Urgent Care :: turtles rubbing and closing their eyes

[scripta_elegans]

It's both. It is 30% UVA and 10% UVB. They all bask on the platforms consistantly too, it's just an additional behavior. As a matter of fact, they are all basking now which is making it impossible for me to see if the water change helped their eyes.

[amazingcc]

UVB does not penetrate the water as effectively as "real" sunlight. Leave it up to turts to act crazy, though, and make us worry ourselves sick!

[scripta_elegans]

Yes, but they are soooo cute.

[amazingcc]

I know - I have five of them!

[cprcheetah]

I don't have much experience with Turtles with their eyes yet, but I do work for a vet and when dogs/cats etc start rubbing their eyes, and closing them it is the first sign of either an irritation or an infection. Is it all 3 of your turtles doing this? If it is only one, then I would lean more towards irritation if it is just 1 of them I would lean towards infection. Have you used this water conditioner before without problems? Maybe try the recommendations below if doesn't improve, gets worse or they start acting weird, get them to a vet.

This is what the main site says about it:
Eyes closed or swollen
Various types of injury or infection can cause a turtle's eyes to be closed or swollen. Dehydration, ear abscesses, high levels of chlorine, injuries, trauma, poor water conditions and poor nutrition are readily causes. This is a potential symptom of a Vitamin A deficiency, metabolic bone disease or respiratory infection (RI). If other symptoms exist or form, then immediate medical care is required. All of these conditions can be serious and unrelated; Vitamin A may have no effect if RI is present and the delay in help may cause greater harm. Consider swollen eyes as a symptom of a greater disease.

If your RES consistently rub their eyes after a water change, you may suspect high levels of chlorine or chloramines. The use of an aquarium water conditioner may help ease the situation. Home remedies may be small amounts of Vitamin A drops or the application of cod-liver oil onto the eyelids. It is, however, best to seek the help of a qualified vet if there are other symptoms, the condition does not improve, or there is no explanation for the cause. Turtles may refuse to eat if they are unable to see. This can cause an onset of other serious medical conditions.

[scripta_elegans]

thanks! It was all three rubbing their eyes. I did a 50% water change, and the eye rubbing seems to have stopped. I put in 10 gallons of bottled water in the hope that if the tap water is too high in chlorine for the conditioner to take care of it, it might at least disperse to a lower ppm. I will certainly continue monitering them. Thanks for the input! Nicole

[cprcheetah]

Your welcome! Hope it helps and they stay healthy!

[CountryGirl68]

For the future, you might want to fill up a bucket with water and let it sit (with no additives) for about 48 hours before adding it to the tank. Chlorine will evaporate from sitting water, usually within 24 hours, then you can add the water conditioner and give it another 24 hours before adding it to the tank. If the water is causing them eye irritations, this would be cheaper than buying bottled water for their tank.

[scripta_elegans]

okay, I picked Spike up this am and it took him 5 inutes to wake up and open his eyes. We are going to the vet now.

[scripta_elegans]

We went to see DR. Harmon, the herp vet, and he said they were all perfectly healthy. He said he believed their odd behavior to be psychological. :shock: So perhaps i have passed some neuroses on to the turtles? Oh well, I feel way better.

[scripta_elegans]

we took them to a different vet to get a second opinion because they were still behaving oddly. He diagnosed RI, and gave one only a 50% chance even with injections of antibiotics. I am really unhappy with the first vet who told me I was being paranoid. He is on the list of herp vets but I don't think he knows what he is doing.

[amazingcc]

I am so sorry to hear that! I'll keep my fingers crossed for your sick turts - and I'm sending "... good turtle thoughts... good turtle thoughts... good turtle thoughts..."!!!

[cprcheetah]

I am so sorry to hear about the idiot vet. Some vets do not know jack. My Zeke has been acting weird...not eating, and when he comes up for air is really raspy, today I noticed he had swollen eyes a bit, so off he went to the vet....He has a Vitamin A deficiency. So was given a shot, and I am off to find some vitamins for Zeke. Anyone know the best brand?

[amazingcc]

What did the vet recommend you do? Are you looking for oral vitamins?
You can buy "Poly-Vi-Sol", which are Multivitamin Supplement Drops for Infants and give your turt a vita soak. Mix on dropper-full w/two cups of water, put Zeke in a small container, and pour enough solution to cover his shell. This will help him absorb some of the vitamins, and usually turts also drink some of the water. You can do this for 30 - 60 minutes a day, every third day or so. Once he's up to par, try including carrots in his diet, because they are an excellent source of vitamin A.

[cprcheetah]

the vet recommended getting him some vitamins. But with experience Turtle Keepers, I wanted to see if there was one brand that was better than another.