Urgent Care :: Rescued dying Map turtle from Pet store URGENT

[imderanged]

I think that basking a lot is normal when they don't feel well. It's a way of raising their body temp to fight off infection. A warm blooded animal runs a fever but I cold blooded animal's body can't raise the internal temp so they need to rely on external heat. Make sure he has a water heater that can maintain his water at 78-80F and a nice warm 90f or so basking spot. When I first got Pickle he was sick. I didn't know too much about turtles back then but I was doing everything I could to pull him through. I feed him special pellets I got from the pet store call ReptileRxtra Anti-bacteria pellets made by Jungle. This is the product:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3077190
I don't know how others on this site feel about this product, but it seemed to help him and I have used other Jungle products before and have always had good luck with them. I also used Zoo Med Turtle Eye Drops :
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... tId=275262
I hope your Map feels better, keep us posted.

[V Lou]

How's he doing now?

[jay2487]

still basking a lot, and it seems no matter how many times I treat his eyes, he'll sit under the UVB so long that they weld back shut. Is that normal? He can swim perfectly fine now, still a little lethargic and wont eat anything but he can get around. I see a symptom for RI is bubbles out the nose, well no bubbles out the nose but definitely bubbles out of the mouth when he gets in the water. It doesnt seem that hes having any trouble breathing and there are no audible sounds coming from him but he will occasionally open his mouth like hes taking a deep breath or something, its hard to explain. He is definitely better than he was but I'm still worried

[V Lou]

I think he is so relieved to be under your care that he is relaxing, finally, and yawns!!!! When he yawns, check his throat and tongue visually for anything abnormal.

I'm going to try to find those Jungle and Zoo Med products to have on hand.... nice!

One of my turts loves to bask loooooooooooooong hours. He is perfectly fine, tho. Eats great, happppppy.... Just chillin'. His eyes weld shut every once in a while. Both of my turtles yawn.

Your's is basking to heal and may be enjoying the pleasure of a good bask on a full tummy after such a long of not having that experience, if he ever did. I think he is learning what happy is and is loving it.

I so hope this has a happy ending. Seems like it is going to. YEA!!

[jay2487]

I think so too V Lou!!! He ate today!!! and not like a bird but ate a bunch of shrimp a few pellets and some blood worms. I was so happy to see it. He ate more than I would usually let a turtle eat at once but I thought he needed all he could get, he then sunk to the bottom and sat there 10 minutes looking around eyes wide open, then he swam back up like he was perfectly fine, still looked a little lethargic when climbing out on the platform but went back to basking and has been ever since and that was 4 or 5 hours ago. I think hes going to make it!

[V Lou]

YeA!!!!! But, keep our hopes realistic.

Can you heat up your bathroom? Like really warm in that small space, where the bathtub/shower is located?

[jay2487]

i could but i live in Fl. the inside of my house usually stays 76-80

[V Lou]

Oh, okay, so that's warm. No problem.

In a couple of days or in a couple of weeks, to help him/er repair the weakenss in his/er legs, allow him to go for exercise walks on a towel lying on the floor of the tub/shower for perhaps 15 minutes a day. If you could manage to have a heat lamp there, too, for those sessions, that would be great. I hang mine on a plant support; my turtles don't seem to care about the heat lamp, tho. I just feel like I need to provide it.

Anyway, the extra resistance of his body weight outside of the water, will help him rebuild his leg muscles... once he is well enough for that, and you'd be the judge. Sitting on a dock or swimming/floating around in the water isn't as effective at rebuilding muscle strength as a great walk around on a soft towel in the tub.

That's just my opinion; what do you think?

[seanwb]

My Map basks nearly all day. The only time she moves is when she thinks there is a chance of food. I think it is normal behaviour. If you think the UVB is welding eyes shut I would try moving it further away.

Also mine is very lethargic (or I think cautious) when leaving the water and climbing on the basking area. Somethime she can take about 5 minutes to climb up, whereas my RES just does it.

I hope this encourages you.

[jay2487]

@vlou, that sounds like a good plan, I'll try that because his legs are definitely weak. but he is eating now so thats good. He can swim like a champ but I can see that he has never been in glass before, he hasnt figured it out yet, he'll swim against it for a while like he thinks hes getting somewhere or when he comes up to surface he'll just keep swimming in the air like hes trying to Shamu out of the tank lol. He'll slap the water ferociously with his front paws trying to get up to the lip on the aquarium thats about 5 inches or more above the water level. Its kind of funny. sooner or later he'll figure it out.

@seanwb, I cant move it any further away but its already like 20 inches, i dont know it to be the UVb as I have a heat lamp there too so I know the heat is there to dry anything out pretty quick. I think he's just sitting in one dry place too long and drying them out. The eye drops say once a day but because he hangs in the basking area so long I have to drop him about twice a day then put him in the water or he'll sit under the basking platform and let the red meds dry on his face.

[V Lou]

Suggestion... get a cloth of some kind, table cloth, scarf, pillow case, sheet, something and with packaging or duct tape, cover the glass on the sides/back of the aquarium. This may help to calm him down by giving less stimulus. He is feeling anxiety. Also, stay away for a few hours. That may help calm him, too. I don't know what temp Maps prefer, but be sure the water's temp is correct for his kind. Hummmmmmmm... He might appreciate a walk in the tub on the towel sooner than later. While you are putting a cloth around the glass, let him exercise on the towel; this will give him a breather from the glass anxiety and give you a chance to cover the sides and back without disturbing him..... Yup, I like this idea I put a plant saucer or plate of water on the towel. My turtles like a bit of moisture while they exercise, but nothing that they could tip over/into and drown. Just very shallow layer of water. I think that does it.... Enjoy!

[V Lou]

So, how's "Shamu" doing?

[jay2487]

Did you see my other thread? thought i should start a new one different topic, he's doing a lot better but he cant breath out of his nostrils. It looks like there either clogged up or swollen shut. He has to pick his whole ehad up out of the water and crack his mouth to breath and even when on the dock he doesnt breath in and out but takes deep breaths and holds them constantly. Any idea what that is?

[V Lou]

respiratory infection. He needs a vet immediately. No wives' tales remedies. Antibiotics. He could go in days or in hours. After what all the both of you have been through, go to a herp or bird vet and tell them this is an emergency. That is what I would do if it were me.

[jay2487]

RI causes stoppage of nostrils? He breathes with no struggle or noises but he has to open his mouth. The tip of his top beak is almost completely beat off, from what I dont know.