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What exactly is the difference between the ZooMed drops and using cod liver oil? Leo's eyes seem irritated (as he avoids opening them like the plague) but he eats carrots regularly, they're his favorite veggie in fact...

And, I don't think it's the water conditioner or lack thereof because I followed the drops/gallon as I always do and Leo's eyes haven't seemed sensitive to the water before. Perhaps it is related to his RI?

So I'm wondering which drops would be appropriate and any possible cause so I can eliminate it in the future... thanks!

I found that the zoo med drops helped my little turtles eyes when they were battling RI's. They were not vitamin A deficient, so i think the eyes being closed was caused by the RI.

These are the ingredients in the ZooMed drops:
Water (isotonic saline solution), solubilizing hydrotrope, vitamin A palmitate in an oil base, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

Cod liver could be used as a supplement and it would be effective if the eyes were closed due to a Vit A deficency. If the eyes were closed for another reason/symptom, then it would require a different course of treatment.

The Zoo-Med drops are more for inflammed eyes, although they do contain a form of Vit A and the box says they can be used once a week to help prevent a Vit A deficiency.

Cod liver oil is high in Vit A and if used sparingly, can be put on food to add Vit A to the diet. Applied to the eyelid for a Vit A deficiency, it is absorbed through the skin, which is also effective. The safest way for your turtle to get Vit A is through foods containing beta carotene (no chance of getting too much as there is with Vit A supplementation).