Car Strike Leaves African Sulcata Tortoise With Numerous Injuries

The following story was shared with us by Wings Of Hope Wildlife Sanctuary in Louisiana.

A male, adult African sulcata tortoise was presented to Louisiana State University after being hit by a car. The male tortoise presented with an edematous (swollen) left forelimb, cranial carapacial fracture with soft tissue injury and maggots invading the wound, and wound on cranial plastron with exposed bone. He also had gravel in his gastrointestinal tract, although it was deemed to be non-obstructive.

An esophagostomy tube (e-tube) was placed to assist with medical treatment. He was transferred to Wings of Hope for further rehabilitation and long-term management until his injuries healed.

Meloxicam and EmerAid Intensive Care Herbivore were provided twice daily via his e-tube. Mineral oil was added to the diet to encourage the gravel to pass.

The tortoise was returned to LSU for exam after the e-tube appeared to have “slipped out” of place. A full workup was performed and the e-tube was replaced under anesthesia. The sulcata was returned to Wings of Hope with recommendations to increase the EmerAid IC Herbivore diet, and to continue the mineral oil and meloxicam as previously prescribed.

The tortoise continues to improve daily; however, his appetite is still not sufficient to maintain his normal weight. We continued to tube-feed EmerAid IC Herbivore until his appetite increased to normal. A computed tomography scan has been performed and is being reviewed.