Urgent Care!

Over the past few days, my right eye has been swollen with the third eyelid mostly closed. But this morning it was worse plus there was goop in my eye, and I just wasn't feeling well at all. My Tortoise Mom has been putting anti-inflammatory eye drops in that eye for a few days, like usual when there's a problem, but it hasn't helped this time. I've also been sleeping near the fence during the day, which my Tortoise Mom thought was basking, but noted that it's new behavior when she talked to Dr. Johnson's office.

Anyway, this afternoon when my Tortoise Dad took me in for my assist tube feeding, I had such respiratory distress so they had to stop. Then the vet on duty, Dr. Corcoran, said I was very congested and might even have pneumonia. So they did a choanal flush, much like a netipot, with a steroid, antibiotic and saline solution to help me breathe better. The choana (ko-A-na) is a slit in the roof of my mouth that can get clogged. After they flushed it, they massaged under my jaw to help the medicine work better. They also gave me an antibiotic injection which I'll continue having every 48 hours.

Now I'm staying warm and calm overnight in my little box in the bathtub. My Tortoise Mom and Dad made sure there are no drafts coming in my box and I get to sleep in tomorrow to reduce stress from going inside to outdoors with a big temperature change. If I'm feeling worse tomorrow they'll take me back for X-rays of my lungs. I've never ever had a respiratory infection so this is all new to me. Frankly, it's a little scary for all of us.

I'm all tucked indoors for the night in my cozy box in the bathtub to stay warm and undisturbed. I sure hope rest and all this medicine help me feel better soon. Everyone does.

BReaking BAthtub

Summer's over, the nights have finally cooled down and we found out I have anemia. Again. Another October surprise. So I'm back sleeping indoors in the guest bathtub to delay hibernation while I get special assist tube feeding twice a week from Dr. Johnson's incredible nurses. I don't like sticking my neck out while they insert a plunger full of special food and vitamins (45 ml and 3 ml), but as always, I am ladylike and cooperative. I know they are really saving my life as I can't survive hibernation with such abnormal bloodwork.

Last year I had anemia too, only it wasn't as bad and my protein level wasn't so low that the scales were falling off my legs. So that's when they started me on the Mazuri diet. And it was a little later when they started putting me in the bathtub to stay warmer overnight to delay hibernation. I started a post, "Motel 6," but I was just too sleepy to finish it. This year I'm awake and actually basking during the day and even grazing on cordia flowers again. Must be the special feedings twice a week, and the 80 degree box in the bathtub. I sleep just fine in there, then every morning I sit in my blue pan to get a drink and eat some Mazuri diet. When I'm tired of that, I'm strong enough to climb out and go wherever I want in the yard. Lately I've been hanging out near the fence. I'm not going into the burrows because it's too cool and I get too sleepy. Did you know we can't digest food unless it's 80 degrees? So I'm doing my part to stay warm and keep my metabolism going during the day too.

We were surprised that my blood work showed anemia as I've been perking up ever since the monsoons came in July. And I'm developing some muscles in my jaws from the steroid injections. And I've just been more alert and perky. So, like I said, it was a big surprise, but thank goodness Dr. Johnson planned to see me early for my pre-hibernation check-up just in case I needed 4-6 weeks of treatment to get me strong enough to endure hibernation. It's a dangerous thing for a less than healthy tortoise, so always get those pre-hibernation check-ups.

Well, I'm sleepy again. This plain little box in the bathtub is pretty cozy and I'm grateful to be staying warm overnight. In fact, I'm grateful for all the good care I'm getting from Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital, and from my Tortoise Mom and Dad. I sure am a well-traveled tortoise, with trips to the vet's office twice a week and sometimes there's no time to take me home so I sit in waiting rooms as my Tortoise Mom has her medical appointments. Dr. Lu actually took a break from giving acupuncture treatments to come see me. She greeted me and said, "Nice to meet you." Of course, I was ladylike and polite. I only pee in my box if they hit my overflow button during assist tube feeding. Hey, that's not my fault. You try getting all your food in one plunger and see what happens! But it's already helping and I'm feeling a lot better.