After all, being an external section of the tortoise’s skeleton means that by definition if the shell is damaged it will often expose the tortoise’s soft and vulnerable inner tissue. Odd. Scrub the shell gently with a toothbrush and clean water. 26. Our German Shepard found him, and he is moving around well, but he is bleeding a small amount from his carapace, and he has a small puncture wound in his plastron. Red spots, which are haemorrhages, present both on the shell and the body too The tortoise is very lethargic It also has no interest in food I'm not sure what's going on with your tortoise, however, from the picture, all the new growth looks "funny." Did the vet take a blood sample to test for infection? major loss has occurred the animal will need IV fluid replacement, get veterinary assistance as soon as possible. It is also vital to stem the bleeding however you can, as even a relatively small blood loss can be very serious for a tortoise. And did he get checked for viruses and/or infections? The concave plastron helps the male to more easily mount the female. (Rochester, NY). But I'm not seeing growth areas between the main scutes. As normal, my turtle is growing and the squares on it back are peeling, but this peeling I'm getting is a little weird. I think a visit to the vet is in order. Helping tortoise keepers raise healthier tortoises. Worried for my tortoise! You may sometimes notice areas of flaky, whitish areas of skin on parts of your tortoise’s body. Find the answer to this and other Vet questions on JustAnswer We use cookies to improve your experience. 5 Year Member. bleeding from carapace, plastron or skin. Abscesses are fairly common – particularly on or in the ears. Woke up this morning to find his shell like this can some one give me any advice on this please. Both factors could be contributing to the problem. He will probably get an antibiotic tomorrow. 1-2 times a day take a cotton ball and apply Hydrogen Peroxide to it, then onto his plastron (bottom shell). Not loads but enough for concern. Flour or Cornstarch work well and will help the clotting. 9 posts bleeding bleeding. A healthy tortoise’s shell is smooth and firm with no obvious abnormalities or signs of injury. If your dog decides to throw your tortoise around like a chew toy, or you come home to find your tortoise has escaped his enclosure and fallen down the stairs, the most important thing to do is, or course, not to panic. Share. Any updates? Tortoise Club members get a special banner on their posts, unlimited gallery storage space, special offers from our sponsors, upload videos, and more! JavaScript is disabled. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. As a tortoise grows older, they shed the skin and shell to grow bigger. What I'm noticing from the one picture, is what appears to be rapid growth in the area between the outer scutes and the main scutes. Thank you. Our Russian Tortoise, Franklin, escaped from his outdoor garden. and he's rubbing his carapace as he enters it? Is it possible the cat is scratching him? Shell (overall) - Cannot fully retract into shell: Obesity - Mites or ticks: Parasites - Red tinge or streaks: Septocemia. How does the shell feel overall? (Mesa, AZ) Our dog got a hold of our little tortoise yesterday, it is bleeding from the neck and belly area, has a couple of puncture wounds in the belly and part of … We are extremely lucky to have such a good outcome. Preventing Tortoise Shell Rot From Baths. Our Russian Tortoise, Franklin, escaped from his outdoor garden. This is very strange indeed. If your pet develops any suspicious swelling he should be taken to the vets as abscesses can develop from seemingly … Shell rot needs water to grow. No vet where we live! The shell underneath the tortoise is called the plastron. Still eating, pooing, climbing etc. Has the bleeding stopped? And all along the scute suture, only. One life-threatening symptom is bleeding from the armor or plastron. It is this layer which bleeds if the shell is damaged. Don’t be tempted to pick these off, as they won’t be upsetting your pet and there is a risk that you could cause a skin injury. Keep the tortoise warm and give it plenty of light (UVB). The shell of the turtle and tortoise consists of two parts: The dorsal or top of the shell, which is called the carapace, and the ventral or bottom shell, called the plastron. Turtle shell peeling and bleeding? He is going to the vet tomorrow, but is there anything we can do today to help him? Thanks for your answer. Unlike snakes which shed their entire skin in one piece, in the case of tortoises, old skin comes off in pieces. Bathing h… These places are the most secure hiding spots given that once it settles among the rocks, its lungs inflate, tightening