Urgent Care :: Back to the vet with Turtle :(

[KalinaBallerina]

So, I had posted below that I thought Turtle had MBD - which I found out that she did. I bought a new UVB bulb, provided calcium supplements, etc. The vet gave me antibiotics to give her (Baytril, 0.05mL once per day for 14 days) just in case she had an infection, as well as Vitamin D, A, and E supplement (she had to have 2 because she spit the first one out). SO, she was doing very well for about 2 weeks - swimming more, moving her arms and legs more, but still couldn't pull herself up on her basking dock, so I was manually basking her for 2 hours a day under the UVB light. She still wasn't back to her usual activity level, but the doctor said that this could take a LONG time. So, I wasn't too concerned on Sunday when she seemed a little more lethargic.

She had shown me that she could swim off of her basking dock (just not get on) so I had been basking her on that since last Saturday, as she can climb off when she's ready. Well, I had put her on yesterday before I went to work, and she hadn't gotten off of the rock the entire day). I put her in the water, and she had trouble swimming (sunk to the bottom immediately). I then pulled her out and put her in the big Rubbermaid with lower water level (about 5 inches). She seemed okay, so I left her in for the rest of the evening. This morning, when I woke up, she was SO SWOLLEN! Her little hands and feet are blown up like balloons! I immediately called the vet, and they are able to see us at 2:30 this afternoon. I am VERY afraid that her treatment that she got last month has overloaded her little system and that she is going into organ failure. I just fed her in the rubbermaid, and she ate pretty well, but she acts like she can't see me (no blinking, only moves her head when I get my fingers VERY close to her, which is extremely unusual.) She also had (this morning, but I don't see them now) very visible blue spots (veins?) on her neck where the skin meets the carapace and red spots on the bottoms of her little feet.

So, I am very sad for my little Turtle. I hope that she can come back from this, but I am thinking that she is in a lot of pain. On a good note, her shell seems to be coming back very well (has gotten more solid in the areas that were formerly very soft). I will post an update after the vet visit.

Wow, sorry for this being so long. Thank you to everyone who has offered their support in the past. I am very grateful.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear this news! Your turt will be in my thoughts & prayers today.

[SpotsMama]

I'm so sorry it's not going very well. I feel for you and Turtle. Sounds like you're doing everything that can be done. Keep us posted.

[Evelyn]

Hi,
Maybe the turtle is allergic to the Baytril. Antibiotics kill bad bacteria as well as good. I don't know in turtles if they would need probiotic to put back the good bacteria. I would like to know myself if good cultures should be fed to the turtles. Maybe it is in some turtle pellets.
Evelyn

[KalinaBallerina]

Here's an update: By the time I got home from school yesterday, Turtle was happily swimming around in her tank, and looked up at me as if to say, "What?" The swelling was completely gone. The only evidence she had of the previous swelling were red dots on the bottoms of her back feet. Everything else was gone. I took her to the vet anyway, just to be safe, and they said that it probably was an allergic reaction, but VERY unlikely that it was to the Baytril (as she had finished those antibiotics last Wednesday, so this would be too far out from her last dose to bring on a reaction). More than likely, she reacted to the lettuce that I had thrown in the tank on Monday night (I had rinsed it but not really scrubbed it with a brush...) perhaps to some pesticides still remaining on the leaves. I was also able to take a stool sample to the vet which they are going to analyze for any parasites. The vet was concerned (as am I now that I see it) that her tongue and mouth are so white that they have a blue tinge - no pink at all. She said that turtle may be anemic - anyone ever heard of this in a turtle? The vet was going to consult with her other resources and call me back tonight with any new information. So, she's doing much better - still not up to her old self, but she did eat well this morning and is swimming around right now. Thanks for all the well-wishes! I will continue to update as I find out more

[SpotsMama]

My goodness! Little Turtle is one tough cookie! That's such good news that she's eating and having some energy. She really has been through the mill, hasn't she!

Just curious, where do you get your lettuce?

[KalinaBallerina]

Yes, she has been through a lot! She's happily sleeping now. I got the lettuce from a grocery chain (not sure if I can say the name, as I'm sure their lettuce is probably fine for human consumption - my husband and I ate it with no problems, but the name rhymes with "Ring Troopers") but it was not organic. I will only buy organic from now on - safer for her to eat. We normally purchase all of our food from Super Target and never had any problems, but this time, we picked up Romaine lettuce and french bread from a different grocer that was on our way home...probably won't purchase produce there again.

[KalinaBallerina]

So, today she pulled herself up on her basking dock all by herself - a first in about a month!! She's getting stronger, which is great. She still has a white tongue, which neither the vet nor I know what could have caused it. Her shell is improving daily - so anyone who is struggling out there with a sick turtle, you can help them! Remember, the vet is your friend, and you need to be able to dedicate time each day to giving medications, cleaning the tank (I clean it out every other day now that she is sick - I don't want her picking up something else) making sure the turtle can bask, etc. I'll continue to post updates. Thanks for the continued well-wishes! Turtle and I both thank you all!

[SpotsMama]

Thanks for the update!