My dog Mauled my Tort baby, HELP!!

[Sparta's_mom]

My dog broke loose from the backyard, went around front, and took sparta right out of his outdoor habitat. he is alive, no damage to his extremities...but his shell took a beating!! I have been soaking him Daily, and keeping him indoors, so no mosquitos or insects will lay eggs on his injured shell. what else should I do? he isn't too shocked, he lets me rub his head and rub his feet, but his shell is crazy damaged!!

 

[lismar79]

I can only suggest using the search function on here to see what others have done. There is a lot of info on this forum so you should be able to find something. Hopefully one of the pros answers you soon!

 

[lismar79]

And if it were mine I would asap take to a vet. We have a suggested vet list by state on here!

 

[tortdad]

Vet, ASAP. Specially an exotic vet.

The next step would be to make a predator proof enclosure.

 

[dds7155]

I would ask Yvonne G what to do till you can find a vet that really knows what to do,
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/members/yvonne-g.398/

 

[lismar79]

Yes, I hope @Yvonne G or @Tom have some advice!
Here is the vet list for sc
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/south-carolina.29721/

 

[Ashes]

Oh my god that poor thing!!!! wish I could help - I say vet, too... But I'm no expert.

 

[lynnedit]

Fortunately most of the damage appears to be around the edge.
Make a vet appointment as soon as you can (REPTILE vet). You want to be sure there are no deeper puncture wounds or internal injuries.
Until then:
It is fine to soak her, then pat her dry. You can apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the wounds after soaking and patting her dry.
Keep her inside as you are doing, but on newspaper. Shred some for burrowing.
Make sure she is warm enough.

 

[Sparta's_mom]

Thank you all. I am going to search for a rep. vet today. if it is any consolation, my Dr. told me his father ran his tortoise over with a lawn mower. broke pieces of his shell, and he was bloody. he said he tapped his shell back together, and soaked him. he went on to live 25 more years and have babies. so I'm hopeful. if this happened out in the wild, by a wild animal attack, he would recover himself. so until then, he is in with newspaper under his lights. I even have a pair of my daughters fleece jammie bottoms, I cover him with, to keep him warm so he doesn't have to worry about burowing to keep warm.

 

[tortadise]

Certainly needs to be cleaned, sterilized and addressed with antibiotics for preventative infection. You also will need to keep the tortoise inside during the healing process. Being outside will certainly lead to a greater possibility of infections, from flies. Bacteria, and fungal infections getting junto the open words. Keratin luckily can heal somewhat quickly. But will not happen over night. When getting to the vet I would be weary of allowing vitamin injections, a lot of vets tend to use this as a general use of aid. This just needs to be cleaned with surgical scrubs, and a antibacterial medicated cream applied.

 

[Flipper]

I'm sorry your tort is hurting good luck!

 

[Kim444]

Thank you all. I am going to search for a rep. vet today. if it is any consolation, my Dr. told me his father ran his tortoise over with a lawn mower. broke pieces of his shell, and he was bloody. he said he tapped his shell back together, and soaked him. he went on to live 25 more years and have babies. so I'm hopeful. if this happened out in the wild, by a wild animal attack, he would recover himself. so until then, he is in with newspaper under his lights. I even have a pair of my daughters fleece jammie bottoms, I cover him with, to keep him warm so he doesn't have to worry about burowing to keep warm.

I am glad to hear you are looking for a rep. vet, because just so you know, the reality is, the % of torts that would survive in the wild after an attack like that would be minimal. There is a reason torts live much shorter lives in the wild than in captivity. And the Dr. who's fathers tort recovered after being mowed over is extremely lucky to have survived without veterinary care and antibiotics to fight infection. You tort needs to be seen by a rep. vet now unless you want to risk him getting an infection and extensive/expensive vet care or even worse, possible dying.

 

[tortdad]

So how's your little patient today?

 

[IBeenEasy]

My dog broke loose from the backyard, went around front, and took sparta right out of his outdoor habitat. he is alive, no damage to his extremities...but his shell took a beating!! I have been soaking him Daily, and keeping him indoors, so no mosquitos or insects will lay eggs on his injured shell. what else should I do? he isn't too shocked, he lets me rub his head and rub his feet, but his shell is crazy damaged!!

wow, i prob wouldnt be able to see that in person, i wish you luck on getting this fixed

 

[ascott]

This just needs to be cleaned with surgical scrubs, and a antibacterial medicated cream applied.

I agree here, the critter has already been traumatized in a way that will stay with that tort likely for some time, and in the wild an animal that has any weakness/injury will force themselves to act fine so as to not gain the attention form anything looking for the weak one to eat...so acting fine does not mean that this tort is not affected by the violent act that happened to him...please keep that in mind and supply a quiet calm safe place for the tort to recover in...stress is a deadly illness for a reptile. I would make sure that you inspect every part of the tort, top--bottom--sides, to assure that there are no puncture marks...if no punctures then I would simply warm water flush the areas a few times a day and follow with what Tortadise has shared....

There is a reason torts live much shorter lives in the wild than in captivity

I disagree with this blanket statement, not all wild animals/creatures live longer in captivity.

 

[Sparta's_mom]

Hey everyone! update on Sparta! I have a vet appointment tomorrow with a reptile specialist. THANK GOD. and thank you all for your ideas and warm positive thought!! and YES, he is definitely inside in his habitat. covered, with his lamps on. NO OUTSIDE until he is fully recovered. that was a no brainer. lol

 

[Sparta's_mom]

Oh my god that poor thing!!!! wish I could help - I say vet, too... But I'm no expert.

We need a tortoise vet on this board!! it would be AWESOME!! like an "ask the Dr." thing.

 

[taza]

Yes that would be handy for sure. Please keep us posted.

 

[Kim444]

I agree here, the critter has already been traumatized in a way that will stay with that tort likely for some time, and in the wild an animal that has any weakness/injury will force themselves to act fine so as to not gain the attention form anything looking for the weak one to eat...so acting fine does not mean that this tort is not affected by the violent act that happened to him...please keep that in mind and supply a quiet calm safe place for the tort to recover in...stress is a deadly illness for a reptile. I would make sure that you inspect every part of the tort, top--bottom--sides, to assure that there are no puncture marks...if no punctures then I would simply warm water flush the areas a few times a day and follow with what Tortadise has shared....



I disagree with this blanket statement, not all wild animals/creatures live longer in captivity.

I didn't say wild animals, I said torts. I agree there are lots of wild animals that live longer in the wild, but torts aren't one of them.

 

[Sparta's_mom]

I didn't say wild animals, I said torts. I agree there are lots of wild animals that live longer in the wild, but torts aren't one of them.

so THATS why Tortoises live for up to 100 years., one of the LONGEST living animals. *sarcasm*