Concern over pet tortoise’s sore eye
Wake from hibernation can affect the immune system
QOur female nine-year-old Horsfield has one eye that is swollen with some pus. She is eating and we have been bathing the eye with warm water.
It doesn’t seem painful, although possibly irritating as she rubs it with her front leg.
Our local vets don’t deal with tortoises so we could do with some help.
AIt is not uncommon for tortoises to wake up from hibernation with sore eyes as the low temperature reduces the immune system’s ability to fight infection.
This particular infection sounds like conjunctivitis, and if bathing is not helping, you need to see a vet.
There are various possibilities that could be the source. There may be a trapped piece of plant material, as only one eye seems to be infected, or a localised abscess.
However, these conditions don’t rule out other underlying factors and it could be that both eyes are actually affected, with just one showing more severe signs.
For example, low levels of vitamin A can be a cause of swollen eyes.
This could be due to inadequate levels in the diet. I have seen this in tortoises that have been fed too much lettuce.
Low pre-hibernation levels of vitamin A can produce signs soon after hibernation.
Check with your local vet initially for immediate treatment. They will likely know of specialist colleagues and refer you if necessary.
Alternatively, The Tortoise Table (thetortoisetable.org.uk) lists UK vets with specialist knowledge of tortoises.
QOur four-month-old British blue kitten has had intermittent diarrhoea since we acquired her. She has now been diagnosed with feline coronavirus, Clostridium perfringens and Tritrichomonas foetus. Our vet advised special gastrointestinal food and no other treatment. What else can be done?
AI hope it helps if I write about each of those organisms individually. Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is commonly isolated in 50-90% of kittens showing no abnormal signs.
A few may have mild diarrhoea, which normally clears up spontaneously as the immune system clears the virus. There is no treatment.
A small percentage of viruses (5% in the latest article I read) mutate and can cause feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This is not immediately relevant for your kitten.
Clostridium perfringens can also be found, sometimes in large numbers, in healthy cats.
Antibiotics are not usually prescribed, as these can cause increased bacterial growth, with no evidence of any benefit.
Only toxin-producing bacteria detected by PCR testing produce severe disease, but these are in the minority. Most cases (as with FCoV) clear up spontaneously.
Tritrichomas foetus (now renamed blagburni) is a protozoan parasite, which can cause persistent, prolonged diarrhoea.
It is a resistant organism with only one drug that has any effect. It is not licensed for cats, has a narrow safety margin, potential neurological side effects, and is only partially effective.
The high-fibre diet prescribed by your vet is the recommended approach, and most kittens respond well. Regular checks will be required as recovery can take time.