Urgent Care :: 13-year-old RES unable to lay eggs

[eyhy]

Hello,

My RES of 13 years old refuses to eat for a few weeks in May. We took her to the vet in early June and we are told that she has eggs inside that she is not able to lay them properly due to unbalanced diet. It is the first time she behaves like this , in fact we did not know it's a female before this vet visit. She was healthy and loves to eat for the past years, active and liked to walk around. The vet gave us some 'recovery canned food' , vitamin, calcium and electrolyte and we are asked to feed her with syringe and tube. We have fed her the canned food which looks like a mix of tuna and something with the 'medicine' as well as trying to feed some fresh shrimps and fish meat etc. for about a month now , however, she remind very weak and unable to eat on her own. We would like to ask here if there is anything we can do and what will happen if she does not manage to lay those eggs after all. We are very worried because she gets weaker and we look forward to the sharing and suggestions from experienced RES keeper about this situation.

Thanks a lot !
Eunice

[steve]

Did the vet take an x-ray or just felt for them? The vet could have administered medicine to encourage nesting rather than trying to change the diet. Was this vet a herp vet or one that is experienced with turtles?

A gravid RES will still have an appetite, just not during the time of day when she want to lay them. I would try anything to get her to eat first, then worry about the eggs.

[eyhy]

Hi Steve, yes, the vet took both Xray and ultrasound and we could see there are actually eggs inside. The vet is the one who is pretty experienced with reptile that we can find in Hong Kong but honestly we are not too sure if the treatment would work on my tutle and at the moment we also understand that to restore her appetite seems the only thing we can do but unfortunately still not successful. Thanks. Eunice

[steve]

How many eggs showed up in the x-ray? Was it just a few or was there a lot packed in? Have you tried her treats or live prey?

[eyhy]

I asked the vet for a copy of xray and now I am not so sure if she has eggs when I try to compare some xray photos found online which clearly shown eggs , I am going to bring her to another check up this week. I try to upload the xray image here so if someone could identify some information from this slide , please let me know ... so worry now >< Thanks. Eunice

[steve]

Hard for me to tell how many are in there but it does look like some in the rear?

[eyhy]

When I try to compare this slide with those found online , seems eggs are not as obvious however the vet does mention my turtle shown a lack of calcium and will this be the reason ?

[eyhy]

Would like to ask what treatment / injection / medication can be done other than surgery ? Had watched some video about surgery online ... and am doubt if the clinic able to perform that or if it is a good solution. Thanks. Eunice

[steve]

Yes, you are right. The scan is a bit dark, so I can't confirm... but she could have small eggs as well if they just started to develop. Surgery is very risky... has any of her symptoms changed?