Urgent Care :: Help!

[BlueDoraemon]

Hi,

I woke up this morning and found one of my turtle's front leg swollen...



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It's just that one leg...I don't know what happened. What should I do? There's nothing else in the tank except the ramp, and I change the water everyday.

[octpusgirl8]

Is it just the picture or is the swollen leg kinda pink as well? That's really wierd, i've never seen anything like that. Hopefully somebody more experienced will have a better idea of what could be going on.

[BlueDoraemon]

The swollen leg is kind of reddish-pink.

[SpotsMama]

I've never seen anything like it either but swelling with redness says infection to me. Best get that big girl to a vet ASAP.

Looks like your girl is due for a shed, too.

[BlueDoraemon]

No home treatment?

[SpotsMama]

Not in this case. If she had just a little cut or bite that you could put antibiotics on, that would be one thing. But in this case, it's a large area and the swelling's quite pronounced and the fact that it's looking red may be pointing to a major situation developing, like septicemia. And you can't even see where the abrasion is.

Sorry. I know you care about your turtle and want to do what's best for her.

[octpusgirl8]

I agree with SpotsMama, it looks quite uncomfortable for her. Best to get it looked at by a professional.

[Hoooneylynn]

oh wow, Ive never seen a swollen leg before! I agree with spots mama too... it needs to go to the vet, and they will probably give you meds... I cant think of any way you can get that swelling to go down, and it definetely indicates a problem..

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I also agree, that turtle needs to go to a vet ASAP.

[BlueDoraemon]

Thank you for all the responses. I just booked the vet for tomorrow. In the mean time I was poking/scraping around with a Q tip and I saw on the Q tip what appears to be red blood. Now I'm thinking she must have somehow cut herself.

[Hoooneylynn]

Just try to keep it as clean as possible, even doing so, it can be easily infected. Thats excellent you got a vet tomorrow, the sooner you go, the better.. Im sure she is in discomfort.. is there anything sharp in the tank? I know you said you only have the dock, but do you have a heater? And what size is the tank? How many inches is your turt?

oh yeah, be sure to ask the vet why your turts shell looks bumpy and flat on the top while you are there..

[marisa]

Looks like it's been injured. Anything in the tank she could have hurt it on?

[BlueDoraemon]

The only thing I can think of is climbing onto the ramp.

She doesn't have a water heater, or filter this week. Since my school is on spring break right now, I took her of out her tank in the classroom and brought it home with me to a 10 gallon tank. The only thing is there is the ramp, and she also has a basking lamp. I take her out to change the water everyday.

I'm getting a little worried, the paw seems to have gotten redder since this morning.

[grey goose]

Perhaps one of her claws got infected somehow. I can't see all the claws in that pic. The vet will probably prescribe some antibiotics for her, the quicker you get her in, the better.

[megcornell]

With no filter the water quality can't be super, that's probably adding to the inflammation. I'm not sure if it'd be advisable to dry dock her for the night, I'd just try to make sure that the water is as clean as possible.
Is she still eating?
Maybe it's just me, but it looks like her neck is red too- I would say it might be septicemia... just keep her comfy for the night and good luck at the vet tomorrow!