Urgent Care :: my turtle's eyes...

[88_keys]

i got my turtle last november & i love him to death!! i went to a camp this summer and i did not want to leave him home. so i brought him and had to use the water there. then i went to PA with my sister for a month and i had to use the water there too. I think something in the water messed up his eyes or something because he won't open them and they obviously irritate him because he is always rubbing them with his arms. And when he rubs them, this white stuff comes out! i don't know what to do.. i boiled water, let it get to room temperature, and am changing his tank with that every few hours so there isn't any bacteria in the water that will infect his eyes anymore. Any ideas???

[marisa]

From what you wrote, it sounds possibly like an eye infection. There are drops you can buy for this in pet stores (called something like Clear Eyes). Chlorinated water will also irritate the eyes, but the white (pus?) coming from them sounds more like an eye infection. Does he have any other symptoms (open-mouth breathing, wheezing, white/mucus coming from the nose or mouth, tilting to one side in the water?

What have you been feeding him? I'd get him a submersible water heater to keep the temp constant at around 78F. Are you using chlorinated water where you are now? Your turtle needs a stable habitat and it sounds like he's being moved around too much for his own good.

BTW, I deleted your other post. Please do not cross post.

[88_keys]

yes, he will come up from being under water, then he'll start like breathing really hard and his throat will get really big. he does that for about 5-7 seconds. then he goes back under water. i guess you would call it wheezing. I think i saw some white stuff by his mouth, but i'm not sure. he doesn't move around a lot, and yes, he tilts to one side under water.

sorry about the cross posting.. i didn't know. i've been feeding Hatchling Aquatic Turtle Food. it's a vitamin-enriched floating pellet food for hatchling aquatic turtles.

no, the water where i am now is not chlorinated. it is very good water.. it was graded the best in the county i'm in. thanks so much!

[JessicaTS]

It also sounds like your turtle has respiratory infection. It is a very serious matter, do you have a vet you can appoint to?

[marisa]

If your turtle has something white coming from his eys and is tilting to the side in the water, it sounds like he's got a respiratory infection and needs to be seen by a herp vet ASAP. There's a sticky with links for locating one near you if you don't know of one. Please have him seen.

In the meantime, have his water temp at 80-81F (get a submersible water heater if he doesn't have one) and the basking area 90-91F. The warmth will help his immune system fight any infection.

What is the rest of his set-up like?

[88_keys]

i have him in a rectangular container.. it's pretty big. i don't have a water heater or anything, but he's in the sun by the window. my mom & i change his water a lot so he doesn't get any infections from it.

i've never had to take him to a vet before, so i don't know if there are any near here, so i'm gunna check out that link.

Thanks!

[JessicaTS]

Is the window open? Don't open windows, turn off air conditioners.. any kind of breeze around your turtle, it will worsen his condition

[88_keys]

the closest vet is like an hour & a half away.

the container he's in is temporary so we can change the water often.

[marisa]

The faster you have him seen and treated, the better his chances of a quick recovery. You don't say where you are, but autumn (and winter) is coming. If it get's cool where you are, your turtle needs that submersible heater--just changing the water can't keep it at a steady temp, which he really needs.

[88_keys]

can he die from this?
we have the water at room temperature so it shouldn't be too different when i change it.

[88_keys]

all the doors and windows are closed, and the air conditioners are off.

[JessicaTS]

Yes, he can surely die from this. Keeping the water warm is nothing to ignore. Changing waters frequently will not keep it steady.

[88_keys]

ok. i'll stop changing it so often and will put a light closer to keep him warm.

[marisa]

A submersible water heater will make life easier for you--you won't have to keep trying to maintain a steady temp.

You said you have the water at room temp...For a sick turtle the water temp should be around 81-82F. The temp in the room is this temp constantly?

[88_keys]

yea we don't have air conditioning or a fan or windows or doors open. where can i get a submersible water heater?