What is wrong with my russian tortoise?

BettaFishObsessed
  • #1
Hello all. I have a 9 year old female russian tortoise named Oreo that I have had for almost a year now. She has had no health problems until today, no runny nose/watery eyes, regular appetite, no lethargy, and using the bathroom regularly. She has not had any environmental changes, care differences or stress causes. She has no parasites and the vet cleared that she was healthy except for a slightly soft shell and shedding problem due to inadequate care before i got her, so she has a calcium supplement daily and 50-60% humidity as recommended by her vet. Her basking spot stays around 90-95°F, the cool side of her cage around 74-80°F, and the warm side is around 80-85°F. At night it stays at 65-75°F. Her enclosure is 5 feet by 4 feet, which I know is the minimum size but i take her out a lot so she gets a lot of exercise.
Today, actually about an hour ago, I decided to let her out for exercise and she has been almost completely unresponsive. She has one eye that is watering a ton and the other eye she is keeping closed. One of her nostrils is also clogged and her nose is running. Her breathing sounds normal, however. Her beak also looks a little “fragile”, if thats the word. (There is green on her beak but it is just kale juice from her eating kale.) However the most concerning is how she is unresponsive. She doesnt pull back when i pull on her legs, she ignores her favorite lettuce that she usually runs to eat, i even held her upside down for 3 seconds and she didnt do anything when she usually starts flailing. She has also been asleep all day and sleeping very restlessly. She wouldnt wake up for at least 30 minutes, and now shes awake (still unresponsive) but falls back asleep whenever i leave her alone for more than 5 minutes. Im about to give her a bath and see if that helps her. I will try to attach photos later, my internet is bad right now.
 
AggressiveAquatics
  • #41
Again thank you all, even though she died you convinced me to go to the vet, and that was the best I could’ve done for her. I loved her and gave her a good life-not the best she could’ve had for sure, but the best life I could-and i will love her into the afterlife. If you guys want i can tell you what she died of when they finish figuring out what happened. Im going to keep most of the equipment I think, but for a different kind of pet because I know that I’m not getting another tortoise. Thank you all so much, there’s nothing more I could’ve done.
I’m soo sorry. When I read that I felt like I just got punched in the gut I’m so sorry. She lived a great life with you and I know she knows that as well. She’s in a better place now atleast.
 
Chewbacca773
  • #42
She’s dead
Thank you all, you did all you could to help me. And i know the doctors did all they could too.
But shes dead my baby is dead she was my best friend and always will be but shes dead theres now way she cant be she was alive just a few hours ago but shes dead
I have been watching this thread a lot and I haven't been able to help you, but I can tell you that you did the best for your tortoise and that I am very sorry for your loss. I'm really sad now
 
BettaFishObsessed
  • Thread Starter
  • #43
In case anyone was curious the vets said they havent completed her necropsy yet but they said it looks like she died of something natural (such as cancer, an organ deformity, etc.), a genetic disease/problem, a virus, or a combination of them. So i know it wasnt my fault, but I still miss her and my house feels empty without her. I’m most likey going to get another tortoise or some reptile sometime in the future, maybe even in a few months, since I need the companionship and I know im not replacing her.
 
AJ34
  • #44
I just read about your tortoise.... I’m so sorry she was so sweet and I know you gave her a good life! The thing with small pets I notice sometimes is they can be going along just fine then suddenly take a quick turn . It can be really hard to figure out the root cause sometime which I know we expect for some closure. Just find solace in knowing you gave her a really awesome life .
 

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