White Dog nervously followed Steve as he took the ailing Tortuga from his pen and put him in the transport box we had assembled. She sniffed him and made sure he was comfortable. Over the weekend the desert tortoise developed what we guessed (based on internet research--what did we do before it?) was Prolapse, a swelling of organs that pushes out from under the shell.. It looked horribly scary. Unfortunately, neither the emergency vet nor the exotics clinic in town had anybody over the weekend that was able to help tortoise. So we held our breaths, followed the on-line advice, prayed he wasn't in too much pain, and nursed him until Tortuga could see White Dog's doctor this morning. All day White Dog and I waited for news and finally got the call late afternoon that we could bring Tortuga home. White Dog was very sympathetic and glad to see her pet. It was prolapse of one of his hemipenes and the treatment was to surgically remove it! White Dog may be pressed into nursing service since the vet said it took four people to give Tortuga his oral antibiotics (which we must continue)! For now all is once again well.
P.S. from Susan: For those of a certain age who remember the Talking Heads from the 80's punk scene: go see former lead David Byrne's touring concert if you get the opportunity. Steve and I saw David Byrne in concert last night. It was a little nostalgic but even better because his new songs, as pointed as ever, have matured along with us. He is politically and relationship astute and the show was solidly entertaining. Besides, I cannot remember the last time we were at a concert that had people literally dancing in the aisles (they generally don't at the Santa Fe Opera)!
5 comments:
Hm, I am just a dog and am limited to a few key words. I had to look up the word "hemipenes" to figure out what is happening with Tortuga. Ouch. That doesn't sound good. As for 4 people having to give him his antibiotics... wow! Hope he has a speedy and complete recovery... will he be going in for surgery to remove it?
p.s. My Mom was eating while she was looking up "hemipenes." I don't think she is too hungry anymore.
I guess you can't hide Tortuga's pills in peanut butter and have him lick it off you fingers?
It works everytime for us if we need to take pills!
Hana,
The news made Steve cringe, too! And Dr. Julia has already performed the surgery so Tortuga is now only half the man-tortoise he used to be.
Casper,
Tortuga's meds are liquid and he is NOT a good patient. Nothing is more impossible to pry open than a stubborn tortoise's mouth! Even with Siku's help we we only half successful (most of the medicine just dribbled down his face). So we are now trying to hide it by injecting into his favorite guava gel treats (better than peanut butter from a tortoise point of view). We will see if he eats it.
Oh White Dog, we are SO glad to hear that Tortuga is home, and doing well. I bet you have great skills in nursing him back to health. He is very lucky to have you and your family!!!
How is the med dosing going?
Love, Prinnie
p.s. I know my family is leaving for a vacation soon, but I am nervous. They haven't ever left me or brother before, and I am doing my best to convince them to take me with them. Maybe you and Tortuga could come too!!!
Oh my! Poor tortuga! but at least he's home safe now, and all is well again :)
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