General Care Discussion :: He's sick and (prob) dying. Suggestions

[mzkitty23]

awe, poor thing. i hope u are able to take him to a different vet, it sounds like he needs it based on what he's going through, not what he did or didn't cost 6 months ago when you chose to get him. i hope that your resources allow you to care for him and find out wha'ts wrong so you'll know what to do. i REALLY hope he feels better soon.

[SpotsMama]

I'm so sorry to hear it's not going well. Why don't you ask your vet if he thinks anything further can be done. You and your turtle are in our thoughts. Please keep us posted.

[imderanged]

I really do sympathize, and I understand that vet bill can get out of hand, and sometimes we unfortuantely do have to make a decision and say, we have done all that we can.
But, I don't really see what the COST of the pet has to do with anything. I have many pets. My turtle was a gift so he was "free". My parrot cost $600. So does that mean I should take my bird to the vet and not my turtle? Should pure bred dogs go to the vet, but not mutts adopted from the pound?
I used to work for a vet, and I heard these kind of statments all the time.
Hard decisions have made sometimes about how far to go for treatment.
My family has had to make some pretty hard decisions over the years. And yes, sometimes the cost of treatment comes into it. How effective the treatment is expected to be and the quality of life that animal will have and the costs all come into play. But the price tag on a replacment for the pets is not part of the deliberations for us. These are living breathing beings, not property. Honestly, I think I do understand where vanisle is coming from, but I would hope she could choose better words to communicate her sadness and frustration.

[Dein211]

usually if a turt will lose a tremendus amount of weight in a short period of time and is generally as sick as your turt the vet will basically put a feeding tube in and feed him this ewy looking stuff made for really sick reptiles. ex rays are hard to see with the shell and everything but they are still possble. my turtle survived almost a month without food but some how she had gone into hibernation mode so she wasn't losing a lot of wieght. i also agree with a second vet opinion but i know how expensive taking a turt to the vet is. i hope things start to look up soon.

[TheComputerGremlin]

As I was out of town, I missed the discussion. I do not want to seem harsh, I understand that we all need to make serious decisions involving the health of our animals. However, to hear someone say, I took him to the vet and the vet didn't do what I wanted and I can't do anything else bothers me. If you are diagnosed with cancer, the first thing *most* people do is find a second opinion. If you don't like how a vet tried to help your turtle, you find another vet. I understand that is not always an option, but you can also go back to the vet and say He's not getting better. I don't know many doctors who will refuse to take a second look, esp. after their treatment isn't working. I just don't like hearing people say that there's nothing else they can do. As Dein said, vets will put in a feeding tube if the turtle stops eating.

I am sorry you have a sick turtle and that prior to becoming ill, you were providing an excellent environment. I do not question your turtle parenting. I simply question your decision to give up.

I think another trip to the vet is in order. I think that a turtle can make it about a month without eating ... I hope your turtle gets better, I really do! Has anything else happened?

[Bascomb]

Van-I -- Do the best you can and don't worry about it. My suggestion is to keep the water very clean and at about 80 degrees and do what ever it takes to get him to eat. Wait a couple of days and try, wait a couple of days and try again. The warmer water should increase his metobolism and make him hungry. b.

[corey7144]

hope he lives...Its really sad to hear this... What if this whoud happen to somone who couldn't even afford a vet! Its really sad...

[VanIsle]

Update: The lil guy hung on for almost another week, but eventually he lost the battle over the weekend.
I'm now in the process of completly cleaning out his tank and empying it. I'm not 100% sure on what i will do now. Turn it into a fish tank, or get another turt. I think most of us here know that turt have way more personality than fish. lol. (besides i have a 75g fish tank already) I might have to wait a few weeks to decide.
Thanks to all of you for your help and comments.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Aww, I am really sorry for your loss ... Just remember that sometimes, turtles and other animals get sick for no apparent reason and you tried everything you could to get him better.

Consider adopting a full grown turtle for your now empty tank. There are lots of turtles that need adopting, and a full grown turtle will be much hardier. Or you could do what my husband wants to do and get an eel, yuck!

[marisa]

I'm really sorry to hear he didn't make it.

[mat012]

Likewise, its sad news.

[steve]

Sorry for your loss. I wish that you could've known what happened...

[SpotsMama]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. It's very hard to lose a pet, I know.

You are right to give yourself a few weeks to decide what you want to do. Now that you know what neat little creatures they are, I hope that if you decide to get another turtle you'll consider an adoption, as was mentioned above. There are a lot of great RES out there in need of a good home.