Urgent Care :: very sick turtle

[Andrew7769]

i work at a small pets store and we got a 8 inch male slider with 2 spots of what looks like softshell and also a very pink belly idicating hes septic, is there anything that i can do other than bring him to the vet?

[Starchick]

Septicemia is very serious, probably the vet is going to be the only real option. Can you post a picture?

[SpotsMama]

If he has septicemia (blood poisoning), he's a very sick little turtle indeed. Is he acting sick? Lethargic, poor appetite? I agree with starchick. If he's septic he needs a vet ASAP.

[Andrew7769]

i will make sure we make an appointment, anything i can do in the meantime? he pretty lethargic but i have him setup in a 40cal and i am giving him calcium and vitamin supplements.

[SpotsMama]

Keep him warm - 82 degrees or so to boost his immune system. Keep him very clean. If he's having to work to swim it will use up his energy reserves, so keep him dry docked except for short periods several times a day for him to eat and drink. Avoid stress - don't pick him up or disturb him unless you need to. Try to get him to eat. If he won't eat his normal food, offer him things normally reserved for treats - shrimp, tuna, earthworms. Anything to get calories in him.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. We'll be pulling for you and the poor turtle. You're being very kind to try to take care of him.

[megcornell]

On the supplements follow the instructions carefully-- an overdose of vitamins will only add to whatever problems he's already suffering.
Good luck with the appointment, it's very kind of you to advocate for him.

[SpotsMama]

Thank you Meg for reminding me about the cautions on vitamin supplements. Andrew, sometimes vets almost routinely give turtles vitamin A shots. Here's my standard caution on the practice:

If the vet offers to give a vitamin A shot, first make sure the vet is positive your turtle really needs vitamin A and then discuss other alternatives to shots with the vet like eye drops with vitamin A, cod liver oil or food supplements. Several turtles have recently had very bad reactions to vitamin A shots and I think it's best that if vitamin A is needed (and often it's not) the safer methods be used instead.