Digestive disorders in tortoises

The digestive system converts food into energy. In tortoises, left over waste is expelled through the vent which is the reptile equivalent of the mammal’s anus. The digestive tract of the tortoise consists of the mouth, stomach, intestines and vent.

Tortoises have a beak like a bird, but no teeth. The roof of our mouth is called the hard palate; the tortoise does not have a hard palate, instead he has a hole called the choana. Tortoises have a short, fleshy and sensitive tongue.

Leading from the mouth is a tube called the esophagus which then leads to the stomach.

After the stomach the digestive tract continues as the small and large intestine. The large intestine in tortoises is very large to allow the breakdown of plant material.

The vent is made up of three areas: coprodeum, urodeum, proctodeum. The food waste from the large intestine is stored in the coprodeum. The urodeum is the area which stores urine, and also any sperm or eggs (depending on whether your tortoise is male or female). Both the coprodeum and urodeum empty into the proctodeum, and from here all feces and urine are passed out of the vent.

The liver is the largest organ inside the body and has many functions. It plays an important part in the breaking down of proteins and fats in food. It also helps the body to get rid of toxins and other harmful substances.

The pancreas produces juices which help to breakdown food.

Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth and is commonly known as ‘mouth rot’. Stomatitis can be caused by either viral or bacterial infection. Damage to the mouth can also cause mouth rot.

Pay particular attention to the condition of the house. Low temperatures in the house can lead to a weakening of the immune system. The correct temperature of the tank depends on the species of tortoise. Researching your species of tortoise is very important before making a purchase.

Before the tortoise hibernates be sure he is in good condition. Mouth rot is common when tortoises wake up. It is very painful and prevents them from eating. Check the furniture in your tortoise’s house to make sure that there are no sharp areas which could damage his mouth.

If you think your tortoise has stomatitis get him checked by your veterinarian. He may require help with feeding and some antibiotic treatment.

Yes!

This is commonly seen in tortoises that grow very quickly or are not permitted to hibernate. UV light is vital for tortoises to have a good strong skeleton and beak. It is also important to have good balanced diet to prevent abnormal growth. Hibernating every year, even for a short period, can help to reduce growth rate.

The beak can be trimmed by the veterinarian using a fast moving dremmel, much like a nail file. This may have to be done several times a year. If the beak grows too long it can break.

Tortoises need to eat regularly. Fatty liver disease is also known as hepatic lipidosis. Liver cells become swamped with fat, preventing the liver from working properly. It is very difficult to detect fatty liver disease; there are no obvious symptoms, but a tortoise with this condition will stop eating or may never start eating after waking from hibernation. It is important to learn your tortoise’s normal activity level so you can pick up on any changes. It is also important to weigh your tortoise weekly to spot severe weight loss. Low temperature can also cause loss of appetite, as mentioned above researching your species correct temperature is vital.

Always feed the right kind of food to your tortoise. Tortoises may like cat food but it is important that he does not eat it as it can make him very ill.

A tortoise that is underweight when starting hibernation can develop fatty liver disease. If your tortoise loses more than 10% of his bodyweight you should take him to the vet. He may need an operation that involves fitting a feeding tube to help him to get better.

Tortoises often eat material from the floor of their house by mistake which can lead to impaction in the large intestine, this is when pieces of the material clump together to cause a blockage. Try to watch your tortoise whilst feeding him if you feed him on the substrate to ensure he doesn’t ingest the substrate.

Constipation is when a tortoise cannot pass feces. If your tortoise is constipated you may notice him straining to pass feces and lifting his shell high off the floor, his faeces may also look very dry. The temperature in your tortoise’s house is vital. If it is too cold the intestines cannot digest food properly and this can lead to constipation.

Calcium is needed to make the intestines work properly. Ensuring that your tortoise’s UV light is at the correct height (30-45 cm away from the tortoise) and is not too old will help the tortoise to absorb calcium through the intestine.

It is very important that your tortoise has water at all times and that the humidity is at the correct level for the species. Dehydration often leads to constipation. Make sure your tortoise is eating the right type of food and the correct amount. It is also a good idea to make sure that the material you use for the floor of your tortoise’s housing is large enough not to be swallowed by a hungry tortoise.

Constipation is often left until it is too late. If an impaction is very severe an operation may be necessary to remove the material blocking the intestine. To try and avoid this ensure you are familiar with the color, consistency and frequency of your tortoise’s feces. This will allow you to pick up on any changes and make your veterinarian aware if you are unsure. Your veterinarian may choose to test the feces either in house or send it away to an external laboratory.

A vent prolapse happens when one of the organs that are plumbed into the vent (for example the large intestine or the bladder) gets pushed out of the body. Egg binding and low calcium in the diet can cause a vent prolapse.

It is very common for male tortoises to push their phallus (penis) through the vent which is commonly mistaken for a prolapse!

A prolapse is an emergency; if you suspect a prolapse you must take your tortoise to the veterinarian as soon as possible.