Urgent Care :: My turtle swallowed gravel! Help please..

[bondturtle]

Firstly, I'd like to express how happy I am to have found this website. I thought I was the only person to care so much for my turtle.. my family think I'm crazy for spending so much on my little baby turtle (that's his name "turtle") not very original I know, but I do love it very much.. now to get to the urgent part.. my turtle swallowed gravel/rocks made for aquariums.. I was advised by the petshop girl to seperate my huge aquarium with a plexiglass seperator, and use aquarium silicon to make it hold.. and to fill that spot with gravel so the turtle can use it as a basking and toilet area. I was told a bunch of BS.. and I went ahead and followed those instructions. My turtle was A-ok for the past year that I've had it, until recently it stopped eating. I noticed it had done that in the past, but then ate double the next day. I didn't worry so much. until I saw it opening it's mouth as if it was going to vomit or shoke.. I was in total panic, brought it to the first vet that would take a turtle in.. we made x-rays, and it swallowed a little over 6-7 rocks. I am freaking out. the vet gave me some medicine called: " metacam " (twice a day) and " chlor palm susp " once a day + some metamucil for humans.. I've been giving it it's daily doses, and visiting the vet every 3-5 days for them to hydrate the poor turtle because it hasn't eaten anything for the past 10 days. I am very worried. Money is no problem.. I really want it to survive, or at least not suffer.. I would definately be extremely depressed if it continues to suffer or passes away. I was informed that turtle surgery is a 1% chance of success.. that it's really complicated. any ideas what else I should do? I'm willing to try anything.. should I put it to sleep if it doesn't pass any rocks soon? I did notice small gravel, about 2 pieces the first day I gave it the medicine, but nothing since.. and about 8 days passed. Please help.. my poor turtle. and it's such a pain and hurtfull experience to have to give it it's medication each day, twice a day. it hates me now because I keep forcing it to take it's meds.. OUIN!!!! tell me what to do please. if it passes I will never ever get another pet.. I get too attached, I am freaking out. should I put it to sleep? should I give it more time? please advise me what you think would be the best move. thanks in advance. I love this website and turtles and you guys if I can get some help..

[Monarch]

I think you're doing all you can do. Turtles can go quite a while without eating so I wouldn't be so worried about that just yet, but you may want to call the vet back and at least just ask what he/she suggests. If Turtle has passed a couple of the stones, that's a good sign. I wouldn't have him put to sleep unless it's a very last resort. It's possible that if one or more of the remaining stones is larger, it might be a little more painful to pass and Turtle might be purposely holding it. There may be alternatives if that's the case. Perhaps the vet can manipulate them out without surgery.
It's possible that he/she might suggest using a very small syringe with a little bit of warm aloe or mineral oil and gently squeezing it into the cloaca (sp?).

I'm no vet, so what I'm telling you is just what I would do in your shoes. The first thing I'd do is definitely call the vet just to get a professional opinion.

[bondturtle]

thanks so much for you reply.. I feel more confident. I will look into it.. Is it possible he is trying to puke it out? I have seen him with his mouth wide open as if something was trying to get out.. this is recently.. thanks alot again..

[missibsu]

I wouldn't do anything at this point that ins't doctor recommended. Since you have been to the vet, and are continueing to see the vet, do what he says.

I don't understand the part about taking turtle to the vet every 3-5 days for hydration. Where is the turtle when you are home? I would think he should be in the water. With that in mind, it may make it easier for him to pass if you set the water temp at around 82F.

Keep us posted.

[sonyj]

You didn't say, but I'm assuming that you have removed all the gravel from his tank knowing now that it shouldn't be in there. The only other thing you can do now is wait.

Like Missi said, turn the water temp up a little. I've heard that a little warmer water may help them pass the stones. Other than that, follow vet instructions and give him a little time.

I hope he makes a full recovery. Keep us posted.

[Monarch]

Oops! Sorry, I know I sounded like an idiot saying they might suggest a syringe into his 'cloaca'. It was 4AM and in my head, I was hearing 'egg bound', lol! I meant anus, but again...ask a vet! Sorry, lol!

[steve]

To be sure if gravel remains inside, you should have another Xray done. I'm sure surgery is a difficult option, though I would ask about other medications or procedures.

[bondturtle]

Thanks guys.. Today when I was giving the turtle it's medication, we noticed somekind of mini thing that looks a little like an organ.. very weird. we found it on a towel on which we put the turtle to feed it it's medication after we fed the medication. I didn't see it come out of it's mouth or anus.. very weird, it seemed fresh. I am so worried, plus it's St-Jean holiday and everything is closed in Quebec, Canada. Is there anyway I can take a picture and show it here? I put it in aluminum foil and into the fridge. Again it looks like an organ of somekind and all vets and petshops are closed.. turtle is not acting much differently than usual.. he is in the corner of the aquarium gripping to the big filter in order to stay in that corner, and his eyes are shut.

[bondturtle]

he's now on the dock.. and here are some pictures of the "organ" looking thing I found..

[bondturtle]

bigger picture
http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 3804ky.jpg

[bondturtle]

sorry for those images.. I know it's not nice to see.. but he seems ok. he is on the turtle dock now.. and I have no idea how that thing could have been on the towel.. no idea where it came from. I just don't want it to suffer so much. what the hell is that thing anyway?? I am dying inside thinking it could be suffering badly. Should I take a video of the turtle and the way it is? maybe some of you can tell if he is ok or not? he doesn't seem much different now. I will keep looking out for any changes in behaviour. and please someone respond if you know what that is

[steve]

I think it may be part of the bladder. Is there any bleeding?

[bondturtle]

No. there is no bleeding..

[bondturtle]

Ok. I can't take it anymore.. he looks ok. but I am really worried, more about his suffering than his passing away. Considereing this "ogran" I showed you is missing in his body... Is that a vital organ? will he die in a matter of minutes or hours? Will he survive a few days in extreme suffering? Should I take him to an emergency and have him put to sleep right away? I cannot think clearly thinking he's missing a vital organ and suffering... I don't care, I'll put in money to put him to sleep, and I'll deal with the mourning of my first baby turtle and my first pet of my own as long as he doesn't suffer extreme pain. If anybody has a CARING vet as a friend or is going to see one today, can you print out that picture and show him? The emergency doesn't specialise in reptiles and is extremely far and the turtle HATES getting put into a container for a long and bumpy drive.. I don't want to put it thru that.. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'll even pay you if necessary. and sorry to be so persistant and I don't want to sound mean either.. wish my turtle was ok so I could discuss other stuff than my own concerns.. let me know. thank you

[missibsu]

I know that this isn't an easy time for you, but you aren't helping yourself by getting worked up either.

If it were me, I would give it another day...although vets won't be open on Sunday either. I would say that if it was a vital organ, it wouldn't take long for him to pass. I am no expert though. None of the people on this site are qualified to give you directions on what to do. We can only recommend and suggest certain things. That's why I say wait. I wouldn't want my pet to suffer either, but I would hate to have it put down and never really know if it was the right choice.