Urgent Care :: HELP!!! [rock ingestion]

[cheech&chong]

I just caught Cheech swallowing a piece of a rock... One of the pebbles I had in the tank must have broken into small pieces during tank cleaning...

What do I do? I tried to get her to spit it our but you can imagine how impossible that is!!!

[subject edited]

[jenaero]

Relax. Keep an eye out to see if it passes. Remove any remaining small bits. My turts ate gravel a while back and it's amazing the size of some of the stuff they can pass. As long as she continues to eat and act normally I wouldn't worry. Do remove it as soon as it passes tho.

[Safdar]

First of all i better phrased subject would be more appropiate

How big do you think the pebble was

Is the piece of pebble small? If its relatively small then it is possible that it can pass through her system.

Check if she is pooping

If it was big, then i would take him to the vet immediately because the pebble can create impaction.

[Threepwood]

Well, the most you can do is monitor your turtle and make sure she passes the pebble. If she doesn't, and it seems like she's impacted and can't have a bowel movement, then you'll have to take her to an herp vet and see what needs to be done.

How large was the piece of rock, by the way?

[cheech&chong]

Thanks, and sorry for not phrasing the subject... I was freaking out.

I couldn't see the actual size of the rock since I just saw a piece sticking out of his mouth... He is acting normally and just ate his carrots...

I guess I'll just have to wait and see...

[Safdar]

Look like hes doing good

Make sure to check his poop for the pebble

[RunninWideOpen]

Feed him Romaine lettuce, and other things high in fiber. That will help him pass it more easily.

[steve]

What kind of pebble was it that it would break apart?

[SpotsMama]

Keep in mind that if he poops it out and you don't get it, he could swallow it again!

[cheech&chong]

Well, update: cheech seems perfectly normal... I haven't seen him poop out the rock and if he has, I'll have to find it... but he's eating, swimming, basking and acting as stupid as always.

[Safdar]

Good to hear hes doing good

[turtleowner]

don't worry. like other people said, check to see if the pebble came out. if it's been a long time i'd take it to the veteranarian.

[marisa]

As long as he's active and eating, I wouldn't be concerned. You might want to do a little cleaning if you can't find that rock. (Are you sure it was a rock? If it broke apart into little pieces perhaps it wasn't one.)

[cheech&chong]

Sorry, I haven't checked the site in a while. I did found the rock (or at least I think that was the one)... it was smaller than safe but not terribly big after all... I guess Cheech simply tore himself a new one He seems perfectly fine!