my sucata tortoise

Question
QUESTION: my tortose was attacked by my dog he has not urinated in about 3 weeks and wasn't using legs but he is finally using legs will he eventually urinate?

ANSWER: Hi Erica,

It's possible your tortoise is passing urine without you realizing it, but if you're not seeing much urine he may be dehydrated.  Are you soaking him regularly?  If he is small and kept in an enclosure, it's important that he be soaked regularly and be provided with some moisture in his enclosure.  If outside, he should still have a large water dish that he can get into and soak himself, and have his pen sprayed down regularly with water.  Another size of dehydration is if the urates (the white "stuff" that's the solid part of their urine) are gritty or chunky.  They should be clear to creamy.

If you can provide me with more information, I can be of more help.  How big is he, and how old?  What is his enclosure like (size and type, temperatures, type of basking/UVB bulb, substrate, and diet)?  What kind of injuries did he have, and did he receive vet care (is he on antibiotics, etc.)?  It's difficult for me to say what could be happening with him based on the information you provided, so please post back and I'll try to help more.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hesabout 8 months old and his enclosure is about 36 by 48inch indoor.when i got him i was told all he ate was romainelettuce and he used to eat alot but since the attack he doesn't eat much he don't urinate or go poop like he used to regularly but now he hasn't had a bowel in weeks.when he was attacked he suffered a small puncture to his belly he didn't usehis back legs for awhile but now hes starting to use them a little and we took care of his injured belly at home.

Answer
Hi Erica,

In general, any time a tortoise suffers a puncture wound to the shell from a dog bite it should go to a vet for antibiotic treatment, as infection is very likely and may be severe.  In your tortoise's case, the injury may have healed, but if you kept seeing problems I would definitely take him in.

In this case, though, I think the problems you are seeing may be due to how you are keeping him and diet.  First, you need to make sure he's getting the proper amount of heat/UVB, and adequate moisture.  He needs a basking temp of 90-95 and a cooler area of about 75 degrees, plus a good source of UVB or he won't be able to metabolize calcium properly.  He also needs moisture in his enclosure.  The basking lights will dehydrate him without a damp substrate, so if he's on a completely dry substrate you need to change that.  A 50/50 mix of coir (like bed-a-beast) and playsand works well--keep it a bit damp at all times, all the way through.  He also needs to be soaked a few times a week for about 15 minutes.

You were given very bad advice about his diet.  Sulcata eat mostly grasses, with some leafy greens, so a mix of grass/hay and greens is best (no fruit or veggies).  Romaine is OK as part of a varied diet, but by itself it's pretty poor nutritionally and doesn't have nearly enough fiber.  I would work on changing his diet ASAP.  Good greens are dandelions (and flowers), collards, turnip, mustard, kale, and (some) spring mix; weeds such as dandelion, chicory, chickweed, mallow, sow thistle, hawkbit, clover; hibiscus, abutilon, prickly pear cactus, grape and mulberry leaves, viola, nasturtium, etc.  Variety is really important.  I think if you make some improvements to his enclosure and diet you'll see a change in him, but if he continues to not do well I'd encourage you to take him to a vet for treatment.