Question for a Russian Tort Keeper

[CathyNed]

Hey, i was just wondrig if it is normal for Russian torts to have a large hard bump on either side of their mouths under the skin. Like a jaw joint but very pronounced. Also underneath where chin joins neck is it normal that there is a large bump. It moves when my russian swallows. I have been bathing my russian more than usual and the skin around his neck has become really smooth and soft. He has shed old skin in these patches too but these bumps seem to be very pronounced now. The one under his chin is going pink as if it is chaffing when he pulls hus neck in. Any ideas?

 

[Yelloweyed]

Picture?

 

[CathyNed]

Picture?

Heres a pic yelloweyed.Its present on both sides but its under the folds of neck skin. Most noticable when he stretches neck out to eat. And again most noticeable now with very regular baths. He is eating. Its hard if you feel it. Neck skin moves freely over it as in it is not attached to the skin. Is it like a jaw bone? The one under neck is almost like an adams apple.it goes in and out when he swallows. It looks pink as though it is rubbing on his shell when he extends his neck to eat. Thanks for looking!

 

[CathyNed]

2nd pic looks very extreme. I took that pic from a vid that was skewed in proportion. Will take a feontal pic of both sides when he is up and about tomorrow. Its past his bedtime for tonight

 

[CathyNed]

Moved him to take a frontal pic hence the sleepy eyes. Look at the bump either side of mouth

 

[jockma]

Could it be a goiter?

 

[CathyNed]

Could it be a goiter?

Hes eating and doesnt seem to be having any trouble opening mouth. Had been syringe feeding him for about a fortnight when he had no interest in food.stopped when he regained his appetite. Hoping this hasnt caused a problem/injury.Still giving him the formula but just putting it on his leaves for him to eat.
@Tom @Yvonne G @dmmj

 

[dmmj]

that definitely looks like an abscess to me most likely the ear. it'll need to be drained and antibiotics provided it's a bacterial infection

 

[CathyNed]

that definitely looks like an abscess to me most likely the ear. it'll need to be drained and antibiotics provided it's a bacterial infection

Thanks for the input dmmj. I looked up some pics and you are probably right. Would it be unusual for it to be both sides of his mouth? Feels very solid. I would have thought an absess would be more liquid? Is it a difficult procedure to drain? My vet works at an animal hospital but he is not a reptile specialist.

 

[Yvonne G]

Actually any vet can lance an abscess. He makes an 'X' across the abscess with a scalpel then expresses all the gunk inside, rinsing it out with betadine. No need to sew it up afterwards. Just keep the tortoise indoors to keep flies off it, and give a regimen of antibiotics afterwards.

 

[CathyNed]

Actually any vet can lance an abscess. He makes an 'X' across the abscess with a scalpel then expresses all the gunk inside, rinsing it out with betadine. No need to sew it up afterwards. Just keep the tortoise indoors to keep flies off it, and give a regimen of antibiotics afterwards.

Does it look like an absess to you Yvonne ya. If it is then he has one each side....underside skin is vert soft and like there is an excess of skin....it isn't swelled/bloated its more baggy looking

 

[Yvonne G]

It may be abscesses, but it's not the usual ear abscess that we see so often in turtles and tortoises. Goiter is more under the head on the throat:

 

[Yvonne G]

It looks more fluid-filled to me. You can ask your vet to aspirate a bit with a needle and send it to a lab for analysis.

 

[CathyNed]

It doesnt feel as though it is fluid filled. Its more like a wrinkly old droopy flabbychin.very very soft.it hangs down. The two solid lumps are on either side just behind and lower down than the mouth split. My vet isnt a reptile specialist and i feel that unless i ask him specifically to do something or to presceibe aomething he may not know

 

[CathyNed]

It looks more fluid-filled to me. You can ask your vet to aspirate a bit with a needle and send it to a lab for analysis.

It doesnt feel as though it is fluid filled. Its more like a wrinkly old droopy flabbychin.very very soft.it hangs down. The two solid lumps are on either side just behind and lower down than the mouth split. My vet isnt a reptile specialist and i feel that unless i ask him specifically to do something or to presceibe aomething he may not know

 

[CathyNed]

that definitely looks like an abscess to me most likely the ear. it'll need to be drained and antibiotics provided it's a bacterial infection

Posted some pics for a better look

 

[Linhdan Nguyen]

Im not sure but could the fluid Yvonne mentioned, also mean something like how pimples have that "gunk" in it? Like its not liquid, but its not a solid either?

 

[jockma]

Abscesses can also feel fairly hard.