External Exam Checklist
The External Examination Checklist for Signs of Deficiencies, Disease, or Injury guides desert tortoise caregivers in spotting health issues through visual checks for abnormalities, injuries, or disease symptoms.
External Exam
When to Examine
- Timing:During spring emergence or before winter hibernation.
- Why: Active tortoises respond better to treatment.
Where to Examine
- Setup: Table with newspapers and an old white towel.
- Purpose: Towel catches urine for observation.
- Pale yellow: Well hydrated.
- Dark reddish-brown: Dehydration.
- Urate salts: Normal (gritty or soft).
- Scats: May pass simultaneously.
Weight & Female Care
Heft-Weight Check
- Heft Check: A tortoise should feel heavy for its size at all times.
- Monitoring: If weight seems off, weigh every two weeks to track changes.
- Measurement Opportunity: Use this time to measure your tortoise.
Female Handling Care
- Caution: Avoid turning females (7″+ shell) on their backs from April to August.
- Risk: Twisting of shelled eggs can cause circulation issues, peritonitis, or death.
- Method: Lift female above eye level, keep level, and inspect underside.
Injury Detection Tips
Identifying Signs of Injury
- Cuts, cactus spines, or lost/loose s cutes on the shell.
- Scute loss on female forelegs (from male biting during courting).
- Warning: Keep indoors to prevent fatal fly infestations.
- Scute loss on female forelegs (from male biting during courting).
- Contact a tortoise vet immediately for advice and an appointment.
- Note: Only apply pressure to stop bleeding; avoid self-treatment.
- Check soft skin where it attaches to the shell for ticks.
- Check: Inspect carapace flare for young ticks.
- Refer to Ticks On Desert Tortoises for removal instructions.
Respiratory Disease Signs
Health Assessment & Common Issues
This section covers signs of respiratory disease, mouth health, and dietary deficiencies in tortoises. It includes symptoms like nasal discharge, wheezing, eye issues, beak misalignment, shell deformities, and leg weakness.
Detecting Respiratory Disease
- Nostrils blocked, runny, or bubbly.
- Forearms with dried mucous (from wiping nostrils).
- Moist wheeze: Sign of disease; dry whistle is normal.
- Runny eyes, visible inner lids, crusts, or swollen outer lids.
- Loss of appetite: May indicate illness or seasonal behavior.
- Mouth gaping: Wheezing or silent breathing struggle.
Examining Skin and Vent
- Skin should not be peeling (normal in rapidly growing small juveniles).
- Examine the vent (exit for urine and feces) for signs of diarrhea.
Checking for Deformities and Dietary Issues
- Puffy eyelids; sunken, watery, or crusty eyes.
- Beak misalignment (e.g., lower jaw protruding beyond upper).
- Flat or sunken carapace, easily compressed with fingers.
- Pyramiding of large carapace scutes.
- Juvenile shells: Firm and high-domed (except 1-2 year olds).
- Forelegs not well-filled, lacking pudginess.
Fecal Exam for Parasites
- Internal Parasites: Can be debilitating; a vet is needed.
- Procedure: Consult a vet for fecal specimen collection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Essential Gate Barrier FAQs Explained
Desert Tortoise gate barriers need slots on gateposts with wood inserts, flush to ground, blocking light. Consider gate direction to keep barriers secure, protecting tortoises from escaping.
1. What do I do if I see signs of illness?
Contact your nearest vet. If you do not have a primary vet established see our list of trusted veterinarians with experience working with pet desert tortoises.
2. Can I spay or neuter my pet tortoise?
Yes! Spaying and neutering your tortoise is a great way to prevent accidental breeding and helps with population control.
3. How do I transport my tortoise to the vet?
Depending on the size of your tortoise there are several safe ways to transport them. If your tortoise is on the smaller side you can use a cardboard cat carrier or small pet carrier. If your tortoise is larger, you can use a plastic tote or pin to safely transport them in the car. We do not recommend placing straw or blankets in their transport carrier.
4. Can my tortoise be microchipped?
Yes. We recommend that all pet tortoises are microchipped. This is the best way to ensure your tortoise would be reunited with you if they escaped or became lost.
5.Do desert tortoises carry salmonella?
According to the Los Angeles Department of Health, 9 out of 10 reptiles may carry almonella. Tortoises may have salmonella but may not always be releasing it. What is not yet determined is whether they require the salmonella bacteria or if it is just a parasite (living within the host animal with no harmful side-effects).
6. Should I take my reptile to the veterinarian for a Salmonella check?
No. It is simply not necessary. The CDC does not recommend reptiles be treated for Salmonella. Salmonella may become immune to the treatment and will be harder to combat if it infects a human. Reptiles live naturally with Salmonella similar to the way dogs live with fleas. It’s best to assume your reptile has Salmonella and handle it accordingly to avoid contracting Salmonella. An infected reptile may not release Salmonella in the feces all of the time. You could make ten or more vet visits and get ten negative results. This is not fully understood, however, stress seems to play a large role in the way reptiles release salmonella. The CDC reports that salmonella infections from reptiles might constitute 5% of the 2,000,000 total reported cases annually in the United
States.
7. How do I keep from getting Salmonella or spreading it to my family?
The number one precaution you can take is to wash your hands immediately after handling reptiles or their enclosure. Wash with either plain soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds or use anti-bacterial soap. The bacteria can be present on the animal’s skin or surfaces it came in contact with and be transmitted to the hands of those who held it. A simple spray of Lysol’~ can control germs on household surfaces. Do not allow reptiles to roam freely when anyone of high risk is living in the house. Supervise children while handling reptiles and be sure they keep their hands away from their mouths while handling reptiles. Be sure children know they need to wash their hands immediately after handling reptiles.