Help my tortoise please

EllisCaleb47

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I’m super worried about my tortoise. He’s been rubbing his face and it’s peeling off, his mouth is open sideways and he won’t close it, he can’t open his eyes. Does anyone know what I can do to help him please?

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Yvonne G

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SOAK SOAK SOAK!!!! The only way to stop his rubbing to get his eyes open is to soak him daily in warm water for a half hour or so.

Then, to keep them open provide a warm, humid environment with moist substrate and shade from the harsh lighting.
 

Yvonne G

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It really looks like he has a birth defect that involves his eyes and jaw/face. I'd exchange him for a healthy animal.
 

EllisCaleb47

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It really looks like he has a birth defect that involves his eyes and jaw/face. I'd exchange him for a healthy animal.
I thought the same thing but when he arrived he looked perfectly healthy and his jaw wasn’t like that. Could this be just from him rubbing his face excessively?
 

EllisCaleb47

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SOAK SOAK SOAK!!!! The only way to stop his rubbing to get his eyes open is to soak him daily in warm water for a half hour or so.

Then, to keep them open provide a warm, humid environment with moist substrate and shade from the harsh lighting.
Thank you so much!!!
 

AgataP

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That tortoise looks very dehydrated.
How long have you had it for?
Can you post his enclosure pictures please.

How often do you soak him and what does he eat.

Where did you get your tortoise from ?
 

Aunt Caffy

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Baby tortoises definitely need those daily soaks. I still soak my six-year-old cherryhead daily. I don’t know that I need to, but I figure it can’t hurt either.
 

Pastel Tortie

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We have been seeing a number of cases of yellow bumps or yellow spots in baby sulcatas on the forum lately. Have you noticed yellow bumps or spots anywhere else on your little one, besides the face?
 

Ink

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Do you have a heat pad or something like that in the substrate?
 

Dlamonda

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I’m super worried about my tortoise. He’s been rubbing his face and it’s peeling off, his mouth is open sideways and he won’t close it, he can’t open his eyes. Does anyone know what I can do to help him please?

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I would get him to a vet. He could have a stick stuck inside somewhere. It happened to my dog once.
 

crimson_lotus

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poor baby :( I have never come across this on the forum but, could this be herpes or something? I am also curious where this tort came from because of the yellow bump issue. One major illness could make them susceptible to the bumps.
 

zovick

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I’m super worried about my tortoise. He’s been rubbing his face and it’s peeling off, his mouth is open sideways and he won’t close it, he can’t open his eyes. Does anyone know what I can do to help him please?

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This tortoise appears to be in some distress and in rather poor physical condition (legs look thin, eyes are sunken, mouth is dry, etc.). The right side of its neck is swollen just behind the jaw and there appears to be a crusty discharge on the ride side of its jaws and face. This could indicate some infectious process going on in the mouth, throat, or a salivary gland, or it could be indicative of a cancerous lesion. If you are able to get the tortoise to an exotics vet for a thorough examination, that would be my recommendation at this time.
 

Aunt Caffy

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When you soak your baby in warm tap water, add some carrot baby food to that water so that your tort can get some nutrients as well.

As for a vet, you can find one in the vet list on this forum.

Good luck with that adorable tortoise of yours!
 

Maggie3fan

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Has he lost part of his face? I think that's what I see? Or his face is full of snot from an URTI, has he been to the Vet yet?
 
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