Urgent Care :: respiratory infection?

[candace]

How big is your turtle? about 2 3/4 in
How long have you had it? 10 months

What is the water temperature? i keep it between 76-80
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? no, too hot in the house to need one
How much water is in there? it's a 55 gallon tank filled about 2 in from the top.
Are you using a water conditioner? yes ReptiSafe i think is the name (i'm at work now)
Are you using any filtration? yes, Fluval 205

What is the basking temperature? it stays between 82 and 84
Is there a basking light? yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? one of the turtle docks with a ramp. I don't remember the name but it is big enough for bothe turtles to fit with pleanty of roonm to spare.
Is there a UVB light? yes and it's on for 12-14 hours depnding on how long my shift at work is.

What have you been trying to feed it? i feed it pellets every morning and green leafy lettuce about 3 times a week or more
When was the last time your turtle ate? this morning

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 55 gal
Is the tank near a window? maybe a foot away (i just moved a week ago it wasn't before)
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? the cats and dog are in there all the time. other than that no.

Have you read the Basic Care section? several times
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? several times, but it is never quite the same symptoms as other people.

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? yes:
-lopsided swimming for about 2 months (i know...a realy long time)
-what seems like a cough, at least panting.
-when i take it out of the tank to roam around the backyard or the living room it just finds shade or something to go up next to and stays there. I don't know if this is a symptom of something or if it is just frightened.
-blows large bubbles in the water (those i think are caughs)

eats just fine. always beging for more food. basks normally. everything but the "coughing" and the very lopsided swimming is normal.
Is it a repiratory infection?
I'm taking my turtle to the vet tomorrow and he knows very little about turtles. I just want to have all of my ducks in a row when I go in and see him.
Thanks for at least stopping by to look.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Yep thats dead on like RI. Lopsided swiming in any case is not good sign.

If he doesnt know much make sure to suggest Baytril or another anti-infective. Also its usually a vitamin B(12) shot.

Things if you havent done to help him would be raise the temp of water a few degrees.

Also soaking him in some water with 3 in 1 vitamins like you would give a bird might help

[TheComputerGremlin]

First, you want to separate the ill turtle from the healthy turtle. I know it's probably been two months, but respiratory infections are very contagious and you don't want two ill turtles.

Next, bump up your water temp a little bit for the ill turtle. For your main tank, your basking area might be a little too cool also, so you may want to see if you can raise the temp closer to 90.

Try to find a herp vet, because a regular vet can do more damage than help. If you can avoid the vitamin shot, you should. Vitamin shots have caused a lot of side effects or deaths. As long as your turtle is eating, you shouldn't need a vitamin shot.

I'm a little confused because normally by time the coughing and mucus forms, the turtle is lethargic and not eating, but it sounds like that's not the case. That could mean that you caught it early, even though it seems like it's been for awhile.