Res bloating

Beanie RES

New Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
25
My turtle seems to have a bloated throat. She isnt eating as many as usual. As there isnt any vet that specialises in reptiles in my town, it wasnt until a few months ago when i joined this forum that i know about turtles needing uv light. I think she has soft shell problems so i put her outside to bask for one hour everyday. And a few days ago i noticed she wasnt eating. She hasnt eaten for about a week now. One day i saw that Her throat seems really swollen or bloated. It is very odd as she hasnt been eating much. It cant be that she has become fatter. So pls giv some advice!
 

carolc

New Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2015
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
Virginia
does she seem restless, agitated, or is trying to burrow or dig? How old is she?
If she's 5 years or older and has any of these symptoms, she could have (I forget the technical term the vet called it!) a condition where she has a lot of eggs but is unable to lay them. If so, it's a quick fix with a little medicine, but it does require a veterinarian.
Something my vet also told me to look out for was bubbles around her head when she's underwater. This is a sign of respiratory distress and she would need immediate medical attention.
How much/what do you feed your girl?
 
Last edited:

carolc

New Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2015
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
Virginia
I just came from the vet yesterday, and he has me doing a dry out period of 2-3 hours daily because my girls aren't basking. So maybe you should extend the amount of time they're out of the water?
 

Beanie RES

New Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
25
does she seem restless, agitated, or is trying to burrow or dig? How old is she?
If she's 5 years or older and has any of these symptoms, she could have (I forget the technical term the vet called it!) a condition where she has a lot of eggs but is unable to lay them. If so, it's a quick fix with a little medicine, but it does require a veterinarian.
Something my vet also told me to look out for was bubbles around her head when she's underwater. This is a sign of respiratory distress and she would need immediate medical attention.
How much/what do you feed your girl?
She's only about two inches or a little bit more. I feed her pellets and sometimes insects or worms. She wont eat anything else!
 

Beanie RES

New Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
25
Im sorry but i cant upload the pictures. Theres sth wrong with my ipad, or maybe i just dunno how to do it properly.
The bloating looks to me like goitre. Is it possible turtles get goitre?
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,388
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
If the swelling is in the same spot as where an ear would be, then your turtle has a tympanic abscess. But I'd really have to see a picture.
 

Beanie RES

New Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
25
Im still trying to ask my friends how to upload it. Its not really like swollen. Its bloated under her throat and its soft. It looks like a double chin. And the area between her front legs are kinda bloated too.
 

Beanie RES

New Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
25
Is the area around her back legs bloated as well?
I think so. Its kinda hard to know for sure now because ive been looking at her for days. But the bloating is getting better! I took ur advice and let her stay out of the water longer and the bloating is shrinking! Thanks!
 

Beanie RES

New Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
25
I posted a thread about my RES a few weeks ago. Her neck was bloating but it shrunk a bit after i let her dry more often. But the swelling/bloating did not disappear. Lately, its becoming even bigger that she can barely move her head. So help please? I do not/ cannot upload a photo of the swelling. It is quite soft to touch. Bloating all around the neck/ throat where the soft layer of skin covers the head and nowhere near her ears or mouth.
 

mike taylor

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Oct 28, 2012
Messages
13,461
You need to take it to a vet . They will drain it and give you meds . This is like a boil . Its full of nasty stuff . They will cut him drain and clean the stuff out . Then send it home with meds . This will not go away all by itself . It can kill the the turtle . So please take him to a vet .
 

dmmj

The member formerly known as captain awesome
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
19,695
Location (City and/or State)
CA
First off a pic would be so helpful, but since you can"t a vet should be sought out. It could be an abcess thiugh the description of where it is leads me to doubts it is.
 

ascott

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
16,138
Location (City and/or State)
Apple Valley, California
I posted a thread about my RES a few weeks ago. Her neck was bloating but it shrunk a bit after i let her dry more often. But the swelling/bloating did not disappear. Lately, its becoming even bigger that she can barely move her head. So help please? I do not/ cannot upload a photo of the swelling. It is quite soft to touch. Bloating all around the neck/ throat where the soft layer of skin covers the head and nowhere near her ears or mouth.

http://avianandexoticvets.com/aural-abscesses-in-aquatic-turtles/

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/abcess.html

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/res.html
 

AmRoKo

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2013
Messages
711
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Check out those sites that @ascott just posted, they have a lot of good info on different ailments in turtles and tortoises. After checking them out, determine whether a vet visit is needed. From the sounds of it to me, it sounds like a vet visit should happen, though I can't be certain since I don't know what the problem looks like. Hope he gets better soon. :)
 

mike taylor

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Oct 28, 2012
Messages
13,461
The op posted pictures in another thread a few days ago .
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,388
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Well, I merged two threads, but I don't see any pictures. I'll continue looking.
 
Top