I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel. Once he progresses onto more solids I've got to crush the mixed formula sticks like the ones we sell or king british or blend some more solid foods like chicken etc. especially pinkies, not lookin forward too that much, as a vegetarian hand blending a pinky so I can get it into a fatter syringe, god help me, the things I do for love! lol!
As you can see nutrition for your turtle is very important, they eat just about anything, please everybody make sure your turtle gets a balanced diet of fresh meat and veg etc as well as prepared mixes. As well as any help or advice you may need is always available on this forum our turtle rescue care guides and additional food preparations are also available from our main site.
A big big HUMONGOUS thank you again to BEN and DEBBIE for being fab!!!!
xxx
those following my dilemma on 'closed swollen /eyes? ' I've had my latest aquisition, a little yellow belly I've called Dec back to the vet and Ben our resident vet here on turtle rescue website was right, my vet Debbie, a reptile enthusiast diagnosed a serious vitamin defiency especially vitamin A which was causing the eye problems and can also cause resporatory problems. Comparing him with his liitle friend he came in with she showed me that he was also calcium deficient by holding him and gently squeezing his belly he was quite soft and pliable in comparison to the other one.
The previous owner said he only fed him on prawns and crickets, Debbie doubted he had had many crickets and basically lived on prawns, which are fine only if they are fed in moderation with the shells on, as part of a balanced diet. I doubt they had their shells on as thay are cheaper without.
The previous vet had given him a steroid injection and 'Baytril' antibiotics which I have been giving him with Arkvits high vit A mulitvitamins powder. Interestingly Debbie explained that mixing the antibioctics with the multivitamin was counter productive as they reacted with each other and cancelled each other out. She gave him a vitamin A injection and gave me some more 'Baytrill' as well as some 'Critical care' formula which is a nutritional powder, a must for any rescue to have in stock at all times for malnutruition which as we know is very common. Starting him on very low doses to begin with as with him not eating for so long his system needs to be awakened gently for too much to soon could also be dangerous. So for the last two days I've been giving him orally by syringe, mixed in water, the Arkvits multivatmin with a tiny amount of critical care in the morning before I go to work and then at night the antibiotics and a proper dose of critical care. This morning when I picked him up and turned him round ONE OF HIS EYES WAS OPEN!!!!
I cant tell you how pleased I was, can you tell!? it was a lovelly surprise! I know its early days yet as Debbie says vitamin defiencies can take upto 6 months and his eye is closed again tonight but its a fab start, it makes the hard work worthwhile and I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel. Once he progresses onto more solids I've got to crush the mixed formula sticks like the ones we sell or king british or blend some more solid foods like chicken etc. especially pinkies, not lookin forward too that much, as a vegetarian hand blending a pinky so I can get it into a fatter syringe, god help me, the things I do for love! lol! As you can see nutrition for your turtle is very important, they eat just about anything, please everybody make sure your turtle gets a balanced diet of fresh meat and veg etc as well as prepared mixes. As well as any help or advice you may need is always available on this forum our turtle rescue care guides and additional food preparations are also available from our main site.
A big big HUMONGOUS thank you again to BEN and DEBBIE for being fab!!!!
xxx