Urgent Care :: PLS HELP ME!

[Kimmy]

Can anyone please hlep me. I am not sure what is wrong with my RES turtle. He is making a yelping noise. He's putting his head up in the air and making some kind of noise with his mouth wide open. It's almost sounds like a cry. He just threw up right now too. Please if anyone knows what he may have or how I can help please contact me. I really am worried. Thank you in advance.

[marisa]

How long have you had your turtle?

How big is he?

What is your set-up like? What is the temp of the water and basking area?

What was he eating when he threw up? Has he been eating well before this?

How long has your turtle been making this noise? Does he have any other symptoms like swollen eyes, a runny nose, mucus coming from the nose or mouth, excessive basking and listlessness, lack of appetite? Does he swim lopsided? Any of these symptoms could indicate a respiratory infection.

If he's continuing this behavior, it would be good to take him to a herp vet.

[steve]

Sounds like an emergency to me....

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=370

[Kimmy]

I've had my turtle for about a month and he's about 1- 1 1/2 inches from head to toe. He's enclosed in a round plastic island type container from the pet store that's big enough for him to swim around. The temp of the water is 78 and there is also a UV light bulb for reptiles in it. I feed him Gammarus pellets and that is what he threw up. He hasn't been eating much now and he does swim loop sided and he does have mucus coming from his mouth. He just started making that noise today but currently now he's silent.

If it is an RI, can I do anything to help him out to make him better without resulting to take him to a vet.???

The sad thing is that my mother said she won't spend $100 to take him to the vet when she only spent $8 for him :0(

Please help!!!

[Shavannah]

I don't really know much about RI. My turtle has never gotten it, thank goodness. But I must say a note to parents: Please read everything you possibly can about the care and expense of owning a turtle before you decide to buy one for your child/teen. A teen with no job or allowance cannot take care of a turtle properly. And if the parents aren't willing to schill out the money, then I would consider something else, or nothing at all. Any pet may require veterinary care at any time, so it must be expected when you own a pet, turtles included. I hope you can convince your mom how important it is to have the little guy taken to a herp vet. You can't cure RI on your own, and it won't go away on it's own. I wish you and the baby much luck.

[Shavannah]

Also, please read all the information on the home care page. It will tell you exactly what the turtle needs to keep it healthy and thrive in it's environment. First, he needs medical attention. Then, he needs a much bigger home. 10 gallons per inch of shell measured front to back, not including the curve. A heater, filter, UVA and UVB lights, basking area above the water, and proper diet incuding calcium. Read read read. And post any more questions or concerns you may have. Let us know your progress so we can help if we can.

[missibsu]

Not only is a trip to the vet needed, a proper set up is also needed. Lack of a proper set up is not going to help the health issue. The style container that you are refering to is known as a death bowl.

RI should only be treated by a vet. If caught in the early stages your turtle has a higher survival rate.

For your mother...I can understand where it seems hard to justify spending 100 bucks on a vet visit when you only spent 8 on the turtle. However, spending that amount of money on the turtle makes him worth more too. Spending money on the turtle to get him a proper set up will also make him worth more. This doesn't even take into consideration the emotional worth that the turtle has, or life lessons that a child can learn from caring for a pet. Think about the kind of message you are sending or child and any other child, by not seeking the help that is needed for a pet. Just because the turtle only cost 8 dollars doesn't mean that it's disposable. If you got a cat from the pound and it got sick, would you just let it die?

[amazingcc]

Hmmm - Mom and you should've done some serious research before getting a turtle! But now that you own it, you need to take care of it, and like the other members already posted... he needs a vet visit first, and a proper living environment second. When you decide to take on a pet, you need to be committed and responsible - maybe you can use some of your allowance, get a part-time job, etc. to help pay for the vet.
My point is: That little hatchling might've cost just $8.00, but he deserves adequate care, a safe and healthy habitat, and lots of love! AND compassion - I really don't "get" this attitude that some people have, and the reasons they come up with to justify letting a little critter suffer. If you're not able to do what's best for the little guy, find someone who wants him and is willing to do what's neccessary!
I really hope that nobody in your family gets sick anytime soon - especially if a doctors visit means spending a hundred dollars!

[cprcheetah]

You need to get your turtle to the vet or most likely your turtle isn't going to make it. It sounds pretty serious. If your turtle does make it, you NEED to spend the money on a proper setup with a tank, filter, heater, UVA & UVB lights, or it will be $8.00 that was wasted on your turtle. When you and your mom decided to get a turtle, you took on that responsibility. PLEASE do not let your turtle suffer, take it to the vet.