General Care Discussion :: Toko goes to the Vet

[slider_keeper]

So I took toku to the Vet today. And the vet says he is doing just fine. She said his lumps on his neck don't look like abscess ears (ear infection). She says it probably is a feature of the Rio Grande Red Ear Slider. I have no clue because there is nothing on the web or any book I have(4 total), that describes a Rio Grande Slider.

Every thing I read says they are the, act the same and are cared for in the same way! This surprises me, because they come from a different part of the country. Their climate is much different from their relatives. They come from a dry climate, where as, most of their relatives come from a humid climate! This has to cause a differt type of living. Anyways heres toku at the vet, enjoy;)






As u can see he is shedding

[happycamper]

Ha, very cute. Glad he's okay!

[steve]

I'm very surprised at that diagnosis and will have to disagree. She doesn't sound too sure either. Either way, I hope Toku's feeling OK, though he looks like he's ready to go home

[marisa]

I doubt that lumps on the head are a feature of the Rio Grande slider. Is one of them that whitish area that seems to be more prominent below the red stripe? If so, it looks like it could be an abcess to me. Abcesses can occur on any part of the body, not just the "ears." Can you get a close-up of just the head showing the lumps?

I have to ask---was this a herp vet that saw your RES? If it was, and if the turtle is native to your area, the vet should not have to make a guess that lumps are "probably" a feature of Rio Grandes. If you can't post a pic but truly see lumps (not areas of the heat that stand out when the head is positioned a certain way), then I'd get a second opinion.

BTW, although dryness vs. humidity can play a part, the bigger difference is in the temp range each lives in.