Urgent Care :: SWOLLEN LEGS AND BODY/FLOATING IN WATER/HELP?

[mrsrexrode]

How big is your turtle? APPROX 5 INCHES
How long have you had it?NA ITS BEEN AT THE PET STORE I WORK AT FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 WEEKS

What is the water temperature? 78
Did you use a thermometer? YES
Are you using a water heater?YES
How much water is in there? IN 20 GAL LONG TANK W/ APPROX 10 GAL WATER
Are you using a water conditioner? YES
Are you using any filtration?YES

What is the basking temperature? 90
Is there a basking light?YES
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on?YES
What kind is it or what is it made out of?PLASTIC RAMP
Is there a UVB light?YES

What have you been trying to feed it?PELLETS/VEGGIES/CRICKETS
When was the last time your turtle ate?2 WEEKS AGO

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?20 GAL LONG
Is the tank near a window?NO
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity?NO

Have you read the Basic Care section?YES
Have you searched the forums for similar situations?YES

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? THIS TURTLE CAME IN APPROX 2 1/2 WEEKS AGO TO THE PET STORE I WORK IN. A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER SHE CAME IN WE NOTICED THAT SHE WAS JUST FLOATING AT THE WATER SURFACE NOT SWIMMING OR MOVING. WHEN WE PICK HER UP SHE DOESNT RETRACT HER HEAD OR LEGS INTO HER SHELL. HER LEGS AND HER BODY ARE SWOLLEN AND SHE DOESNT RESPOND TO TOUCH. HER EYES WERE SWOLLEN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS ABOUT A WEEK AGO BUT NOW THEY ARE BACK TO NORMAL W/O USING ANY EYE DROPS. FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS NOW SHE HAS BEEN QUARANTINED BY HERSELF OFF OF THE SALES FLOOR. SHE IS NOT INTERESTED IN ANY FOOD, JUST FLOATS AND DOESNT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO SWIM OR BASK. WE TOOK HER A THE VET LAST WEEK THAT TREATS REPTILES AND SHE SAID IT COULD BE A SIGN OF AN INFECTION AND TO KEEP HER BY HERSELF. SHE IS NOT GRAVID THOUGH. BUT THATS ALL SHE TOLD US TO DO. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT TO DO?

[SpotsMama]

It doesn't sound good at all. She may have an infection like the vet said, or could be organ damage due to poor diet or poisoning or something else. Keep her warm - 80 or 82 degrees. If she's not swimming well, you can keep her dry except for a few hours a day.

You can let her soak for around 20 minutes at a time in a solution of water and Pedialyte (a drink for sick children you can get from places like Walgreens). Try tempting her to eat with treats like a little tuna, shrimp or boiled chicken.

Give her plenty of peace and quiet - she doesn't need the stress of a lot of people handling her right now.

If she were mine, I'd take her to see another vet.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[mrsrexrode]

I will try soaking her in the pedialyte solution. I've never heard of that before, but that sounds like a really good idea. Thanks!

[marisa]

If you tilt her downward or upward does the swelling appear to follow the direction she's being tilted? If so, she could be retaining water, which is most likely a renal (kidney) problem.

Just saying that the swelling could be a sign of infection really isn't good enough. Can any tests be done? Is the vet one that the petstore normally takes it's sick reptiles to (stores like Petco here normally have a vet that treats ill reptiles).

[mrsrexrode]

I started soaking her twice a day in the pedialyte/water solution. And I got her to eat tuna!!!! Yay!!!!

And Marissa, no the swelling does not move when you tilt her body, it stays the same no matter how she is positioned.

My manager is trying to find a good herp vet in our general area. The store won't pay for sending her too far away. All the vets in our valley only occasionally treat turtles. Most herp vets that we can find are about an hour away :-[ But we are still working on it.

[theartbook35]

I started soaking her twice a day in the pedialyte/water solution. And I got her to eat tuna!!!! Yay!!!!

And Marissa, no the swelling does not move when you tilt her body, it stays the same no matter how she is positioned.

My manager is trying to find a good herp vet in our general area. The store won't pay for sending her too far away. All the vets in our valley only occasionally treat turtles. Most herp vets that we can find are about an hour away :-[ But we are still working on it.

Considering how popular RES are, you would think veterinarians would compensate more. Especially in a state like CT, where I'm at, finding a herp vet is very difficult. An hour away is technically, in my opinion, a good thing. I'd rather drive for an hour to the vet and get proper care than no care at all.