General Care Discussion :: I'm confused

[Rickiew04]

You might remember that when I got Willy about a week and a half ago, he looked very sick to me. I would catch him basking all the time, and he wouldn't run away when I would come up to him. I would even pick him up sometimes and he wouldn't move or open his eyes for a minute or up to 5mins one time. I took him to the vet, and she gave Willy some baytril. I took him home and I put him in a temporary tank until I could get his big one cleaned out. He seemed much better in his temporary tank. Well, I put him in his big tank yesterday, and he seems like he is doing the same things as before. I picked him up a minute ago, and he didn't move too much or open his eyes. He did jump into the water a few seconds after I put him down though. He had some white stuff around his eyes. Could that be too much water conditioner? I put reptisafe in the water, just like the bottle says. Anyone have any ideas what the problem could be?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Does the white stuff disappear when the turtle jumps into the water? If so, it might be too much water conditioner or a sign that you have hard tap water.

What do you mean by "he seemed better in his temporary tank?" Just trying to get more details.

Is baytril an antibiotic? What did the vet say when you took him there? Did she see any kinds of problems? Again, just trying to get more details so we can figure out what is going on.

[Rickiew04]

The white stuff looks like a residue of something.

He seemed better in his temporary tank because he seemed more active. And its like right when I put him back into his bigger tank, he seems sleepy, and his eyes don't open. I'm wondering why his eyes don't open until he's underwater. Could they be getting stuck shut from when he gets out of water and he dries off? Is that normal?

Baytril is an antibiotic. The vet didn't really say anything when I took him. She looked at him for a total of about 5 sec. and thats not even exaggerating. I just don't know what the problem is.

[pumpkinsherbet]

i would suggest you find another vet. one important thing that got lost in that visit was the communication, very important if you're to be expected to nurse a sick turtle back to health. the fact she chose to give him antibiotics shows he was sick, so shame on her for not talking to you!

[SpotsMama]

Baytril is an antibiotic thats frequently mentioned as a cure for RI, which is what your turtle's symptoms suggested.

I agree that you need a new (better) vet. That other one doesn't seem to have time to help animals. Little Willy may be trying to relapse.

If he does better in his small tank, perhaps you should keep him in there longer.

[Rickiew04]

Is it normal that when turtles come out of water to bask, their eyes can stick closed from the water drying between their eye lids? Cause this always happens with Willy. Also...do you think that may be the reason why he doesnt move so much when I pick him up off his basking ramp...because he can't see? His eyes do open once they are re-wet when he goes in the water. But he is on his basking ramp everytime I go in the basement where his tank is. I hope thats all it might be and he isn't sick. Sorry if that sounds a little confusing, I'm just trying to figure out what the problem is. I really don't have money for another vet visit...being a college student with bills and just spending $200+ for a 55gallon tank and set up.

And what do you think about the white residue around the eyes. I see it whenever he dries off when basking. I put the amount of reptisafe that the bottle says. Should I buy a test kit for the water? I'm not sure what to do about this.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Sheba gets a lot of white eye "crusties" when she is basking for long periods of time so that is normal. When their eyes dry out & they sleep on their dock, it is like glue holding the lids shut! But the minute they hop back in the water, the crusty stuff should disappear & the turts can open their eyes like normal.

Is Willy doing anything else, like opening his mouth out of the water?

[Rickiew04]

Ok...I'm very relieved about the eye crusties thing. I don't see his mouth opening out of water. I do see some bubbles pop out of his mouth when he goes crazy underwater. I'm just worried that something is wrong because he was on his basking platform ALL day. And if I pick him up...he'll only twitch a little if I touch a foot or something. If I drop some water on his eyes and he is able to open them...then he'll start moving more and he'll go into the water. Do you think he might not be moving much because his eyes are stuck shut? But this wouldn't explain why he was basking and not moving all day. Oh...and I just came home from work...and his lights were off (I have them on a timer) and he was still on his basking platform. I placed him half way in the water, where the ramp slopes down, and covered the tank with plastic to keep the heat in.

[SpotsMama]

I'm afraid that doesn't sound right. That little guy needs another vet visit.

[Rickiew04]

I'm gonna call the vet tomorrow, and see if I can schedule a check-up visit that she told me about. Hopefully it'll only be about $15 for the check-up cause thats what she told me before. I would like to go to another vet, but I don't have $60 for the only other herp vet near me. We'll see what happens. I'm doing my best for this guy!

[SpotsMama]

Good luck. I'll keep you and Willy in my thoughts.

[Rickiew04]

Thank you...I appreciate it!!!! Since you have much more experience and knowledge than me, do you have any suggestions of what type of questions I should ask the vet?

[SpotsMama]

I wish I knew more! I don't think anyone knows all they'd like to about their pets. I've only got one RES and I've had him for 3 1/2 years. He's a dear. I've mostly learned what I do know from mistakes and then finding out on this forum what's the right thing to do. I was just incredibly lucky that Spot was strong enough that so far he's survived. A lot of it is just luck.

I'd ask the Dr what he/she thinks is wrong and why isn't he doing better after the previous shot. What are the suggestions about temperature, water depth, peace and quiet, feeding, how often to change the water.

Spot's never had this type of illness but I've noticed that when others have had it, the vets usually prescribe or administer a series of shots, not just one. Shouldn't Willy have the same?

It's very hard with the little ones. They're delicate to begin with and it seems like so often they've picked up something from their original home but it doesn't show up for awhile, until after they've been sold. Sometimes even when a person does everything right the turtle still doesn't thrive. It looks to me like you're doing all the right things to give your turtle the best possible chance, so you should feel good about that.

[megcornell]

When my turtle had an RI he was put on one shot every three days for a month to make sure the RI was cured. My vet explained that the dosing was so spaced because the turtle's metabolism is so slow, and also to come back if after the antibiotics were through if Leo wasn't swimming properly and eating right.
I would ask about getting antibiotic shots, explain your turtle's behavior (mine was too small for any diagnostic tests so I'm sure Willy is too and therefore the vet sort of has to go on what she can see and what you tell her), and not leave until you're satisfied.
What is the temp in the larger tank? You could bump it up to 79-80 for the little guy while he's recouping... also is he eating? My vet said that as long as Leo was still eating that was a good sign given the situation.
You've done great so far in taking care of Willy, I hope things turn out well.
Good Luck!

[Rickiew04]

I will definitely ask about the multiple shots. When I went in last time...she gave him some baytril orally because she said he was too small to give him a shot safely. But I will definitely ask about it and see. He is still is eating..so that is a good sign. I have his water at about 80degrees. I made an appointment for thursday at 3...which is the soonest I could get him in. I have to go to the same vet unfortunately because the visit is much cheaper since its a re-check visit, and thats all I can really afford.