Feeding and Nutrition :: Constipation?

[jasmiester]

A week or so back, I saw something REALLY weird at the bottom of my tank, it looked like nothing ive seen before, but then today, I saw it again, except this time it was under my turtles tail.. so i guess it was feces. It didnt look like any other normal one, it also wont come out of my turtle, is it constipated? it also doesnt look like it used to, and it seems bigger.. there are no rocks or gravel inside my tank either.. after being new to this site, i started adding romaine lettuce to their diets instead of only commerical pellets and shrimps.. ntohing seems to be wrong with the other turtle..

[octpusgirl8]

Are you sure it wasn't his wiener?

[SpotsMama]

Did it go back into the turtle or is it still out?

[jasmiester]

still out .. its just there, and its a female so it couldnt have been its wiener o_o

[SpotsMama]

Are you sure she's female? How can you tell?

Could be an intestinal prolapse. That's when a piece of the intestine comes out of the cloaca. If she's in a tank with another turtle you need to get her out right away because the other turtle might try to bite it. Here's instructions on treating an intestinal prolapse from another well respected site:

"Once this happens, the turtle must be removed from the habitat, as other turtles (as well as the prolapsed turtle itself) my see this as a food item and bite it, causing serious injury and often times, death. Recommended home treatment is to place the animal in a clean, smooth container (I use the bathtub) and coat the prolapse with either granulated sugar (dry sugar, not a water:sugar solution) or honey. This will assist in reducing any swelling and hopefully allow the prolapsed item to be drawn back into the body. It is best to immobilize the turtle to prevent the animal from stepping on it, dragging it, cutting it, or even severing it while it walks and/or struggles. If it goes back in on it's own, that's great. If not, once the swelling has gone down, you can GENTLY try to assist it back into the vent. If you do not feel comfortable with this, it's not working out or you think there is possibly damage to the prolapsed material, then get the turtle to a qualified vet. The vet will assist the animal, sometimes surgically, in returning the intestines to their proper place. At times, removal of a section of the intestinal tract is required, especially if the exposed tract becomes injured. The vet will also suture a purse string to help prevent this from happening again."

An intestinal prolapse is usually caused by the turtle eating gravel but sometimes it happens when some other sort of obstruction is finally released or....for reasons unknown.

Good luck.

[jasmiester]

thanks spotsmama, but, unfortunately, like i said before, im afraid the "weird looking feces" i saw last week was this "prolapsed material".. but its happening again, and when they say sugar, is it just suger you would put in tea (obviously not in a cube )?

[SpotsMama]

Dry sugar - that's what the instructions say, or honey. If your turtle is having a prolapse problem and it's the second time in a week then she needs to see a vet. Go ahead and try to get it back in like it says in the instructions but plan to see a vet as soon as you can.

By the way, how did you say you're sure she's a female? Although, even if she were male it would be a problem because a turtle's penis isn't supposed to just stay out either - it's supposed to go back in right away.

[SpotsMama]

I'm just re-reading your posts - are you saying that what you saw last week wasn't attached to the turtle, but what you're seeing tonight is? If it was attached to the turtle earlier this evening, is it still attached?

[jasmiester]

nope, its not attached today either .. =/.. and its a female because of the nails, that how im judgin it >< .. my parents dont approve of a veet,i dont knwo why.. you may remember my otehr turtle that had an ear abecess thingy (forgot how to spell), they didnt let em take it to the vet either, luckily, its getting healthier now

[SpotsMama]

Ok - you can disregard my earlier comments about a prolapse. If it's not attached to the turtle then it's not a prolapse.

Did you just start feeding your turtles lettuce within the past few days? Lettuce is fiberous and will cause them to have more bulky stools. Maybe what you've noticed is a change in the stools because of the change in diet. If you think that's what's going on then you can relax - it's perfectly normal.

If turtles eat too much lettuce they can get the runs, then you have to cut back on it.

[jasmiester]

What do you mean by the runs ^^;;.. haha, but yeah, the "stools" as you call has been getting more bulky. But ive noticed some read colour in there, thats why im still suspicious about this prolapse.. but its kinda weird, cause i drop in a full sheet of romaine lettuce for both the turts, one of them isnt too into lettuce, but still eats, just not as enthusiastically and willingly, the other one eats at it cause hes insane with food. But its the one that doesnt like lettuce which is having this problem. Maybe i should tear off the leaves? ><..cause im including the hard part of the lettuce which they manage to finish as well..

[SpotsMama]

The runs = diarrhea = multiple water changes.

Have you fed your turtles anything red - red leaf lettuce, tomato, etc? Whatever is the color of their food may cause their stools to show the same color.

You can tear off the leaves or not. I usually do.

If you're concerned that the one that isn't enthusiastic is bleeding internally, or that he's not behaving right, then you'd better get him to a vet. One thing you should ask the vet to check for is internal parasites. You'd need to take the vet a stool sample (there's that word again). Scoop up some of the poop - especially if it's some of the suspicious stuff, put it in a plastic baggy and take it to the vet. A check for internal parasites isn't difficult and shouldn't cost much. I think my vet charged $18 for a stool check.

[jasmiester]

...

Sorry SpotsMama, I checked this morning and she passed away... =/.. I have her in a container right now, Thanks for all your help.. Could you help me with what to do with passed away turtles.. I dont know where to put them, or what to do with them.. but ill miss her, my first turtle, and its been 9 years.

[octpusgirl8]

Oh no i am so so sorry to hear that Do you have a nice place to bury her? You must be so upset, i can't even imagine losing my turtle. 9 years is a long time. Concentrate on keeping your other turtle healthy and happy, that's really the best thing that you can do. Again, i am so sorry

[jasmiester]

Thats the problem, I cant really think of a good place to bury her, especially in Canada where there are raccoons and squirrels at night, and once in a while a cat..