Urgent Care :: Gee wiz, another RI?

[e-akers]

Yes, he's in a box with a heating pad. The light wasn't really cutting it and the heating pad is set to turn off every so often so that it doesn't get too hot. The area's about 87-89, I believe. I've been taking them [yes, the other baby's displaying symptoms now, too] out in the morning and in the evening for hydration and to see if they'll eat [no luck so far with that]. I didn't think of the Pedialyte.

I've been trying all day to set up an appointment somewhere. I called my vet since he's the oldest in the area, thus figuring he'd seen a thing or two. No luck. He advised me to call a clinic twenty minutes away from me because they treat reptiles. I was ecstatic. Unofrtunatly, they haven't treated a reptile in over 15 years, so no luck. They however advised me to call the clinic I had mentioned earlier. By this time I was desperate, so I was willing to do anything. But THEY couldn't schedule me until Monday....I told them these babies aren't going to LAST until Monday, but they didn't seem too phased. Ugh. In the meantime, should I seperate the two?

I was thinking, though...Hypothetically, if they need antibotics, any clinic can prescribe antiobotics, right? If I were to speak with a staff member from the clinic that specializes in reptiles, would they be able to instruct me dosage wise? Then perhaps, a local general clinic could prescribe me the atiobitics to administer? I'm trying to think of pretty much anything at this point.

Thanks for the help, by the way. :]]

[megcornell]

It's good that you're trying so many options. If the clinic deals with reptiles then they could instruct you in the proper antibiotics for the RI. If I were you, I would call your personal vet again, ask HIM to call the clinic and see what the treatment is, and then maybe he can prescribe the meds from his practice after he's consulted the local experts at the clinic-- maybe the clinic will respond better to him. If that fails, then I would recall the clinic, and tell then you have an emergency case, they must know that there are always emergency cases where animals are involved and have some sort of process for dealing with events like yours. And, if they are knowledgeable about turtles then they must know that RI treatment is best when caught early, so they shouldn't be waiting to monday. Unfortunately sometimes you have to be really assertive to get what you need, when my turtle was sick with an RI I was supposed to wait 2 weeks for an appointment but finally got in under emergency hours, you just do what you can to make things happen for you pets I guess.

In the meantime, it's important to keep the turtles warm and hydrated. Is the second turtle showing symptoms as severely as the first? I would keep them separated. The diluted pedialyte works well from what others have said. Aim for a temp in the lower/mid 80s, so you don't keep them too warm. Also, if possible, try to get them to eat to keep their strength up.

[virusspawn]

can not having a uvb bulb and no basking cause RI?

[megcornell]

If you have an improper set up, you're facing a good chance of having an ill turtle. Nothing guarantees a healthy or ill turtle, but by providing the right temperatures and habitat you can help keep a turtle healthy. RI's can be caused by a million things: water that is too cool, exposure to other sick turtles, stress, bacteria, etc. So if the turtle is under stress due to a poor environment he is more susceptible to getting an RI. Plus, the main goal with turtle keeping is not to avoid getting RI's, it SHOULD be to give them the BEST habitat possible, and when that happens, then you're less likely to run into health issues. It's not about squeaking by with an okay setup and hopefully avoiding illness; you have to remember that the tank is their entire world, so if there's a problem with it, you're going to have consequences in the turtle's health.

[virusspawn]

Man, one of my items from ------------.com is backorederd and they are taking a LONG time to get it to me, they havent even shipped it yet









Edited by marisa

[e-akers]

Thank you for all the advice. I went to Kmart before work today and bought some pedialyte --hope that does work :] haha. The second turtle wasn't as severe this morning. She was alert and active, running about. But she was shaking from cough. I just got home for work and she's not responding much now. I'm going to seperate them then. Tomorrow morning I'll call my vet bright and early. Now I'm just going to have to content with my working schedule [1-9 shift for the next three days]. Hopefully he'll be able to speak with me at an early time :\

[marisa]

Is the second turtle eating (very good if he is). Separate him and keep him warm. Good luck at the herp vet.

[e-akers]

The vets in this area....retards. All of them. And I'm done even trying to get them to a reliable vet. It just, apparently, isn't going to happen. Turtles don't count as pets, I guess. *rolls eyes*

Miracously, however, they seem to be improving somewhat. Especially the one that started showing sympotoms last. I assume because I began treating her earlier than the other baby. I'm not diluted, though. The infection is still there, but if there's hope of them improving by way of just being treated at home without antibiotics, then I'm going to cling to that.

By the way....pedialyte is expensive. o.O haha

[steve]

Where are you located? Even if you don't need one, its good to know who can help during an emergency.

[marisa]

If they're still eating and at least somewhat active (good signs), keeping them warm can help them fight the infection.