General Care Discussion :: Do you think my turtle has blood poisoning??

[kathytp]

I think my turtle has blood poisoning because his plastrom is all red and the part where his skin sticks to the plastrom is pinkish. If my turtle has blood poisoning how much will it cost for the treatment?? pleas help really worried about my baby !!!!!!!!!!

http://tinypic.com/r/6s9mya/7
http://tinypic.com/r/168yfx3/7
http://tinypic.com/r/n5onww/7

[steve]

I can't be certain, but it could be shell rot, an infection or an injury (from an abrasive basking area). What's the setup like?

[Love of Animals]

Is his skin pinkish too? It looks like shell rot which can cause blood poisoning if not taken care of in time. As Steve asked, what's his setup like?

[kathytp]

Well its a pond that its man made and when my turtle needs to bask he just climbs out of the water to bask ( on the ground )

[Love of Animals]

Is the skin pinkish too. If so that would probably mean he's septicemic. The only way for him to get better is with a vet visit for antibiotics. The vet will also tell you if it's shell rot and help you treat that. Can you dry dock him for now? Keep him in a dry container about 75 degrees with a towel for hiding. Put him in a container of water twice a day for an hour to eat and defecate.

[kathytp]

No only his plaastrom is

How much will it cost to go to the vet

[Love of Animals]

Vets costs are different. Try calling around. Ask them if they know turtles before you bring him in. Is the pink in his shell fairly uniform? If it is it's probably not blood poisoning. His shell bothers me though, looks like there is pitting. Can you clean him gently with a toothbrush, then post pics. Are any of the areas soft and mushy or do they smell bad?

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Yes, that is shell rot that is traped underneath the scutes. Cleaning with a tooth brush over those areas wont really do it any good when its like that. A vet trip should be taken. They probably will gvie it an antibiotic shot and clean the sections with shell rot out.