Urgent Care :: SICK: Red Eared Slider !! help !!

[jephey]

One of my turtles has become severely ill. I have two Red Eared Sliders
about an inch in diameter. One of them is doing well, and every 3-5
days will gulp down 3-8 food pellets in a single feeding, he swims
fast, etc. The other one is lethargic, he seems to get dehydrated and
his legs/arms find their way outside of the shell in very unnatural
positions, his eyes get stuck shut. I've kept him in an isolated tank
with a basking rock and a smal light (and bubbly filter). Just recently
I've prepared a shoe box with a heating pad for "dry docking."

* * * HE NOW HAS BUMPS/ABRASIONS ON THE CORNERS OF HIS EYE LIDS AND
"ELBOWS" * * *

Stupid things I've done today:

1) Foolishly, I have tried about 3 things in the same day, but, I'm
desperate. I soaked him in a salt bath in a cereal bowl with a light,
and a aerator from my fish tank for about a half hour.

2) For some reason, I crushed up a vitamin A tablet and put it in
water, and had him in there for about 30 seconds.

He was swimming around alot more in the salt soak then prior, and when
I picked him out he'd try to crawl out of my hand (and almost did), he
didn't seem tired at all (before he would get very exhausted).

I think 1) and 2) caused the bumps, I feel very badly now.

Please help me heal my turtle!

-- Jeph

[steve]

Unless they are weak and unable to swim, RES should be in water. I would make the water 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and a basking area around 92 degrees. Keep him separate from the other RES as well. If he is not eaten, he is likely very weak and you may want to try many different foods. Smelly food are the way to go (tuna fish, cooked chicken, dried shrimp...), especially if he has his eyes closed - though he may refuse to eat if he cannot see. He needs to be in water to be able to eat and swallow.

I'm not sure what the bumps can be... they may be infections or injuries. You may want a vet to check him out. Are the eyelids crusted, puffy or dry? Cod liver oil on the eyelids can be used if it is a Vit A deficiency. They both need UVB and eventually a water filter.

[jephey]

I have a water filter, I already keep the temp around there 78 minimum... I got him to open his eyes for a while I don't know if the salt or the warmth had anything to do with it.

[steve]

Salt is primarily used to treat against fungal infections and other bacterial disease. I don't think I've come across any eye treatment that utilizes salt. I would keep the temp at a steady 82 and focus on trying to get him to eat.

[jephey]

He hasn't eaten for atleast 10 days... I've tried turtle food (that smells like dead seafood, so I think it's a good "smelly" food) as well as romaine lettuce. Any suggestions?

[steve]

He's not going to be interested in veggies. Try the tuna, dried shrimp, raw shrimp and maybe even small minnows or guppies. He won't survive if he won't eat.

[marisa]

How much salt did you use? Too much and it could have contributed to the abrasions you're talking about (not to mention irritation). Do not keep switching from one "treatment" to another. Skip the salt, give him his own container, with the water temp 81-82F and the water level lower if he's weak (a bit more than the width of his shell so he can right himself if he tips over). Make it easy for him to get on the basking area, and keep the temp at 91-92F.

If he's weak, he probably won't be able to catch any fish without your help. Personally, I'd try some pieces of earthworm (something that wriggles).

Zoo-med makes eye drops that are supposed to be pretty good for eye problems. You can get them at places like Petco or Petsmart.

[jephey]

He can't really see anything moving. I sent someone out to get Pedialyte [dehydration] and Cod Liver Oil for his eyes.

[marisa]

Try those eye drops by Zoo-Med I suggested above. They are to be put in the eye. The cold liver oil is heavy and should be put on the eyelid.

If you hold something smelly in front of his nose in the water, will he try to eat it?

[jephey]

Nope, he doesn't even flinch, open his mouth, move towards it, [----] his head, nothing.

[jephey]

I was out today, and he was in his heated "dry dock" box all day, and I was pleasantly surprised to come home and see that he was still alive.

Some of the food *seemed* to be moved around, I really couldn't tell I'm going to mark it with sharpie from now on prior to putting it down. This could be good or bad, but he has defecated something white... I poked at it with the thermometer, it's fairly solid, almost... spongey [bounces back, doesn't seperate]. Reminds me of lard, I'm not sure what it means.

[steve]

Another bad sign. Could be urates -here's some more info:

http://www.chelonia.org/FAQ.htm#14

The white droppings frequently seen are commonly called urates. This is concentrated uric acid and the resulting salts. Uric acid comes from the breakdown of certain food products, particularly protein. Occasionally people think that this is a result of excess calcium - this is not so. Seeing urates occasionally is no cause for alarm, seeing them at every soaking can be an indication of malnutrition (in this case the animal is living off its own body, metabolizing its own muscle) In certain cases of long term low level dehydration these urates can form bladder stones instead of passing which can block the cloaca and cause death unless treated. It is important to remember that even desert tortoises should have access to a shallow pan of water at all times.

[jephey]

He just died =[ Thanks for your help guys.

[Jymmsc]

I am very sorry about your loss. I too am experiencing something similar with my two baby RES. One is doing just fine and the other is very lethargic, seems dehydrated, ect.

[jephey]

Has anyone used this site? http://[name removed].com/turtles1.html Is it reputable? As I understand purchasing RES under 4" is illegal, mine were 1" at time of purchase.