Urgent Care :: Rescued dying Map turtle from Pet store URGENT

[V Lou]

My guess is he has an infection, perhaps strep A, that is eating the tissue, his body can't stop it, and antibiotics will, unless the bacterium is a resistant strain.
How soon is your appointment?
I have started up my ambulance again, getting ready to turn on the sirens and pull out of the garage

Google necrosis.

[jay2487]

I sat in the vets office for 4 hours yesterday and was finally told that "the Dr has had an emergency and will have to see you tomorrow" to which I said look at this turtles nose isnt that an emergency?" to which she said, "I apologize but we cannot accomodate you today." So I left irate and I already had to take off one day this week and wasnt going to get away with another. I called a different vet in a different town who says show up whenever I get the chance and she will make me priority. Did you see the red spots on his neck in that photo? What do you think that is?

[V Lou]

Not a good experience for you at all. The turtle is most thankful for your efforts, if he could know. Dang! the misfortune. But, now you have found a vet whom you wouldn't have found, with a staff who understands urgency. That's so good to find!! Almost worth it, in the long run anyway.

I must apologize and do not want to complain, but I'm guessing that the uv light was messing up your photos. I couldn't see red spots and the nose was too blurry to make out very well, but not seeing them, I could tell you that IF he has a bacterial infection that is dining on his flesh, it will surface in other areas, given enough time. Like a cold sore on you lip, that won't get well, and in a week you have a cold sore inside your nostril, too, and one rising up in your cheek. The bacteria travel around just under the skin and the visible signs will crop up, here and there, as the spreading infection reaches the surface here and there.

NOT THAT HE HAS THAT, you know, b/c I truly can't tell from the pictures.

It will be so wonderful if the vet you go to says, oh, this is going to be fine. Keep him dry tonight and apply this salve every 4 hours, he should be getting better in 12 hours. That would be so cool!! Or, put him in a tub of water with 2 tablets of this antibiotic dissolved in 1 gal of water, change the water and add two more tablets in the morning...., do that for 5 days, he should be getting better tomorrow.... I can't wait to hear what the vet does say.

When do you get to go see the vet? If I lived where you do, I would take him in for you, no hesitation. Do you have a neighbor? A friend? ...anyone who could take him in for you?

[jay2487]

No its just me my girl and a newborn, I dont want the turtles around the baby for obvious reasons and she cares for him all day so I have to take him. I have an expo to run tomorrow but the place said I could walk in on sunday so hopefully then. The turtle doesnt seem to effected by it and seems that he has gotten used to how he has to breath in the water and eat. He is eating now regularly. I think it looks more like damage than bacteria eating it but the other red sores on his skin make me think you might be right, maybe the bacteria rotted it enough that one good bump in the glass gave it the damaged look i see today. I hope the vet can fix it as well.

[V Lou]

Oh, I hope so, too. It's hard to wait......

[V Lou]

Update?

[jay2487]

Baths in some chemical starts with a E(can't remember) he got a shot, he got a liquid I have to pry into his mouth daily, and a salve for nose n face. He has a mild RI caused by having no nose and inhaling water through his mouth, ha has a bacterial infection in his skin, so bad that when he drys out with his head tucked in a little, then tries to stretch neck it rips wounds open. Doc says he has less than 50% chance of surviving:/ He says if he can make it a matter of months to a year the nose will heal back, but I will never get rid of the RI as long as it hasnt because he will always inhale a little water and I cant dry dock him for a year. He said I should put him down but I couldnt do it, I will give him his year.

[V Lou]

You are most kind to take care of him so diligently. The vet said 50%, but it's probably more like 75%, since you are helping him. Got to figure that in, too .

The chemical would be an antibiotic. He drinks in the water, he is taking a dose. Is it Enterocycline? Just curious, but it helps me to know for future reference.

Is the bacterial infection under his skin getting better, yet? Sometimes they need to try a different antibiotic, if the first one isn't working quickly enough.

My brother had polio when he was tiny and the docs said he would never run, but he broke high school track records. You never know!!

It sounds like this will be a long haul, so think of the day when you will tell this story and you'll finish saying, "Look, you can't even tell he had a nose injury!!". Now that will be quite a story to tell.

And, all of our well wishes will count for something. The forum will help. ...80% chance.... YES!!!

[jay2487]

Well the doc tried there hardest to get me to pay $45 to have him put down but I wouldn't do it. My logic was that he suffered for so long in the pet shops that suffering is his life now, and seeing as he is doing better and was doing better before the doc visit I decided I wouldn't do it. Maybe if he makes it I can take him back up there and say, "look what you would have had me kill". The RI thing really scares me though. No way to cure it until he can breath from the nose, I can dry dock until symptoms are gone but as soon as I put him in the water he'll inhale some and get it again. Whoa is me:/

[V Lou]

I think the doc sees so much tragedy each week, just think about it. Not too many animals go to him for help b/c they are ok, well except for annual exams. But, the vets see a lot of pain and they naturally hurt from what all they see, and he just wanted to do what he thought was kind, given his perspective. It's got to be really hard to see what vets see, week after week after week.

Now, don't worry about the fears of RI too much. He said it is a mild case. And, now you have meds for it... Think of all the people running around with "walking pneumonia". If you ask them, they'll say, as I know I said, it's not that big a deal, right? If he is improving, just stay diligent and hopefully you'll git'r'dun!!

But, if the infection(s) don't seem to improve, especially the one under the skin, do go see the doc again to try a different type of antibiotic. Those bugs could show resistance until you find just-the-right-med and then WaLa! PooF, the bacterial infection is gone (the one under the skin).

[jay2487]

so he died, came out yesterday morning and he was gone. guess the doc was right on that one.

[coreyvht]

well you tried sorry my condolenes