the shell. Bleeding tortoise - Answered by a verified Pet Specialist We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Many tortoise owners have to deal with acutely dehydrated tortoises on a regular basis which is why it is so essential to keep a watchful eye out and be able to recognise the symptoms, the metabolic implications and the sort of therapy that's needed in order to help a dehydrated tortoise make a quick and full recovery. How is the plastron looking? He is going to the vet tomorrow, but is there anything we can do today to help him? A few days of R & R and he will be good as new. Hi. The best thing to do is to let nature take its course, and if you bath your pet in a shallow, tepid container of water regularly, then these loose pieces of skin will separate off naturally. I've not seen this before. The good news is that where a wild tortoise may not fare so well, a tortoise in captivity can be readily treated both for the injury to the shell itself, and for any infections that manifest as a result. Possible causes:Systemic infection or bacterial or fungal skin infection, or subcutaneous ulcerative infection (‘shell-rot’) as shown above.. 3. Wrapping Up Cracked Shell Repair. He used to be active and would forever climb about now he seems to struggle to lift him self up, doesn't use his back legs much and now his shell Any difference that you can see? The only real way to prevent shell rot after bath time is to be sure your tortoise is completely dry. I'd take him to a vet and get him checked for viruses etc. Veterinary nurse saves tortoise's life with car body filler after hit-and-run George, 14, was callously left at the side of the road with a cracked and bleeding shell by a hit-and-run driver mirror Back to top. Maybe his shelter is too small? Consciousness - Is the tortoise responsive? Cis for consciousness, is the patient alert and responsive? (squishy or rock solid or somewhere in between?) Franklin went to the vet today and is getting a course of 3 antibiotic shots over the next week.The puncture wounds did not go all the way through his shell, and except for a few scratches is looking pretty good. Bleeding - Is there any severe bleeding? Aug 27, 2013 #19 peasinapod Active Member. This could cause more injury, lung puncture, more bleeding. Swelling, flesh … The treatment will vary depending on the exact nature of the injury but general involve pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and bandaging. Keep the tortoise warm and quiet until you can get help. Bis for bleeding, are there any signs of major blood loss, stop any serious bleeding immediately using pressure. These little pits in the shell can also lead to bleeding and discharge because of the bacterial infection. If the plastron is indented, or concave, it is most likely male. Our German Shepard found him, and he is moving around well, but he is bleeding a small amount from his carapace, and he has a small puncture wound in his plastron. I'm thinking this is a husbandry problem. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Are the scutes solidly attached, or are they peeling up? 51. Dehydration. eremiel. In the adult turtle or tortoise, both halves of the shell should be hard, but it is worth bearing in mind that for the juveniles of some species, the shell hardens up as they age. There is a layer of interlocking bony plates overlaid by horny scutes, and between these is the growth region where keratin is produced to form the scutes. Tortoises that are developing soft shells are most likely getting inadequate UVB radiation and suffering from calcium deficiencies. I'm curious as to the cause. How is he doing? Any discolorations or bleeding there? my tortoise won't eat, move, or open his eyes. No we don't have a dog, have a cat though. This means lots of patting with dry towels, staying in a warm room, and giving her a chance to air dry under your supervision after bath time. Sometimes your turtle or tortoise can damage their shell on their own. As we’ve seen, the shedding also keeps the shell young and healthy, and this helps prevent potential blockages or infections. The underlying soft tissue injuries usually heal in 2 to 3 weeks, where the shell fractures can easily take 4 to 18 months to become fully stable. I am lead to believe he is a Herman and about 3 years old. