how to treat a damaged tortoise shell

Shell rot is a condition that many vets see in turtles and tortoises. This discharge usually has a VERY bad smell, making it hard to miss from both a visual and olfactory perspective. You're going to … Signs of Metabolic Bone Disease in Tortoise. Shell rot causes ulcers on the epithelial layer below the scutes and these ulcers can then work their way through the shell causing severe damage. Symptoms are basically the same, whether the shell rot is caused by an injury or an underlying condition, and should be looked out for on a very regular basis. A damaged shell might take years to fully heal. Misty Corton, The Care Centre, Natal, South Africa. I’ve been checking on her and today it looks like she got worse I put iodine on her and let her dry but it still seems like there is no improvement. No need for soap. For starters, you can usually see the cracks in their shell. Also, if you notice that it is getting worse, it is time to see a vet as shell rot can progress to Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease (SCUD). Treatment depends on the cause of the infection and the severity of the shell and scute damage. As this progresses, the shell may start to pit with parts falling off and exposing the bone underneath. Utilizing time-proven techniques together with traditional and new-age advanced materials, we have developed a new and unique technology which allows us to safely recover the original beauty of work, dirty, and damaged artworks carved from turtle shell. Only when healing is advanced is a permanent plastic or fibreglass repair made. Damaged Shell - Male or Female? Reptile.Guide is the preferred educational source on reptiles favored by experienced herptologists and new owners alike. Selecting a Tortoise. If you have two turtles or tortoises that are attacking each other, put them in separate enclosures. Usually this doesn’t require any treatment besides keeping the area clean, although you should keep an eye out for any possible signs of infection such as discharge.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tortoiseexpert_com-banner-1-0')}; More serious injuries such as shell crushing as a result of a fall or laceration from a lawn mower blade will clearly need further attention. This essentially means soaking the tortoise in a shallow bath of warm water for an hour. TORTOISE SHELL AND PLASTICS Tortoise shell is composed of ß-keratin, an insoluble protein (Voet et al., 2005), and is almost identical in composition to hair and nail. Many times small infections can clear up on their own if you keep the pet's home clean and sanitary. Tortoiseexpert.com is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme/Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme, affiliate advertising programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk. Step 1: clean the wound. Reptile Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. her bashing area is out of water and has a good filtration system going. Stemming from ancient times in both the West and the East, real tortoise shell was often used for items like combs, frames, furniture ornaments, and more. This type of injury may chip away at the external scutes, leaving the bone underneath exposed. This sinking will cause the underside of their shell to still be in the water. If the tortoise is bright, and hopefully still eating, I will dress the wounds with a hydrocolloid, moisture-retentive wound dressing and cover with vet wrap, initially to help stabilise the tortoise before further treatment (Figure 4). 300+ BEST Bearded Dragon Names…You’re Guaranteed to Love At Least One! You might see a reddish fluid under the shell plates, a slimy layer on the shell or softening, lifting, or flaking plates. With minor damage, you can easily treat it at home. Undoubtedly the design on the shell and some portion on her back was badly damaged but she survive. With hundreds of articles on everything pertaining to lizards, turtles, and snakes, our experienced team provides reliable and accurate content you can trust. If your worried about metabolic bone disease you can learn more about it with our article on treating metabolic bone disease in tortoise. The physical repair to the shell can then be undertaken in safety. In fact, should you be in search of an effective home treatment plan that can cure most mild cases of shell rot, well, look no further! In pathological conditions they will cause damage to the tortoise's shell. Interestingly, an empty tortoise’s shell is even tougher than a live one. HE IS ACCTING THE SAME AS ALWAYS, HIS APPETITE IS GOOD. Start by cleaning the injured area the best you can. Needless to say, To heal at their full rate the tortoise will need to be kept warm and possibly kept under UV light (talk to the vet about this). Just wash with water. Usually, to treat SCUD, your turtle or tortoise will need antibiotics given either by mouth or as an injection. If your dog decides to throw your tortoise around like a chew toy, or you come home to find your tortoise has escaped his enclosure and fallen down the stairs, the most important thing to do is, or course, not to panic. Pests and Parasites [incomplete] Pumpkin as a Dewormer. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tortoiseexpert_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0')}; It may be necessary for some sort of ‘bridging piece’ to be used to add additional strength to the join. However, if the tortoise is returned to a dirty home, the … Isopropyl alcohol will damage your tortoise’s shell. IS THIS GOOD OR AM I FURTHER DAAGING MY TURTLE? How to treat turtle shell damage The shell provides critical protection to chelonia, but can occasionally be damaged in situations such as falls, bites, or bacterial/fungal growth. The symptoms of shell rot in pet turtles tend to be more subtle. Both are made of many fused bones covered with scutes, bony external plates made of keratin, a hard material similar to a fingernail or horn. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you clean your turtle’s water frequently! If you have a big turtle, you will need to build them something that they can get up on that is completely dry. If something is even just a little off can cause their shell to crack, giving bacteria a perfect place to take over. Treating the injuries Firstly, remove the turtle and gently dry it using a towel or cloth. The dead bone layer will not encompass the whole bone in these cases. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tortoiseexpert_com-medrectangle-3-0')};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tortoiseexpert_com-medrectangle-3-0_1')}; .medrectangle-3-multi-106{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-top:15px !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;text-align:center !important;}. Contact your exotic vet if you think that your turtle or tortoise has an infection before it causes them too much pain and suffering. We inherited a tortoise that had damage to its shell by a dog I think "he" is a male but the parts I would use to identify him look deformed. Natural History. Whilst in mammals such an injury would be considered very serious because of the risk of lung collapse and respiratory failure, in tortoises this is thankfully less of an issue, and in many cases the tortoise will still be able to breathe despite such a wound.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tortoiseexpert_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')}; Treating a punctured lung is however a little more problematic from a washing/disinfecting perspective, as there is a risk of introducing fluid into the lungs. Handling Tortoises. Then the tortoise goes through a two to three phase healing process. Shell rot occurs when the bacteria found in your turtle or tortoises environment infect the blood vessels in the shell of a turtle. If things become more serious, however, very deep ulcers may need to be surgically repaired. By then, it’s usually too late to reverse the problem, and whatever damage is done to your tortoise becomes permanent. Adult tortoise shells are tough, but they’re not impenetrable. As mentioned above, preventing infection is a large part of the battle with shell injuries, so in theory you could treat a broken shell with antiseptic, and antibiotic treatment alone, and given time the shell would heal of its own accord.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tortoiseexpert_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')}; However theory and practice are often uncomfortable bedfellows, and this is certainly the case here. From these parts of the injury but general involve pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and even... 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