Hey gang, new to the site but not herps. Our recent rescue mission to the local major chain pet store brought an extreamly sick Ornate to our house, not to mention two starving anoles (they are doing better now). We knew it was ill that is why we bought it, my other half took it straight to her work (she is a vet tech and a great clinic and yes they know turtles well) She was given injections of vitamins B, C, D, eyes cleaned up. She has an abscess behind each eye, one in the mouth(huge), shell issues and the runs. Being the major COrporation we saved her from she was in low humidity, eating basically only mealies and who knows how long they had her and where she came from. Anyways, to the point she is set up in a large rubbermaid type container for now with ecobark (deep enough to burrow), large bark pieces to climb under, water dish, uvb lighting, temps ranging from 85/88 to 70/72. She will recieve an outdoor enclosure this spring/summer once the snow leaves and the temps rise and then will be able to hibernate each winter. However due to her condition now is not the time to go in to a deep sleep and since we brought her home 2/23/07 she has wanted nothing to do with food (mango/apple/shredded carrot/shredded broccoli stems/grapes/mealies/waxies/crickets/etc) she just wants to stay burrowed. Any advice????? I have tried soaking her but she just leaves the water and heads back and burrows down. I have tried placing her in warmer locations to stimulate her, but again back to digging.
Sorry for the length of the post but I wanted to include all the info I could
Thanks
Brian

Well then! I just posted a huge reply and it got lost somewhere in translation.

I would give her a few more days to settle and maybe eat on her own. You could try putting something that moves into the dish with the fruits and veggies and see if that attracts her attention She may not have the best vision considering the eye abcesses.

If she doesn't start feeding on her own I would suggest making a slurry by pureeing all of the fruits and veggies and adding some pedialyte (for the electrolytes) and calcium supplements and mixing it all together and trying to feed her with a dropper or syringe.

At first they can be relucatant and not open their mouth or try to turn and walk away but with persistance if you can get some in the mouth they will generally accept the slurry.

Best of luck, keep us updated!

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

thanks for the input mosh
Brian

Welcome to HC network! Good luck with your little boxie....what did the vet say about brumation , not eating and her condition???? Thanks for rescuing her....

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

You swear by that dang slurry.But that only means it works

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Wish list:I want to adopt a leo geko from a bad home.

Without pray we coludn't have predators Kill your rats with love!

Yes I do, pictures don't lie, if it could help this lizard then I think it can help almost anything: http://www.herpcenter.com/5361-serio...rd_lizard.html

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

good luck with your turtle, i hope she recovers quickly!

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Yes my name is D... Yes as in the letter... No i wont tell you what it stands for!!!

Ohana is actually getting tube fed today, it is very helpful having an other half who works in a clinic, with our crew we would be broke. He was interested in food yesterday but just wouldn't bite it, she took him in to be safe. His eyes have cleared up and the abscess in the mouth has shrunk, but still there. The vet wasn't to worried about the burrowing with everything she has been through and since we are going to tube hem for a couple days it was no big deal right now.
Thanks for the all thoughts and advice
Brian