General Care Discussion :: Shell in the Process of Healing

Taking care of your turtle's overall health.

Post Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:27 pm   Shell in the Process of Healing

I've talked some on here about Spot's shell, which was seriously damaged by years of poor treatment. I've cleaned up the act this past year and Spot's shell is looking much much better, although it still has a way to go. I think the problems were failure to shed scutes and fungus.

Here are some photos of his shell today. There's a legend underneath each picture. If anyone else is going through the same thing, I hope this is interesting. Please, if anyone has comments share them. If I need to be doing something else I will gladly do it. I've ordered some vitamins and plan to give him small amounts of supplement in the future to be sure he gets enough vitamin e, which I understand is important for good shedding;

SPOT'S TOP

Image

1. On his top shell the major problem is what I call the "end caps". He's shed some and has about half to go. I think the big one by his neck will come off within the week.

2. I think I'm seeing some new bad white stuff and in case it's a return of the fungus I've given him another 10 day round of hibiclense (every other day treatments.)

3. These scutes in the back are in the process of shedding. I think the pale blochiness means they will be coming off in the near future. Is this correct? (I hope). The scutes in front are further along and look better. As these scutes shed they come off in very thin translucent sheets, which is closer to normal. When it's all normal they'll come off a whole scute at a time.

4. Here's some more of the really bad end cap build up. The end caps in the back aren't even loose yet.

SPOT'S BOTTOM

Image

1. The bottom isn't as far along as the top. Some of the scutes have shed pretty well, like these three. When a bottom scute sheds, it's still in very thick pieces.

2. This is what the underneath part of the end caps looks like. Scary, isn't it. When the end cap comes off, the underneath scute look normal.

3. These big scutes are going to be shedding soon - they're starting to lift. When they shed, the pieces are going to be very thick. Pieces of some of them are peeling off already.
Last edited by SpotsMama on Sat May 12, 2007 3:31 am, edited 2 times in total.
SpotsMama
User avatar
SpotsMama
Retired Mod
 
Posts: 8079
Joined: Jun 7, 2006
Location: Mesquite Texas

Post Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:42 pm   

Looks/sounds like Spot is making improvement. Have you had to go to the vet for any of this?
User avatar
adam85491
 
Posts: 956
Joined: Dec 28, 2006

Post Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:45 pm   

I took him to two vets, one of whom advertised as a herp vet. They didn't know what to do about it or what it was. One thought the white might be his normal pattern. What I learned I picked up on here.

I just had bad luck with vets. A good vet would have known what to do. I hope if you have to go to a vet you'll find a good one.
SpotsMama
User avatar
SpotsMama
Retired Mod
 
Posts: 8079
Joined: Jun 7, 2006
Location: Mesquite Texas

Post Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 11:15 pm   

SpotsMama wrote:I just had bad luck with vets. A good vet would have known what to do.


The last vet I saw never saw anything like it either. They looked at other exotics and it was my fault for not seeking one out that was a turtle specialist. Oh and Spot looks great too. :)
User avatar
steve
Site Admin
 
Posts: 31567
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 12:14 am   

He's getting to be beautiful isn't he. His shell shines in the sun!
SpotsMama
User avatar
SpotsMama
Retired Mod
 
Posts: 8079
Joined: Jun 7, 2006
Location: Mesquite Texas


Return to General Care Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 45 guests