General Care Discussion :: White Spot on the Shell

[steve]

Then keep an eye on it, look for any more physical or behavioral changes. I would have a vet check it to make sure treatment is not necessary.

[johnQguy]

Maybe it is a scar or something on top of the shell? Yeah, hard to tell without a macro shot from a good camera.

[SpotsMama]

In the absense of information indicating something else, and especially since the scute was "helped" off, I'd advise taking her to see a vet to see if there's exposed bone. If so, it will need to be treated so infection doesn't set in. If it's not exposed bone, then maybe it's not serious but there's no harm in seeing the vet and hearing some good news.

[summersblair]

I am hoping someone sees this and can give me advice. I am writting on this thred as it is a further update, on the weekend the white shell just had some changes to the point that it got soft and smelled a little. Last night his scuted by his neck came off and underneath it was all white. Almost bonish white. It was kind of ruff. I was like oh no I have shell rot for sure. This morning my wife took him out and the shell had fallen off. There is another part where is shell is softer and small areas of white. I took him to the vet and the doc asked all about the conditions wich I think are perfect. He said that it looks like it is just soft shell. He gave me some stuff to clean his shell. Any ideas if this is true. I am gonna treat it as "soft shell" but I think it is more of shell rot. Does anyone know how they diagnose shell rot? Is the only way to send a sample away?

Blair.

[cykatheres]

I always thought shell rot happened because the turtle stayed in the water because he/she didn't have a basking area. Or maybe the water was not treated.

[marisa]

It sounds like bone has been exposed. I'm not sure what "just soft shell" is, but it's not normal for your turtle to have this.

What "stuff" did the vet give you to clean the shell? If it's Nolvasan, that's good.

In cases of shell rot, the areas do become soft and do have an odor to them. It can be readily identifed by looking at it. A culture/sample would help determine what's causing it. You can see some pics of types of shell rot (and other shell problems here: www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/medshell.htm

If I were you, I'd get a second opinion from another herp vet.

[SpotsMama]

what's typically called "soft shell" is a shortage of calcium caused either by too little calcium in the diet and/or lack of UVB light. The treatment is lots of calcium and UVB light. In this condition the shell and turtle's overall shape look distorted, sort of caved in.

Serious shell infections (shell rot) can also soften a shell in patches. Depending on the cause and extent of infection, the treatment may include topical antiseptics and antibiotics, antibiotic injections, debridement and dry docking.

In any event, the problem as you are describing it sounds serious and if it were my turtle, I'd also get a second opinion.

[steve]

What scute was left covering the bone layer has come off. I'm not sure about any soft shell or shell rot diagnosis, but I do agree that a different vet would be a good idea.

As with exposed bone layers... I've never dealt with one that large, even though it was under similar circumstances (scute prematurely coming off). In my encounters, the bone layer would come off revealing a whitish-fleshy layer, sometimes with a small amount of blood. This layer would harden up and form a scar, though once it temporarily formed another bone layer. Others who've had to deal with severe infections noted new growth, though I personally do not have any experience/details to elaborate. Those were under different circumstances, and most certainly the body responds differently in drastic conditions.

The other area where there is white... is this a new and similar to the original injury?

[summersblair]

It is actually different than the other area, I am hoping to get my camera back to show you. The are taht fell off is the Middle scute(are) directly behind the turtles neck and one scut on each side, so not a huge area, it looks better now but a little soft.