Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, WBUAFSc, Alipore Zoological Garden (WB)
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar-585 401 (Karnataka)
A female aldebra tortoise (Geochelone gigantia) aged about 255 years in Alipore zoo, Kolkata, West Bengal, was suffering from anorexia and lethargy along with a crack and foul smelling wound in the plastron region. Neurological examination found normal. The wound was debrided and cleaned with several applications of ether and air dried. This procedure was repeated for five days and subjected for culture and sensitivity test. The result being negative for any growth of microorganism, wound was repaired with fibreglass material (Articast ®, Beiersdorf) to cover and seal the wound that was again reinforced with dental acrylic materials leaving the edges of the wound intact. Postoperative care consisted of limited exercise and injection chloramphenicol 40 mg/kg/day intramuscularly for 10 days. Animal responded quickly and started taking food and gait was normal. The animal died after one and a half month due to hepato-renal failure along with pulmonary amyloidosis and atelectasis.
