General Care Discussion :: YBS Leg Issue

[Jeremiah]

Hi, Turtle Fans,

I have a question. As of a few hours ago, my YBS seems to be favoring her front right leg--she will occasionally use it to swim (which she still does quite well).

However, she also spends a portion of her time (in and out of the water) just keeping it a) retracted into her shell, or b) out to the side. (To visualize the latter, imagine a turtle trying to walk, but with one of its front legs splayed out to the side, as if trying to swim through the air, making minimal contact with the ground).

Could it be sprained? I noticed her pushing a thick piece of wood around the pond bottom yesterday, using that same leg (before this happened).

Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you in advance.

[steve]

I'd check it our for any sensitivity. Be careful because she might take a snap at you if she doesn't like it

[Jeremiah]

Indeed! I gently tried touching it, to see if she would automatically withdraw it, but she didn't move it at all. She did snap, but that was one of her habits before this incident, in the first place.

[Jeremiah]

Just an update. Today, it swelled a really small amount. However, she is now back to using it almost as much/efficiently, as she did before. She even climbed up a hill with it. I'm not really sure about how to react to this "trade-off"...

[penelope]

They are one huge mystery!
If it were me I would just keep an eye on it. If it she stops using it again, or if it starts to swell more, then you may want to get it checked out.
I hope she was just having an off moment and everything is a-ok.