Horsefield tortoise being tube fed at the vets
Posted: 02 Mar 2021, 04:28
We adopted a horsefield tortoise from a nursing home in March last year but they didn't really know much about him. We think he's about 6 but didn't hibernate him this year after reading the advice if we're not sure then wait until we've had him a year. He slowed down before Christmas, eating only small amounts, digging for hours and sleeping alot. We assumed this was normal with him wanting to hibernate. We changed his soil, built him a wooden shelter and continuously tried him with food and bathed him daily. After 2 weeks of no poos we took him to the vet who said he was 'puffy' and treated him for a chest infection. We've had to take him back to the vets everyday for the last 3 weeks to be tube fed because he's still not interested in his food.
Yesterday we got him out in the sunny garden and noticed bruising all round his neck where they've been tube feeding him and it just broke my heart. We've asked the vet if we can have him home for a few days to avoid the stress and hopefully make him want to eat. He's agreed but we need to take him straight back if he's not eaten by Saturday.
He's one hell of a fussy tortoise but is there anything you guys would especially try as a treat to temp him?
I just don't want to carry on taking him to vets everyday, surely we can't carry on like this?
Anyone had a similar experience?
Yesterday we got him out in the sunny garden and noticed bruising all round his neck where they've been tube feeding him and it just broke my heart. We've asked the vet if we can have him home for a few days to avoid the stress and hopefully make him want to eat. He's agreed but we need to take him straight back if he's not eaten by Saturday.
He's one hell of a fussy tortoise but is there anything you guys would especially try as a treat to temp him?
I just don't want to carry on taking him to vets everyday, surely we can't carry on like this?
Anyone had a similar experience?