HELP!!!!!!

[Leslie619]

I own a juvinile sulcata which I just got on Nov. 25. Today When I took it outside I turned my back for not even a minute and I guess the dog (boxer) snuck outside behind my back,got my baby and took it for a ride. I found it in time THANK GOD!!!! But now he is injured. There is no tortoise vet in my area, so I was hoping someone could help me. He has two puncture holes, which luckly are not deep at all and on the sides. But the thing that has me worried is that the first two edge scales on his right side (the ones next to his head) are cracked a little. I cleaned it with warm water and stopped the bleeding with baking powder (all I know to stop it, works with all other animals). Anyone know how I can continure to treat it?

 

[egyptiandan]

Welcome to the forum just wish it was under better circumstances
You need to keep the tortoise a bit warmer than usual to combat shock.
The best thing for the wounds would be Nolvasan antiseptic ointment. This will keep the wounds from getting infected, so they can heal.

Danny

 

[Leslie619]

Welcome to the forum just wish it was under better circumstances
You need to keep the tortoise a bit warmer than usual to combat shock.
The best thing for the wounds would be Nolvasan antiseptic ointment. This will keep the wounds from getting infected, so they can heal.

Danny

some one told me that neosporin would work? And I've also read somewhere bentadine? I know exactlly what nolvasan is though....just can't afford it at the moment Is it ok that I stopped the bleeding with baking soda? I tried looking all over the internet for what to do, but it doesn't tell me much.

 

[egyptiandan]

Until you can get it, you can use a triple antibiotic ointment.
The baking soda should be fine, as you'll be washing it off to keep th wounds clean.
Forgot your going to have to keep the sulcata on on either newspaper, paper towel or a towel to keep the wounds clean.

Danny

 

[Leslie619]

K good to know. I have him on his timothy hay right now....I was kinda worried about that so I'll do that asap. Thank You so muuch for helping me....I was having a nervous breakdown almost. I was really worried until he started moving and walking around after awhile. I wanted to kill the d*mn dog though!! Any ideas on what I should do for the crack-like injury? Someone told me to use super glue and I looked at them like they were crazy.

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*This is just a vent*
The dog that attacked my tortoise is a roomates dog. He just got home so I informed him of what happened and what the dog did....so what does he do? He sits outside laughing and praising his dog for "playing" with it. I saw it, he wasn't playing. I understand that you can't really punish a dog hours after the fact, but it just bugs me when someone is such a careless owner.

 

[Yvonne G]

I wouldn't put super glue on a crack. If the crack goes all the way through to tissue, it stings like crazy. Just keep it clean and apply the neo sporin until you can buy some Nolvesan ointment. The tortoise is afraid right now. Try to keep him in a quiet place, dark and warm. He should be ok. You don't have to worry about flies this time of year, but just a note of caution: flies will lay eggs in any holes or wounds on tortoises, so keep him in the house until it heals.

Yvonne

 

[Leslie619]

Yeah thats what I figured about the superglue. I just came back, gone for maybe an hour/less and it was still bleeding. So I cleaned it off and put some more baking powder on it. I'm gonna wait a few until I put the neosporin on though. Will betidine (sp?) work like nolvasan?

 

[krissy2288]

the only way you should use super glue on a sulcata is if the crack is really little and not bleeding, that is what i have heard.

 

[Leslie619]

the only way you should use super glue on a sulcata is if the crack is really little and not bleeding, that is what i have heard.

its hard to describe. It's small but because of where it is it's worse. It's right next to his head, right side on the edge of the shell but it goes around the two scales? on the edge

 

[krissy2288]

then i guess you shouldnt glue it, but is it on the bottom part of the shell or the top?

 

[Leslie619]

It's on the top of the edge

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Here is a pic before the attack. Sorry it's not that good. The crack is on the top of the edge, on the right side

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I circled where the crack is

 

[krissy2288]

you could probably glue that, but if you did you would have to keep the fumes from the glue away from him/her. so if you do it just be really careful

you could probably use a fan on the glue and it would be fine..
nice looking tort he/she looks alot like mine.

 

[Leslie619]

you could probably glue that, but if you did you would have to keep the fumes from the glue away from him/her. so if you do it just be really careful

you could probably use a fan on the glue and it would be fine..
nice looking tort he/she looks alot like mine.

I'm thinking about it maybe.....but I'm gonna let it heal as much as I can first. And thank you, it's about 3-4 inches long (shell). I've been wanting one for years Thats why I feel so bad this happened. My boyfriend was pretty upset when he found out. Thank god I know basic animal care (I plan to go to Vet Tech classes)

 

[Maggie Cummings]

you could probably glue that, but if you did you would have to keep the fumes from the glue away from him/her. so if you do it just be really careful

you could probably use a fan on the glue and it would be fine..
nice looking tort he/she looks alot like mine.

I'm thinking about it maybe.....but I'm gonna let it heal as much as I can first. And thank you, it's about 3-4 inches long (shell). I've been wanting one for years Thats why I feel so bad this happened. My boyfriend was pretty upset when he found out. Thank god I know basic animal care (I plan to go to Vet Tech classes)

NO GLUE!!! Get that the animal to a Vet. Any Vet. He deserves at least the most care you can give it. He's going to need antibiotic injections and some care to stop the bleeding and prevent infection. Rinse the wound with a dilute betadine solution, just a couple of times not more then that. Betadine also kills off the white blood cells needed to promote healing.

 

[Yvonne G]

Maggie has given you some pretty good advice. I know that turtles and tortoises are pretty hardy, and I've seen wild caught turtles that have survived terrible shell accidents, however, without administering some antibiotics, you run the risk of your little guy getting an infection, and maybe even dying. You can get antibiotics from any vet...doesn't have to be an exotics vet.

Yvonne

 

[Leslie619]

yeah well thanks to this lovely economy of ours, I can't afford to take it to the vet. Right as I got it, I got fired. So unless all of you want to pitch in, I can hardly afford anything right now.

 

[krissy2288]

wait i thought we were talking about glueing a part that wasn't bleeding...if it was than don't do it...

 

[Maggie Cummings]

That little tortoise *could* get a life threatening infection. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to pay for a Vet visit and the antibiotics. Some Vets will accept payments if an animals life is on the line. Did you even call any Vets?

 

[Laura]

BUT the Vet should have some clue on what to give and how....If you post where you live, people can direct you to a vet nearby.. or take info with you to the Vet.
And NEVER trust a dog.. or a roomate it appears..:-(

 

[K9KidsLove]

Hi...Not to sound mean, but if you can't afford a tube of medication or a vet, maybe you should return the Sulcata or find it a different home. What will you do to feed and house him when he is 100 lbs?
Good luck
Patsy