Mineral oil or vegetable oil, given through a tube or with a syringe, may help pass the blockage. X-rays should be taken every two weeks for two months to insure that all the sand is passed. Perhaps eating sand is the result of something missing from the captive tortoise's diet. We hear reports of wild tortoises eating sand, but what they are actually eating is the fine, silty mineral earth around the base of desert plants. This fine silt has nutritional value and does not seem to cause the impactions that sand and gravel can.
Injuries caused by dogs are common.
Cats will usually leave a tortoise alone, but bored or jealous dogs can be wicked. Most often we see wounds caused by chewing on the shell. Puppies are the worst culprits because they will chew on anything. Shell wounds should be carefully washed with an antiseptic such as Betadine. The wound should be covered with a bandage and the tortoise should be moved inside to avoid becoming fly blown.