My Sulcata tortoise was upside down, now he's wheezing. Why?

A wheezing turtle is an absolute emergency, he is probably suffering from a severe respiratory infection and needs immediate treatment, i strongly advise taking him to a reptile vet specialist right away.

I didn't see that you mentioned what kind of turtle Mr. Giggle Bottom is - if there was water involved, he may have inhaled some water. If that is the case, he needs to go to the veterinarian immediately. If there was not water involved, I would recommend monitoring him for a few hours to see if he improves. When a turtle ends up on his back, all of the organs in the body will put pressure on the lungs which makes it hard for them to breathe. Depending on how long he was stuck, it may have been quite stressful for him and he is recovering. The longer the time, the more stress he was put under. I see that your question was posted a couple of hours ago. If he has not improved at all in that time, I would consider taking him to the veterinarian. They can perform an examination on him, and can help to make husbandry changes to try to prevent this from occurring in the future.

It sounds like your tortoise has an upper respiratory tract infection. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian that is comfortable treating reptiles. She may need x-rays to determine what is going on. Your vet will probably recommend antibiotics and possibly a breathing treatment to help clear up the nasal passages. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Mr. Skittles. Check and correct environmental parameters, including temperature as these animals need to be warm to stimulate immune system. If continues to sneeze, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Sounds like she has an upper respiratory infection (URI). You need to get her to a reptile vet as soon as you can. She will need antibiotics to get this to clear up. Many tortoises get URI if they get too cold when they are hibernating. That is my best guess as to what happened here. You definitely need a vet that is used to treating reptiles. If you don't already have a vet you work with I found this one in your area. ( https://lovinghandsanimalhospital.com/meet-our-team.html ) Hope this helps. Best wishes!

It does appear to be a juvenile angulate tortoise. His behavior and symptoms may indicate a respiratory infection. This species does not do well in humid environments. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be strongly recommended. Any me pet should be examined by a veterinarian within 72 hours of arriving home anyway to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any preexisting conditions. Antibiotics may be indicated if respiratory infection is diagnosed. You can soak him daily in a warm 50 50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Offer dark leafy greens and provide sufficient heat and UVB lighting. Additional care and diet information can be found at the link below. http://www.chelonia.org/articles/cangulatacare.htm

He may have been hibernating/brumating. Continue with the daily soaks in warm water or a 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Get him eating if he isn't already. If the behavior persists, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness.