Conan
Click on the image above to view the slide show.
Photos courtesy of the California Turtle & Tortoise Club (CTTC): Valley Chapter
Text by Karen Berry: Treasurer | Adoption Chair
Conan came to Valley chapter from the West Valley shelter in July 2018. He's a big tortoise, very
territorial, and likes to chase dogs and challenge people he sees as in "his territory." When he arrived, we noticed he had some kind
of injury to his right front leg, and was limping. He was x-rayed by the vet, who also discovered a large bladder stone. The stone is
bothering him, and will need to be removed. He has been getting physical therapy, too, to reduce the limping on the right front leg, and
has been doing much better.
Update: Dec. 18, 2020
Conan had his bladder
stone surgery on Oct 26th, and it was successful.
The stone is slowly shedding a grayish powder while it dries. It collects
around the bottom of the stone. It has a very strong
urine smell, unlike
Stonewall's stone, so it was probably caused more by
dehydration and is a concentrate of uric acid solids.
The day of his surgery was a real "pins and needles" day, especially when he wasn't waking up or
breathing on his own when I called to see how it went. We lost
Monsieur during surgery last year, so I couldn't bear the thought of losing another
tortoise. Conan's vet pulled out all the stops, and gave him what he
called "CPR meds" and kept him on oxygen for a while longer. By the
time I went to pick him up, he was breathing on his own, although still
plenty stoned.
Because he was touch and go, and small clinics don't
have overnight personnel to be the "ICU nurse," I checked on him every
hour overnight to make sure he was still responsive. It was a long night, but
in the morning, he was at least moving around some and a bit more
"with it."
He's eating and eliminating now but keeping him active is a
bit more difficult during this time of year. He thinks he's supposed to be hibernating.
Conan
Conan
Click on the image above to view the slide show.
Photos courtesy of the California Turtle & Tortoise Club (CTTC): Valley Chapter
Text by Karen Berry: Treasurer | Adoption Chair
Photos courtesy of the California Turtle & Tortoise Club (CTTC): Valley Chapter
Text by Karen Berry: Treasurer | Adoption Chair
Conan came to Valley chapter from the West Valley shelter in July 2018. He's a big tortoise, very
territorial, and likes to chase dogs and challenge people he sees as in "his territory." When he arrived, we noticed he had some kind
of injury to his right front leg, and was limping. He was x-rayed by the vet, who also discovered a large bladder stone. The stone is
bothering him, and will need to be removed. He has been getting physical therapy, too, to reduce the limping on the right front leg, and
has been doing much better.
Update: Dec. 18, 2020
Conan had his bladder
stone surgery on Oct 26th, and it was successful.
The stone is slowly shedding a grayish powder while it dries. It collects
around the bottom of the stone. It has a very strong
urine smell, unlike
Stonewall's stone, so it was probably caused more by
dehydration and is a concentrate of uric acid solids.
The day of his surgery was a real "pins and needles" day, especially when he wasn't waking up or
breathing on his own when I called to see how it went. We lost
Monsieur during surgery last year, so I couldn't bear the thought of losing another
tortoise. Conan's vet pulled out all the stops, and gave him what he
called "CPR meds" and kept him on oxygen for a while longer. By the
time I went to pick him up, he was breathing on his own, although still
plenty stoned.
Because he was touch and go, and small clinics don't
have overnight personnel to be the "ICU nurse," I checked on him every
hour overnight to make sure he was still responsive. It was a long night, but
in the morning, he was at least moving around some and a bit more
"with it."
He's eating and eliminating now but keeping him active is a
bit more difficult during this time of year. He thinks he's supposed to be hibernating.
