Tortoise nails and foot scales worn off from pavement

Draconium

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Hello, ive looked at all other nail/scale threads but could not find help.

Ive noticed today that my outside living tortoise lost part of his scale on feet due to walking on one of his feet- im sure its due to pavement as he lives in garden- he have dry hide as well if it rains i take him home. Luckily its not bleeding- just bit of his flesh is exposed.

He does love to walk so wondered if anyone knows how can i prevent it, im going to wrap his feet and change his bandages, but im worrying about it in more long term way

Does anyone have idea how can i help him out, maybe little sock-like protection or any diy help or any i can buy? He loves his garde, its tortoise proofed but due to him being very active it seems like he hurt his feet.

Im thinking something a la dog socks but cant find any already existing ones
considering buying or using some old shoes of mine and make him diy shoes
 

TaylorTortoise

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Can we see pictures of the garden set up?
It will help us give better feedback.
Also, How did you make your garden tortoise proof?
What do you do when it floods?
 

wellington

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I agree with the other post pics are needed.
A short answer would be to remove all the cement or make a fenced area just for him that has a lot less cement.
 

Draconium

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Can we see pictures of the garden set up?
It will help us give better feedback.
Also, How did you make your garden tortoise proof?
What do you do when it floods?
Never had flood here in last 4 years, when it rains harder i take him home but never had flood here.
Ive made sure he wont be able to escape, made him little trails in bushes and just cut around and made sure hell be good. Made few hides as well as one dry hide
I agree with the other post pics are needed.
A short answer would be to remove all the cement or make a fenced area just for him that has a lot less cement.
I cant remove cement as you see its a part of garden. Cant put fence either as its not my house.

He lived here for last 4 years and its just now he got into issues so i think it might be due to him being super active this year.
 

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Yvonne G

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Just walking on the concrete won't damage his feet. He's found a corner or a spot where he is digging, that's what's wearing off the skin.
 

TaylorTortoise

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Ok I see a yard,
Where do you close him in at? We need to make sure other predators are not able to get in contact with your tortoise.

It looks like it is easy for him to access most part of the yard like humans can, which does worry me a bit.
 

Tom

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Hello, ive looked at all other nail/scale threads but could not find help.

Ive noticed today that my outside living tortoise lost part of his scale on feet due to walking on one of his feet- im sure its due to pavement as he lives in garden- he have dry hide as well if it rains i take him home. Luckily its not bleeding- just bit of his flesh is exposed.

He does love to walk so wondered if anyone knows how can i prevent it, im going to wrap his feet and change his bandages, but im worrying about it in more long term way

Does anyone have idea how can i help him out, maybe little sock-like protection or any diy help or any i can buy? He loves his garde, its tortoise proofed but due to him being very active it seems like he hurt his feet.

Im thinking something a la dog socks but cant find any already existing ones
considering buying or using some old shoes of mine and make him diy shoes
You'll need to cover the cement area with something softer, or fence the area to keep the tortoise off of the concrete areas. Its just that simple. They can't live on concrete.
 

Draconium

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Ok I see a yard,
Where do you close him in at? We need to make sure other predators are not able to get in contact with your tortoise.

It looks like it is easy for him to access most part of the yard like humans can, which does worry me a bit.
Theres no predators really, except cows but luckily they try to stay away.
But on serious note most of wild rodents stay away as house cat hunts them, so does dog. (they dont interact with tortoise). Havent seen fox here in years as many people in my area have dogs.
Ive made sure some spots are blocked like behind shed and behind hot tub as it would be hard to get him out, but ive made sure he will be easily visible in case of sudden rain (look at picture)
Usually he rests in 4 spots in garden
Just walking on the concrete won't damage his feet. He's found a corner or a spot where he is digging, that's what's wearing off the skin.
Just walking on the concrete won't damage his feet. He's found a corner or a spot where he is digging, that's what's wearing off the skin.
Hmm it makes sense i think i might know which part hes trying to go through, ive managed to get like foam slippers and going to DIY a tortoise slippers for him today to make sure his legs will be protected. Hes very stubborn and if i wont let him go to garden he hits his enclosure for hours, someone once called him transient male.

I know other option is having him in house but his enclosure is 4x8 foot but he only walked out to lamp and then back his sleeping hide spot - never walked around it but after 1-3 days inside of it he starts to demand to go out to garden pawning walls of it for hours- even if i let him to walk outside in home so he can strech his legs- after putting him back he wont calm down till i put him outside. He does not like to relieve himself in enclosure either. He might have potty trained himself as usually when hes home for day or two he does not "let it go"
 

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Draconium

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You'll need to cover the cement area with something softer, or fence the area to keep the tortoise off of the concrete areas. Its just that simple. They can't live on concrete.
He lived in garden with concrete parts for last 6 years, and now he started getting issues i think other lady was right about him digging.
 

Draconium

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Ok, plan is to make him little foot protectors/slippers similar to otehr bigger animals, will buy stuff from ebay and copy ones avialable on market with proper opening for his nails- planning to keep it attached by velcro straps just like dogs ot make sure its not too tight. Itll be basically reinforced slipper with proper sole under but tortoise sized.

As well as putting soft protector on few spots i know he sometimes tries to get into, as well taking him on walks to lower his wonderlust, ive realised that before i did used to take him on walks but due to coming back to work from lockdown ive stopped it- time to get him out of house and watch over again.

At this moment ive made him foam slipper and gently attached it with strechy strings, did tried to put some foam on top but forgot he needs to hide his leg., he seems okay with walking with it. Ive cleaned his opening in foot before hand.

Will go tomorrow to pet shop and buy more supplies. Shame theres no foot protectors for tortoises avialable but ill just diy this out with pet friendly glue, soles and velcro.

Thank you everyone for tips and help.
 
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wellington

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What is all the tape on him for? Now god to have tape on the growth rings between scutes.
For sure better for him to live outside. However, not where he is in contact with a dog. Eventually the dog will chew him. Or did he already and that's why the tort has tape on him?
 

wellington

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Also the cement can do it if he is constantly pacing on the cement. Digging into a hard or ruff surface can also do it.
If this is a rental house, there is cheap boarder fencing you just stick into the ground. Its not very tall, humans can just step over it, that might be something you could do to keep him off the cement. If he is not constantly pacing on the cement, then I wouldn't worry about blocking it.
 

Draconium

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What is all the tape on him for? Now god to have tape on the growth rings between scutes.
For sure better for him to live outside. However, not where he is in contact with a dog. Eventually the dog will chew him. Or did he already and that's why the tort has tape on him?
He have tape so he will be more visible, so i can find him quickly and get him home if it rains- he likes to dig himself in places and i do check on him few times a day.
Dog ignores him totally, been this way 4 years not even smelling him.
Also the cement can do it if he is constantly pacing on the cement. Digging into a hard or ruff surface can also do it.
If this is a rental house, there is cheap boarder fencing you just stick into the ground. Its not very tall, humans can just step over it, that might be something you could do to keep him off the cement. If he is not constantly pacing on the cement, then I wouldn't worry about blocking it.
He knows wheres backdoor exit from garden and that was an issue- he was trying to forcefully open door even when ive tortoise proofed it- theres no way he can escape but he still tries to "dig" them out- since last post ive blocked way to go there and he seems to calmed a bit down.
 

wellington

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Wow, sorry my one post has so many spelling errors.
The tape should not be placed on the growth lines that are between the scutes.
Also, as for the dog, we have heard it all before. Read all the posts of why torts and dogs don't mix.
 

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