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The shell consists of the carapace above and the plastron below, linked by vertical bridges between the front and hind limbs. The squares peel but under it, it is white (it's white on 2 separate places on it's shell) and when I get it out of it's tank, I … Tortoise shell rot can be bacterial or fungal, and treatment can include sedation and removal of affected tissue and cleaning the shell, and antibiotic injections. It was a very very small amount and on giving the ... TORTOISE AND TURTLE INFORMATION > Mediterranean tortoises > bleeding. Need help with a cracked shell and bleeding. Speak to your specialist reptile vet if you spot any signs of skin or shell conditions in your tortoise. Transport ASAP if you cannot control it. Tortoises can suffer from a number of conditions affecting the skin and shell. that seems to me as if something fell on top of his shell..i'd deff take him to be seen..he could have some sort of internal damage. A Class 4 injury is reserved for those tortoises with grave injuries where internal organs have been damaged or are everted out of the shell wound. Would be interesting to find out his calcium and D levels. I woke up this morning to find both my tortys with blood on their shells. Shell bleeding? You should also see the growth rings forming between the scutes – the individual plates. Share with: Link: Copy link. Return to Ask Your Turtle or Tortoise Question. 1) The shell: This may come as a surprise to some new tortoise owners, but the shell is an important indicator of health. If the jaw and limbs are limp, transport ASAP. Looking forward to updates. Many tortoise owners fail to make sure that their tortoises are getting adequate levels of calcium. Signs to watch for: Pitting to the shell. Keep in mind that the turtle spinal column is right below the shell down the middle of the back, so movement of this area could also cause paralysis. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the accident or incident your tortoise has been involved in, knowing what to do to in the moments immediately after the event can be critical, so it’s worth knowing … This will help disinfect the areas and promote healing. We've had George about 18 months, and have noticed his shell bleeding. The tortoise shell needs to grow with the tortoise and this is much easier if the tortoise shell is soft. Other times, you, a loved one, the family dog, or another can accidentally inflict the damage. Pull on a limb, if it does not struggle or try to retract it, then try to open the mouth. I had exactly the same happen. You will notice growth rings on the carapace with age as the shell grows and expands to fit the animal. Joined Jun 2, 2013 Messages 689 I'm not sure what's going on with your tortoise, however, from the picture. Tortoise Ailments There are many ailments of tortoises, some serious and some less so. He seems to be fine. You are using an out of date browser. Because the new growth seems to be raised, I'm guessing that the baby has been rubbing on something. Question - my tortoise is bleeding below on his lower body shell what - M7. He was missing for probably an hour. Secondly, when the shell cracks or breaks, it implies that there was force involved; thus, the reptile may also have an internal injury. Shell rot is a common condition that’s usually caused by ticks or injuries. Did they run blood tests to check serum levels? Has he been dropped, or has something been dropped on him? Become a supporting member today! Do not try to move the shell out of the body if the shell is stuck into the turtle's body. by Shan Apply gauze and tape when bleeding stops. One the bleeding is stopped you can clean the areas with some Diluted Betadine Solution and warm water. My dalmation thought the tortoise was a new toy until she tasted blood then dropped it and ran a mile. The shell is mostly dome-shaped, hard, and heavy for most tortoise species except for pancake species, whose shell is flattened, allowing it to survive by fitting in between rock crevices. Apply direct pressure to control bleeding. If the shell is dirty, a soft toothbrush and water can be used to gently clean it off. Is there anything I should put on the shell to keep my tortoise healthy? 25. Emergency action plan In an emergency, use the Emergency Action Plan to help sort out what is going on. Taking a look at this part of the shell is often the easiest way to tell a tortoise's sex. can a torty's shell bleed? If your tortoise’s shell is injured, which may include damaged or lost scutes, it will also shed its shell to heal. You should never put any thing on the shell: it is living tissue, and oils and lotions can block the pores and attract dirt. See a vet ASAP! Hello,Use Flour or corn starch to stop the bleeding not Bicarbonate. Be sure to discard all bedding and disenfect his habitat before beginning treatment. He was missing for probably an hour. How does he act? The tortoise is susceptible to diseases or infections if something happens to its shell. The new growth is tender/sensitive, and if he rubs those raised areas it might make it bleed.
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