Urgent Care :: respiratory infection?

[Turtlefriend]

How big is your turtle? 2 inches
How long have you had it? about 4 months

What is the water temperature? 79F
Are you using a water heater? yes
How much water is in there? about 40 gallons (4 inches from the top)
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? 90F
Is there a basking light? yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? the floating one thats very popular
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? reptomin pellets
When was the last time your turtle ate? yesterday evening

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 45 gallons (about 40 gallons water)
Is the tank near a window? yes but i never open it
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? not really, its my room so im just doing homework and there isnt to much movement

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? floats, doesnt eat much, doesnt jump off basking platform immediately, doesnt run away from me like usual, makes funny noises, and often breathes with his mouth open.

I took my turtle out and put him somewhere else but i dont know if i should put enough water to cover his shell but he floats or have it where he doesnt float but less water. Also, how do i keep the water warm when there is so little? The water heater will be mostly out of the water.
I highly doubt i will be able to take him to the vet because my mom wouldnt take him.

What can i do to help him get better?
Will he live if i dont take him to a vet?

[SpotsMama]

I'm really sorry but it sounds like your turtle may have a respiratory infection. I guess you know he's showing several symptoms - poor appetite, lethargy, noises, breathing with his mouth open. He really needs a round of antibiotics from a vet. There's not much you can do for him at home.

It's good that he/she ate as recently as yesterday. That will help him keep his strength up. While he's sick if he won't eat his regular pellets try offering him some tuna (packed in water) or shrimp or something else that he really likes to eat.

You have definitely done the right thing by separating the two turtles. Keep an eye on your other turtle in case he/she starts showing symptoms.

I guess the sick turtle is in a tub of some sort? Be sure there's a completely dry area that he can easily climb up onto if he wants to. Can you put the tub in a room where you can keep the air temperature warm - over 80 degrees - someplace like the bathroom for instance? If the air is warm it will keep the water from cooling off. Be sure and check the temperatures with a thermometer as it's too hard to tell just by how it feels.

As to water depth, it needs to be deep enough so that if the turtle accidently flips onto his back, he can turn back over in the water. If it's too shallow he may drown because he can't right himself.

Can you put the water heater on it's side so that it's completely submerged?

The key, though, is going to be getting the turtle to a vet. It's just part of the responsibility of being a pet owner that you have to be prepared for an occasional vet visit. See if your mom will check with some of the vets in your area about the cost - maybe it won't be as much as you think. If it's too expensive, some vets will work with you on a payment program where you pay it out over time. Maybe you could help pay the vet bill by doing some extra chores or donating part of your allowance.

Good luck. We'll be thinking of you.

[DavidY]

Pumpkinsherbert came up with a good setup for her baby RES when he was being treated for RI. I think she used a heating pad under the tub and a lamp over it. She had a thread in the Urgent Care section about a month ago. She took him to the vet and got antibiotics and he was able to recover because of the treatment. I hope your mother will help you out.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I hate to break it to you, but he won't live if he is sick with RI and you don't take him to the vet. How long has he been breathing with his mouth open?

FYI - maybe your mom would be more willing to take him to a vet if you do a few things first: I would call several vets on the phone (check the yellow pages) and find out which ones will take turtles. Find out also what it costs to treat a turtle with respiritory infection (also known as pneumonia). You can also figure out where the vet is located & find one that is close to your house so you don't have to drive far & find out when the vet is open/closed (hours).

Or if your mom won't take you, do you have any other family member (aunt, uncle, cousin, dad, older sibling, grandparent) who could take you?

[Turtlefriend]

Is it possible to have a RI for one day because he seems a lot better. He doesnt float and is more active an eating like usual. He also doesnt make many funny noises any more.

[SpotsMama]

I don't know. I guess anything's possible. But I've seen in other cases where the turtle seems really sick, then seems to get better, then gets worse again. You'll just have to keep him warm, make sure he's eating, keep his water very very clean, and keep him separated from the other turtle until you're sure he's really well. I hope for both your sakes that he is.

You know what I'd do - I'd go ahead and make that vet appointment. The vet probably won't be able to get you in until early next week. By then you'll know if he's sick or not. If he's really doing well, then you can cancel the appointment, but if he's not acting quite right go ahead and take him in.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I don't know. I guess anything's possible. But I've seen in other cases where the turtle seems really sick, then seems to get better, then gets worse again.

I read something similar to that on another turtle forum a long time ago - I dont remember where i got it from (though i'm looking around for it right now ) Like your turtle, this persons turtle had the classic symptoms of RI (eating less, less active, swimming lopsided, the turtle made a whistle noise) Everyone told the person to boost the water temps up and to take the sick animal to the vet, a couple of days later the turtle seemed better (started eating, more active etc) so everyone assumed that the turtle was okay, and the vet apointment was cancelled - a few days later the turtle died.


I would still have the turtle checked out by a vet. RI isnt something to fool around with.

[marisa]

If he has an RI and you've upped the temps and his symptoms seem to disappear, it's because his immune system's responding to the added warmth (fighting the infection) and it can seem that he's suddenly recovered.

It is possible to "treat" an RI in this way if it's early stages if the turtle is still relatively active and still eating. However, if the infection isn't killed off, the turtle will still be ill, and the symptoms will return (often quite suddenly).

Keep the temps up (water 81-82F) and basking area about 10 degrees higher and watch out for any returning symptoms. A vet visit to make sure he's really OK would still be advisable.