Urgent Care :: white spots on my turtles shell

[Jenn84]

Hi everyone

I wanted to ask how can I treat what appears to be fungus infection in my turtles shell? I did find something in the forum about, neosporin, brushing the shell with a tooth brush,diluted betadine, and tamodine. But do I use all these stuf to treat her?? and how many times a day? and where can I buy these stuff? do petstore like petco or petsmart sell meds for them? As of 10 am today I put my Res in a tank with no water since I read on here to dry dock for 24 hrs every week. I saw my turtle dry and the spots seem to be more white like scratches or something. Please help me and tell me what can I do? I can't afford a vet at this moment.

[steve]

For shell fungus, there are two things to consider: Treatment and post treatment.

The most effective medication (it usually requires a prescription from a vet) is silver sulfadiazine (SSD) cream. Before application, the shell should be completely dry, so the turtle should be out in dry dock for an hour or more. When applying the SSD cream, you only need to use a very thin amount over the affected areas and I would leave the turtle in dry dock over night. It might still be greasy/oil in the morning, so you should carefully wipe and scrub any off of your turtle in the morning. You can return then them to the tank or leave them dry docked but repeat the treatment later in the evening. It might to take a 1-2 weeks of treatment.

Post treatment is very important because you do not want to deal with this a second time. It's possible the SSD cream won't be as effective as before, so you would need to reply on shedding to keep the fungus controlled. Fungus is also contagious to other turtles, something to consider when treating them or when one shows signs of it.

[Jenn84]

I can't afford a vet at the moment I have searched on the forums and online about dry dock and bought neosporin and Iodine to do the dry dock procedure I found here:

Note: The dry-tank method has yielded the highest success rate.

Remove turtle and place in a quarantine tank. The infected areas should be cleaned. Be careful when cleaning out the injury as the infection may have gone deep. Going too deep can cause extreme pain to your turtle.

Listed below is a regimen that I have followed in treating shell and skin problems and has yielded great results. While treating, you are looking for signs of healing and this may take several days before you can actually see a difference. A good idea is to take a clear photograph before treatment and compare it to another photograph of the same area a few days or a week later.

Clean infected areas thoroughly with a strong, undiluted betadine, iodine or Nolvasan solution. Let the turtle air dry in a warm setting for about 45 minutes.

Apply a generous coating of Silvadene cream. Work into problem areas. Neosporin is also an acceptable alternative (Polysporin for those keepers in Canada).

Leave the turtle dry and warm, ensuring that you do not over-heat, for 18-21 hours each day.

The next day, gently clean the affected area with a one of the previously mentioned solutions.

Place them into fresh, clean water. Let them swim, drink and eat for approximately 1 - 1 ½ hours.

Repeat procedure from Step 1.

This treatment performed daily or twice daily, should show you improvements within a week to 10 days.

NOTE: The betadine bath's 'weak tea' solution is not advised as this can potentially bring about health issues later on.

[steve]

Neosporin and Iodine won't be very effective. If you know of other vets, they might help you out and prescribe it to you. Neosporin is very different than SSD cream.

[Jenn84]

I have called 2 vets they want to charge me almost $200 just to examine her then I have to pay for the med separate too. I don't have that kind of money now that's why I was leaving her on an empty tank during the night with neosporin. then with Iodine on the day waiting 45 min then to her pond. I heard of a few ppl on websites that did it and it worked so I wanted to give a try. Can I ask a vet to give me just a prescription without examining her? or vets are not allowed to prescribed without seen the animal 1st? I can't even sleep right I check on her like 2hrs during the night and day

Thanks

[steve]

The vet should examine them first, though if there is one you are familiar with, you might be able to get it from them. People have also bought some online, though I cannot recommend any site that does. I would look for a different vet btw.

[Jenn84]

I guess the Iodine and Neosporin worked better than I thought In only 3 days all the white spots are gone and the shell look much healthier.

[steve]

Neosporin is a bit greasy which can just make fungus harder to see sometimes but this looks very good, keep it up!

[Jenn84]

Yes I dry her with a cloth and tissue (gently) to remove the Neosporin but it still shines lol. Are they sensitive in the marginal area of the shell? she sticks her legs out every time I touch her there. I tried to do the same to the others but they are so aggressive :O lol they even jump and stretch their neck to the back to try and bite me while I was putting Iodine on them The one on this picture does not do that maybe because she it smaller? I don't even know which one to call he or she

[steve]

I think they should have the same feeling all around, does that area look any different?

[Jenn84]

no, all the shell is the same, but all of them do it when I touch the marginal area and I do it really softly maybe it tickles them? I wanted to show you the basking area I made them yesterday so u could tell me ur opinion. Do I post it here or make another topic? they don't seem to like it or maybe it takes time for them to get used to it?

[steve]

They'll feel your touch, so maybe they just want a scratch.

Feel free to make a new topic. Though it can take a few days for them to like a new basking area, especially if it's very different from the previous one.

[hidayattan]

Hi Jenn, sorry if I'm causing you any inconvenience but can you list out the steps you took to cure your turtle using iodine and neosporin? I have a turtle that I suspect is suffering from shell rot too but like you, I don't have the money to spend on a vet.