General Care Discussion :: Turtle Sick for a while

[DavidY]

Was he able to treat the turtle with antibiotics or did he just write him off as a loss?? Man what is with these people??!

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Yeah most hatchling's are sick and most of them die, but given proper medical care, a lot of them live. Pumpkinsherbet's turtle battled through a RI, or was it a bacterial infection? I'm not sure. But point is, her turtle is a baby, probably 2 inche's max, and a vet cured it..

Atleast he didnt charge you. But I would still find another vet. I know it sound's like a pain in the ____ but it's not too late, trust me.

[DavidY]

Yea her vet was able to give him the antibiotics he needed, but Kellee worked super hard to do everything the vet suggested (and more) to make sure the little guy got better. It's a lot of work and worry to raise a baby turtle and especially to nurse a sick one back to health. Most people are not up to the task.

[marisa]

Some vets don't want to treat small hatchlings that are sick because the prognosis is so poor (vet's call). The vet you saw sounds a bit cold, but honest. Some poor turtles are dying and they don't know it.

You might look for another vet. In the meantime, keep your baby warm and try to get some nourishment in him.

[eazyegee]

Was he able to treat the turtle with antibiotics or did he just write him off as a loss?? Man what is with these people??!

No as a loss I just leave my turtle now on the dock with the lights on, he rests most of the time but when there's some movement he opens and sees what's going on then goes back to sleep after a couple of minutes.

[iac637]

you need to find a good vet in your area the ones you have taken him to don't seem to really care, honestly. I can't imagine takeing my little ones to our vet and him just saying well yeah he's sick and will most likely die.

[SpotsMama]

If the vet really thinks there's no hope then the humane thing to do would be to euthanize him.

[steve]

Eazyegee, I'm located in Queens too, which vet did you use? I've used one on Queens Blvd before, and I really wasn't thrilled at the service.

[eazyegee]

I forgot the name of the doctor, but it was on Lefferts Blvd. it was called Lefferts Animal Hospital.

[eazyegee]

I searched for herpetology vets on the internet he and the other guy I took my turtle to were the closest ones. The other ones they had were very far away and the rest on the list was out of state.

[eazyegee]

My turtle hasn't eaten in days... I keep trying to make him eat but he still moves alittle. Like he may move his head to a different side while sleeping. He also keeps his eyes open for a while after I leave him to bask. Also today he walked down alittle after I put him to bask.

[SpotsMama]

Poor little thing. Continue to keep him warm, stress free and very clean. Keep offering him tempting foods. Sounds like he's a fighter. I wish the vet would help.

[steve]

Have you gone through the options here? www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html

I'd avoid any live prey that he would have to expend energy to catch, unless your were to hold it for him.

[eazyegee]

I tried pellets, lettuce, & shrimp. I never fed him live prey but I don't think he'd eat it even if I held it up for him. He doesn't take any interest.

[SpotsMama]

Eazyegee, I wish I'd remembered this earlier.

Check out the very last comment at the bottom of the page on this thread:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... =pedialyte

This has come up several times on here. One of the things you can do for a weak turtle is soak it in pedialyte. That's something you feed to babies. I think you get it at grocery stores and drug stores. Apparently turtles can absorb it through their skin.