Urgent Care :: Suddenly Parapalegic Myrtle...?

[marvonio]

Okay...here's my situation!

Facts:
2 RES, about 2 yrs old. Rescued from 1.5 yrs of tiny fish-bowl cohabitating life about 4 months ago. They now share a 20gal tank with proper lighting, filtration and basking areas. They both suffered respiratory and eye infections when we first got them, but healed nicely (one had to see a vet and get shots, but even she pulled through). Currently Steve is about 2.75" and Myrtle is about 2.25". Ultimate goal is to build them a pond – I know they need 10gal/inch.

Problem:
On Sat Myrtle stopped using her back legs. She scoots around with her front legs and hugs her log most of the time so she can pop her nose out to breath. If I take her out and touch her back feet, they will eventually go in, but she won't use them to swim or stand. This also means she's not climbing up to the basking rock. She has a smaller appetite, but still eats (though she's a little overweight). On Fri I also noticed a little bit of "fuz" on her skin when she's under water.

Actions:
Bought sulfa dip and she's bathed for 1-3 hrs per instructions on box for since Sunday. Upped water temp to about 77. Steve is fine. He's never exhibited aggressive behavior towards Myrtle and there are no bite marks on her.

Any ideas? Has anyone ever heard of such a thing??

Thanks for your input!

Melanie

[steve]

The fuzz could simply be shedding skin and skip the sulfa dip. Not sure about the legs, are they swollen? Are the turts still kept together? A vet could be able to provide a thorough exam.

[TheComputerGremlin]

You should separate them just in case whatever is infectious. It sounds like Myrtle could stand some shallower water for a few days anyhow.

The only thing I could think would do that is either swollen legs (have you felt around for eggs, I know she is smaller, but if she is a she, and she's retaining a few eggs, I would imagine that would impede swimming) or nerve damage (are there any bruises or marks on her neck?).

[marisa]

The turtles are together? Are the legs kept out of the shell all the time or will she also keep them in the shell? Have you noticed any scrapes or white marks on the skin, which might indicate they were nipped at or bitten? Does she keep her tail tucked in? If so, it sounds like she may be being bothered by the other turtle.

[marvonio]

Bummer! I wrote a detailed long response and for some reason it didn't post!
Here I go again...
Well, to answer your questions Myrtle is puffy all over and I can't say I feel anything like eggs...but I'm unskilled in that area. I separated them yesterday morning (actually when I got up I thought she was dead, so limp and immobile) and she's been in about an inch of water in a small tub since then with the basking light and a shaded area. No interest in food. Added some tetracycline to the water - why not at this point, maybe she'll drink it?! Her legs are outstreatched (actually after being forced to bask yesterday I came home to her in "super turtle" pose which was encouraging) but very limp. Tail is unaffected. No marks anywhere. She's doing MUCH better than yesterday morning, but still not a lot of movement.

Has anyone every heard/experianced such a thing?!

PS - she's not shedding; she did that before and her fuzz doesn't look the same (though I think unrelated to the leg situation)

I'll keep you posted.

By the way, I took her to a vet once when I got her because she had a very bad eye infection. He was rude and treated her like a paperweight - not an experiance I'm eager to pay another $80 for...!

[littlecakes]

Where do you live Melanie? Maybe there is another member here that can recommend a GOOD turtle vet near you......

[marisa]

What do you mean by "puffy all over?" Are the limbs and body swollen?

[marvonio]

Hi again,

Well, it's day 7 of Myrtle not using her back legs; day 3 of being quarantined. She hasn't eaten anything since day 4.

I live in San Pedro, CA...so if anyone knows and honest, caring, helpful vet in the area please let me know. Thanks!

My turtle experiance extends all the way back to Feb 08...(but I've done a lot of reading since then!) In other words, I'm all ears for help and previous experiances.

Puffy all over: chub around her neck and her behind; the libs themselves aren't puffy, but the skin that they're connected to is puffy...kind of looks like she's squishy. She's been like this for months. I took it as being "fat" -- she's not as active as the other turtle, and he is very lean. (He will spend hours scaling the side of his basking rock and jumping into the water, climbing back up, and jumping in...she will just hang out on the log, swim here or there when necessary, but she's not into "useless movement") Her shell is not a pyramid, though.

Oh, and last night I used my pinky finger to poke around her behind for egg-like feeling...she moved her legs for that! (none to please about being poked) I don't think I felt anything of the sort, but I'm not 100% because I'm not skilled in this area and she's so small!

Melanie

[steve]

I would check this (List of Veterinarians Who Treat Turtles and Tortoises in California): http://www.tortoise.org/general/vetlist.html

It's good that there was a response, though I'm still puzzled about her condition. I wish you and Myrtle the best of luck!

[RES4ever]

I have never heard of anything like this. I am really puzzled. I hope she gets better. I think the vet is in order here and I'm very much for the do-it-yourself approach.

[marisa]

Do the puffy areas "move," meaning if, for example your turtle was tilted forward or backward, the puffiness traveled traveled in the direction of the tilt (I hope I'm clear enough on this)? If so, it would be good to have that puffiness checked out. It possibly could be retained fluid, which could indicate a kidney condition.

[marvonio]

Well, she's still alive, but no improvements. I had her basking in the big tank on Sunday and she inched her way off using her front legs. Of course, this put her in the water, she realized she can't swim and started freaking out with her front legs (I wanted to see if the back ones would come to life). She maneuvered herself over to the log, still flipping out and splashing around with her front legs. I rescued her and replaced her in her shallow Tupperware. Still hasn't eaten. It'll be a week tomorrow with no food. How can you force feed an RES?! She does do "her business" and I change the shallow water 2x a day.

Much to her dismay I tried to distinguish if the puffy areas moved...and I they don't fluidly in any case. The neck does a little bit. I took some pictures and I'll post them tonight. I'm going to call a couple of the vets I found on that site (thanks, Steve). Not sure if we'll actually take her. Please don't go up in arms, but she's been sickly since we got her and has already incurred a costly vet bill in March...But I'll keep you posted.