Three Toed Box Turtle Sick? Help.

[AndreaRosie]

I rescue and rehabilitate turtles that are hot on the road! One of our life long turtles (She had so much damage she won't be able to be released) seems sick. She always has all her legs out and doesn't move much this past week. Today her eyes seemed swollen and her skin seems papery. She also looks like bloated in the front. Any ideas?

 

[Yvonne G]

The bloating you refer to SOMETIMES means a kidney problem.

Have you been soaking her daily? Set her up in a small hospital tank and keep the temp around 80F. I would use a CHE but no light, and cover the tank. Do you have a vet that will give you a break on treating rescued animals? Sounds like this one needs to see a vet.

 

[AndreaRosie]

I'm so worried for her.

 

[lismar79]

I hope you get her to a vet soon

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I hope she makes it.
A visit to a specialist herp vet is required, i fancy.

 

[Gillian M]

Wishes for you tort to get well soon.

And a very warm welcome to the forum. Yo've reached the right place for...help, so do not worry. What about some pics?

 

[AndreaRosie]

As rescue turtles I'm not going to the vet. I'm just trying to make her comfortable for her passing. And I've been a part of this forum for awhile haha. Louisiana summers are just killer.

 

[AndreaRosie]

I'm asking again for any insight on my rescue turtle. She has been this way for almost two weeks. We rescued her about a year ago.

 

[NicoleB26]

Oh wow! Did you get any responses on the previous post? U mentioned you were asking again. I don't have any advice other than to seek out a vet. Hopefully others will be along soon with suggestions.

 

[lismar79]

Please find a vet, hopefully someone knows something you can do for now.

 

[wellington]

@Yvonne G may be able to help, but I think a vet visit is needed. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[Eric Phillips]

She's going to need a vet. I would be concerned she definitely looks bloated. You probably will need to give everyone on here a little knowledge on her diet, enclosure(outdoor or indoor) , lighting, last time eyes were open, etc. but even that it's hard to determine whether viral or bacterial. All I know is something is definitely causing her body to shut down. Hope u can get her to a vet and soon.

 

[DawnH]

As rescue turtles I'm not going to the vet. I'm just trying to make her comfortable for her passing. And I've been a part of this forum for awhile haha. Louisiana summers are just killer.

You rescue? Why would you not take her to the vet? Isn't that part of the rescue process?

 

[DawnH]

Is this the "lifelong" tort from the other post? Is she heading to the vet?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

i think AndreaRosie may be looking for help that doesn't include a vet visit.

 

[AndreaRosie]

Yes I need any advice without bringing her to the vet. She lives outdoor. Her diet is peaches, bananas, apples, romaine lettuce, kale, worms, and one time a snake got in their enclosure and they killed and ate it (insanity). She has all kinds of areas to bask. Many soaking dishes and a 300 gallon pond. She likes to climb in that and sit on the rock. She is the lifelong one. She got ran over so you can see the huge cracks.

 

[AndreaRosie]

I do this out of the goodness of my heart. So no a vet is not part of my process.

 

[Yvonne G]

Andrea: This turtle is going to die if you don't take it to a vet to find out what's wrong with it. You can't treat something you don't know what it is. You can pick off the 'eye cap' with the tweezers, but that's not going to heal the turtle. If you want it to die, then euthanize it, but don't just sit there and wait for it to die on its own. If you want to allow nature to take its course, then put the turtle outside in the shade and just forget about it. But if you want to be humane in your treatment of the turtle, take it to a vet and find out what's wrong with it and follow the vet's recommendation for treatment.

Part of 'rescue' is humane treatment of the rescued animal. This includes vet care when the treatment is beyond the scope of your experience. Please don't allow this poor turtle to suffer any longer. We obviously don't know what's wrong with it.

 

[Yvonne G]

Just one more note: I've been operating the Clovis Turtle and Tortoise Rescue for about 25 years. I couldn't do it if I didn't have access to a good tortoise veterinarian. I haven't been to vet school and some of the problems that come in with the turtles and tortoises are beyond the "skinned knee" in seriousness. Yes, I do try to handle most illnesses and accidents on my own, and I do get by quite a bit without going to a vet. But every so often one comes in that's beyond my experience level. For these, I have a good working relationship with a tortoise vet. We had a conversation at the very beginning of our relationship and she agreed that she will only charge me what it costs her, foregoing her labor. If you're going to rescue any animal, you have to get used to the idea that you may one day take in an animal the needs to see the vet.

 

[Gillian M]

You rescue? Why would you not take her to the vet? Isn't that part of the rescue process?

Oh yes, it definitely is.