General Care Discussion :: Random death...

[SneakySushie]

Well, they call them aquatic turtles for a reason.

I know, I was just trying to get it to bask so she wouldn't have health problems in the future...

[Jeremiah]

I don't think heat directly causes bleeding out, Kansasslider--it only exacerbates the flow rate at an injury site. Given Sushie's description of what happened, it sounds like the turtle injured itself internally, most likely in the course of an attempted escape. What would have clotted normally may have faced difficulty due to vessel dilation (that's where the warmth comes in), leading to a bleed-out.

If I recall correctly, the other turtle was just a baby, so I don't see a turtle attack as the cause either. That's why I had asked Sushie to check if there were any other body areas where blood may have come from.

Also, I agree with you about the difference between a warm turtle in a dry area as opposed to one with water access. It may be that the focused humidity in a tank/pond setting helps regulate shell/body temperature. (Just a theory, since when you think about it, turtles who climb onto a basking surface are wet and will automatically change the surface temperature by sitting there long enough).

[SneakySushie]

I don't think heat directly causes bleeding out, Kansasslider--it only exacerbates the flow rate at an injury site. Given Sushie's description of what happened, it sounds like the turtle injured itself internally, most likely in the course of an attempted escape. What would have clotted normally may have faced difficulty due to vessel dilation (that's where the warmth comes in), leading to a bleed-out.

If I recall correctly, the other turtle was just a baby, so I don't see a turtle attack as the cause either. That's why I had asked Sushie to check if there were any other body areas where blood may have come from.

Also, I agree with you about the difference between a warm turtle in a dry area as opposed to one with water access. It may be that the focused humidity in a tank/pond setting helps regulate shell/body temperature. (Just a theory, since when you think about it, turtles who climb onto a basking surface are wet and will automatically change the surface temperature by sitting there long enough).

My other turtle is completely back to normal now... But now I am having the difficult decission whether to let it be outside or not...

[Jeremiah]

For now, you might want to play it safe and keep it inside.

[SneakySushie]

For now, you might want to play it safe and keep it inside.

Yeah I figured...

[Kansasslider]

If you want to let your turtle outside do it under supervision only and provide water or limit the time outside.

[SneakySushie]

If you want to let your turtle outside do it under supervision only and provide water or limit the time outside.

you're right

[RedEaredJade]

Stress, in my opinion, won't kill an animal unless it's already weak. If you got an animal that wasn't in he best condition to begin with, and it occurred to me that this turtle might have had some sort of respitory infection if she coughed up blood, then stress wouldn't aid the animal in healing. This being said, the animal's death is still not your fault. For all anyone knows, this turtle might have been too far gone. The only time "dry docking" (keeping it out of water for at least 2 hours) a turtle is needed, though, is when fighting shell rot. So, the next time you take them out you'll know to have water (dechlorinated) around.

[SneakySushie]

Stress, in my opinion, won't kill an animal unless it's already weak. If you got an animal that wasn't in he best condition to begin with, and it occurred to me that this turtle might have had some sort of respitory infection if she coughed up blood, then stress wouldn't aid the animal in healing. This being said, the animal's death is still not your fault. For all anyone knows, this turtle might have been too far gone. The only time "dry docking" (keeping it out of water for at least 2 hours) a turtle is needed, though, is when fighting shell rot. So, the next time you take them out you'll know to have water (dechlorinated) around.

I just bought a bigger kiddy pool so I can take blondy out and put her under the shade.

[RedEaredJade]

Make sure she has some dechlorinated water and a dry area in the pool too. This way she can enjoy the sunshine and bask/swim as she chooses to.

[SneakySushie]

Make sure she has some dechlorinated water and a dry area in the pool too. This way she can enjoy the sunshine and bask/swim as she chooses to.

Okay