Urgent Care :: I THINK MY TURTLE IS DYING

[stufftoblowupr]

i have just notest that my turtle has a big white bump on its neck. it doesnt look good for him and i dont no what to do. can some1 plz help me? what is it? what should i do to my turtle to get rid of it? and how? we have also been puting him outside in a clear plastic storage box(with out the top on) and he has been swimming to the deaped part of the water and then leaning to one side and making a strange sound with his head above the water.

[missibsu]

Welcome! The people here will do their best to help you through your problems.

First off, try to answer the questions at the top of this forum before posting. It will have you answer questions such as basking temp, water temp, and type of set up. All of those questions will help us to better understand what kind of environement we are dealing with.

Second, what you are describing sounds like it could be an abcess. There are many pictures floating around if you want to compare what your turtle has. Trt Austin's Turtle page for more pictures. If you have any pictures that you could post, that would help as well.

[stufftoblowupr]

the water and basking temp is 70 f.

[stufftoblowupr]

how do i add pix?

[missibsu]

Some people post pics right on the page, others, like myself, post the the pics on yahoo and then include the link. There are directions for posting pics at the top of the photo gallery.

Your water temp and basking temp need to be different. Without a higher basking temp, your turtle won't be encouraged to bask. Depending on the age of your turt, the water should be 78F for a hatchingling and 75 for a turt over one year.

I suggest some reading on the main site over basic care. There is a lot of useful information there.

[stufftoblowupr]

well what about his lopsided swimming and floating and the white bum on his neck?

[missibsu]

You didn't mention the lopsided swimming before. Lopsided swimming is also known as listing. It usually isn't a good thing. I would venture to say that more often than not it means that there is fluid in the lungs and mean respritory illness/infection. This requires a trip to the vet for antibiotics. It will also help to bump of the water temp a few degrees (from the recommended water temps, not what you mentioned they were.)

Here is a link to one of several previous posts on the topic
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... ht=listing

The bump on the neck, if it is an abcess, will also need to be lanced by a vet. It isn't recommended that you try to do that on your own.

[stufftoblowupr]

k

[missibsu]

On another note, there is a list of vets at the top of this forum that specialize in herp care. I'm not sure where you are from, but I believe it is divided by state and country.

[stufftoblowupr]

i asked my dad what kinda turtle it was and he said painted.my dad doesnt want to take it to the vet. is there anything else we can do to help it?

[stufftoblowupr]

im from syracuse new york.

[stufftoblowupr]

if i desided to take it to a vet.Becouse there is a vet about 4 blocks away from me. who much would it cost?

[missibsu]

I don't know much about painted turts, this is a site for Red Ear Sliders. However, the symptoms that you are describing would still indicate a trip to the vet. I'm sure that other's will be along here and there and add to this post.

For right now, the best thing you can do is raise the water temp. That will help fight infection. You can also try www.austinsturtlepage.com There is a lot of information there that relates to other turtles, not just res. Do take the time to look at the pics though and make sure you have a painted. Also, check out the basic care sheets that they have.

Vet costs vary...call down there and ask them. Some vets won't see turts...I know that our regular vet for our cats and dogs won't see my turts because he doesn't have that kind of experience.

[marisa]

I have eastern painteds as well as a RES. Their care is similar. The bump really sounds like an abcess (but a pic would still be good), and it should be lanced by a vet to allow the pus to drain out, and your turtle may be given antibiotics to treat the infection. If the vet that's 4 blocks from you is a herp vet, call them and ask about fees. If not, I'd still call and ask them if they know of any herp vets in the area. If they don't, check the link at the top of the forum to locate one near you.

Does your turtle have any other symptoms besides the lopsided swimming and sound he's making? (Open-mouth breathing, wheezing, mucus from the nose or mouth)? Will he eat? Lopsided swimming often indicates pneumonia, and your turtle should really be seen by a herp vet to be treated. While you're looking for one, up the water temp (get a submersible heater) to about 82F, and make the basking area 91-92F. If the weather isn't warm where you are, I wouldn't take him outside at this point, especially if it's not that warm and breezy.

Don't delay finding a herp vet---an abcess won't go away by itself, and since it sounds like he has a really bad infection, he most likely will need to receive antibiotics. The sooner he's treated the better his chances of recovery. Good luck. Let us know how he does.