A pet tortoise named Sherman almost died after swallowing a packet of screws. The Horsfield tortoise had to undergo surgery after munching down the stainless steel fixings which he found behind a house plant.
Owner Suzette Jones noticed her beloved pet had lost his appetite and took him to vets who X-rayed him. They were stunned to discover the 17-year-old tortoise had six metal screws lodged in his stomach.
An initial attempt to remove them was made by performing an endoscopy, which involved passing a camera down his throat. But the screws had shifted too far through Sherman’s intestinal tract so they were forced to carry out a risky operation.
He was put under anaesthetic and vets were forced to remove part of his shell before cutting open his stomach. Vet Daniel Calvo Carrasco said the screws were found in Sherman's colon.
Following a three-hour operation Sherman's shell was reattached using dental putty. The surgery at Linnaeus-owned practice Sandhole Vets in Snodland, Kent, was hailed a success and Sherman has thankfully made a full recovery.
Health and wellbeing adviser Suzette, of Guildford, said: “I first realised something wasn’t right with Sherman when he vomited twice, which is unusual for tortoises. When the vets told us the diagnosis following the initial scans as reaction was just one of sheer amazement.
“We just couldn’t think of where the screws had come from. We could only guess that they were in a plant pot which he knocked over and was found sat of top of the earth and munching.
“After then being told Sherman would need an operation to remove the screws, we were obviously very concerned but thought he must be given a chance. The vets were excellent throughout and gave us good explanations and were clearly interested and concerned about Sherman’s welfare, which helped reassure us."
Sherman's now back at home following his operation. He's eating well and the outlooks seems positive.
“He was somewhat grumpy at first as his daily antibiotic injections were clearly disliked," said Suzette. “But now his daily bath has been reinstated he has become more active and interested in life again amongst the living room plants."
