My 55 year old tortoise is poorly!

[mytortoiseisill]

apparently "tortie" has a parasite and if s/he doesn't start eating dandelions again in 5 days has to go to the vet for blood tests.

I didn't even realise tortie had blood in him/her.

Seriously though - how long do tortoises live? Is this old age? Am very fond of tortie (as was childhood pet) but I don't believe in prolonging animal lives unnecessarily.....

Hello tortoise people. I have just come back from mum’s and am pleased to report that Tortie is all better.

I can’t post a picture because mum’s phone number is painted on tortie’s shell.
This is necessary as he’s made it to next door but one this week alone. Has been known to get half way across the village.

the deworming seems to have been key though mum does sprinkle the calcium.

the lawn is a bit better from losing one of the pines. Still not enough dandelions though....

You need to find an exotics vet, not one that only sees a tortoise every 10 years.

Once people have access to specialist doctors (or any doctor)we’ll worry about reptile vets. Till then the general vet has done good.

I thought this thread looked familiar! Glad to see the positive update. I also have an inherited tortoise. We are in year 3 and still learning all the time. They are wonderful, complex animals.

I like "inherited tortoise" that may be my new user name :)

The neighbours are vying to inherit tortie from mum when she can no longer live in the house.... he's a bit of a celebrity so that gives her a bit of kudos in the village.

Rather like a cat though, he will choose where he lives. Never found a fence he couldn't burrow under.

Glad to hear tortie is better.

:) thanks :)

"If you imagine turning his shell upside down so it is like a bowl. If you filled that bowl size that should be how much food he has a day."

That's one of those incredibly interesting facts that I'll now remember for ever.

Glad to hear Tortie is feeling better.

So happy tortie is doing better. I love tortoises.

tortie is, undeniably, epic :)