Scabbing

[jharrris]

Does this look like scabbed over skin? My tortoise keeps getting marks on the sides of its head from what the vet assumes is scratching and recently there were two big ones. It looks like they've scabbed over now though?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

It does look like scabbing yeah, it’s interesting that it’s on both sides behind the ears, let me tag @Yvonne G and @zovick to have a look for you

 

[zovick]

Does this look like scabbed over skin? My tortoise keeps getting marks on the sides of its head from what the vet assumes is scratching and recently there were two big ones. It looks like they've scabbed over now though?View attachment 393434

It is probable that your tort is catching those scabbed areas on the sharp edges of its marginal scutes when pulling its head into the shell. You can file the sharp edges off with a nail file or a small jeweler's type file to help prevent this from continuing to happen.

 

[jharrris]

Thank you guys!!

 

[jharrris]

Filed them down as suggested, haven't seen any new abrasions on the sides of Shelly's head since then. However today I noticed one closer to the jaw, looks small and scabbed over already but I'm wondering if y'all would know how that one is happening too? Is it a different scute?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Filed them down as suggested, haven't seen any new abrasions on the sides of Shelly's head since then. However today I noticed one closer to the jaw, looks small and scabbed over already but I'm wondering if y'all would know how that one is happening too? Is it a different scute?

Could you post a photo of this?

 

[jharrris]

Could you post a photo of this?