Urgent Care :: Something wrong with neck

[beach4me]

We have had our turtle for four years. Enter a new cat. She knocked over the turtle's home and I came home to find the turtle missing and all the water on the carpet.

We found the turtle and it looks fine except....he is keeping his neck out and extended. He can move it back and forth some but it has yet to retreat completely. Could it be from not having access to water for four hours?

There seems to be this skin at the base of the neck that I have never seen before. It wraps around his neck, it is thick and moves some when he moves his neck.

[megcornell]

Can you post a picture of the turtle? From what you've described it sounds like the turtle had a very traumatic day, and is probably shocked to some degree. I'm thinking maybe he overextended his neck while "hissing" and trying to attack, probably against the cat.
The lack of water for a few hours is fine, turtles can go a while without being in the water, so I'd doubt that that's the main issue.
Can you also describe or post a picture of your turtles habitat?

If he cannot retract his neck by tomorrow, I'd start looking for a good herp vet, he probably needs some medical attention.

[steve]

Definitely look into a vet quickly. It could be a broken bone or another internal injury.

[SpotsMama]

Being out of water for a few hours wouldn't do any harm at all. I agree with the others - sounds like an injury. Good luck - let us know what the vet says.

[b3nnyl3n4]

wish the turt will be ok...

[Tann]

Hope he'll be ok soon!

[marisa]

Welcome. I'm wondering how big the tank for your 4+ year-old turtle is that a cat could knock it over...Also, how much water is in it?

How is your turtle doing? The thick skin at the base of the neck is visible with the head extended? If so, can you take a picture of it?