Urgent Care :: red ear slider with closed eyes - saw the vet, still sick

[gwennie]

Tbh it could simply be the vitamin deficiency. A turtle at turtle rescue lady's house here (long story xD) came to her with eyes shut and not eating because she couldn't see her food. It took more than two weeks for her eyes to open, I believe.

She's doing well now.

Just keep trying to get your turtle to eat - it can be heartbreaking, but you have to persevere.

I would take him to the vet who is willing to give him the Vit A shot. The last vet who gave you the vit A to put on the food was a rip off The turtle won't be able to eat if he can't *see* his food.

[marisa]

A case could be made for Vit A indirectly helping with an RI----Vit A plays an important role in the proper functioning of the immune system. A compromised immune system makes one more susceptible to infections.

That said, Vit A should not be overdone and can do more harm than good if dosage is incorrect. It is stored by the body and too much given over time can be toxic.

I've gotten turtles to open their mouths by making them mad---stroking a q-tip near/over the mouth, for example, until the turtle got annoyed and tried to bite it. Have you told the vet about the problem you're having getting the mouth to open? If not, perhaps he'll have some suggestions. I'm a little surprised no one showed you what to do...

[Moose]

how is the turtle doing?

[UmmmmMe]

Today is the first day that his eyes are opening....I hope the shot is helping but what to do everything to keep him on the right track. I still can not get him to open his mouth but now that he can see maybe he will eat on his own. He was never one to eat pellets or vegtables but ate some shrimp, turkey meat, tuna. Any other suggestions to keep him on track?

[Kemul]

Marisa, that's a good post. I learned something new today from it. Thank you.

UmmmmMe, I'm glad that your turtle started to open its eyes. At this point,
anything is good for it to eat. The turtle needs any amount of new energy to
keep fighting whatever disease it got. After the turtle gets well, then we worry
about getting it to eat the right food.

[marisa]

You're welcome.

Try foods that smell. I have to say that the diet he's been on could very well contribute to a Vit A deficiency. Try to get him to occasionally eat foods with beta carotene---carrots, pumpkin, squash, tomato, etc. Beta carotene will be turned into Vit A as needed without your turtle getting too much. Try, for example, steaming some carrot to soften it, cutting some easy-to-eat pieces and "marinate" them overnite in tuna juice and see if he's interested in trying some.

[UmmmmMe]

Do the RES smell food in the water? That is the only place mine will eat. Good news is my litte one is doing much better. Eyes are wide open and appetite is back. As for vegatables, he will not touch them and neither will my other one. I have tried all kinds and they will not have anything to do with them. My older one eats worms and crickets but I would like to get him to eat greens and other vegtables. My sick one is eating dried worms now and I am hoping he will start eating vegtables. Any other suggestions on what else I can start them on besides worms. (these are the meal worms that you by at the store and I do put carrots and yellow squash in there hoping the worms will eat and the turtles will absorb through them)

[gwennie]

The reason why your RES will only eat in the water is because they can't swallow food without their head being in the water. RES don't have saliva like we do.

[marisa]

Mealworms are not nutritious and a diet of them over time is really bad in terms of your turtle getting enought calcium in the diet. Plus, they're hard to digest. If you give worms, try pieces of earthworm. If you still have some mealworms, though, I'd try mashing some of a mealworm with some lightly steamed carrots and see if some of the carrot gets eaten along with the worm.

They can smell very well in the water, as well as out of the water.