My tortoise was stepped on, seems fine. What should I watch for?

Hello! I’m sorry Lizzie had a fall. First, look her over for any asymmetry in her face, mouth, spine and legs. Watch her breathing and ability to walk normally. She may not be too keen on being handled right away, so let her rest in her enclosure for a time and observe her undisturbed. If you’re worried about her ability to walk or balance, remove any branches or platforms. If you see any discoloration, blood, asymmetry, weakness, signs of trauma or fracture, then have her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Otherwise, it’s fine to keep a close eye on her and just let her rest. Offer food as normal, but realize if she’s in pain she may not want to eat. Good luck!

Monitor her for lethargy or difficulty walking for the next day or two. If she's moving slower or not at all, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. Gently clean the abrasions/wounds with diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution. Keep her on slate, paper towels or reptile carpet until she heals. You don't want any substrate contaminating the wounds and introducing infection. In the future, take Wanda out of her enclosure to feed her or simply work around the hide and other furniture to avoid accidents.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear about Candy cane's change in behavior. I'm concerned that limping on two legs could be a sign of spinal disease or a nutritional deficiency that can affect bone strength. Hissing could be a sign of pain or respiratory distress. I recommend taking Candy cane to a veterinarian as soon as possible. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oh no! Poor Tuco! So sorry this happened. Luckily, it sounds like he is just fine. So glad he is flying around and acting normal. My recommendation is to just monitor him closely for the next 24 hours. If she starts showing any signs of injury or illness then I would get him to an avian vet right away. If he was squished that hard I would suspect he would already be showing some signs if he was truly injured. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

The tortoise will need to be examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles. If the injuries are severe or if the tortoise is truly paralyzed, humane euthanasia may be an option. Without an exam, it is difficult to determine the extent of the injuries or what treatment is needed.

Thanks for reaching out about Sheel and including photos. A veterinary visit is recommended, probably with radiographs, to rule-in/out a fracture or dislocation. Even if fractured, some animals will walk on it. Pain medications will probably be recommended at the minimum. Soft tissue swelling might improve better with anti-inflammatory medications. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tweety. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some aid. Monitor food and water intake. If there is the possibility of internal damage, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess. Good luck.