Urgent Care :: Old European Pond Turtle - Need another opinion

[cribeiro]

Hi guys,

A long time ago I posted here the story of my near hundred years old turtle Sarapica.

As some of you may recall one of her back legs had to be removed.

Yesterday one of her front legs began to swollen. I took her to the vet and she told me that the only thing to do was to remove it.

But this time there is a major problem: Sarapica will be without two legs in the same side of her body.

My question to all of you - Can a turtle be able to walk with this condition?
Is surgery the way to go?

I want to hear some of you because we all love our turtles.

I am afraid if I decide to go through with it , will be because I don't have the strengh to take a more harder decision!

Thank you

[marisa]

Is this the same condition that was the reason for the back leg to be amputated? What exactly is the condition? I would try to get a second opinion before making a decision.

I once cared for a hatching that was born without a front or back leg on his right side. He couldn't really walk, just kind of drag the side without the legs along. When he got excited and tried to swim, he spun in circles. I tried to make an enclosure that would be easy for him to live in---water level on the shallower side, a basking area with a very gradual incline, absolutely no places he could fall into and get stuck, etc.

I really would get a second opinion before deciding what to do.

[cribeiro]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, it's the same condition. I don't know the name of the disease but it attacks the bone. (she is very old)

Sarapica doesn´t live in the water. She's more like a tourtoise. She eats in the water and sometimes wants to stay there but moreoften she just walks around to find a spot that's warm, or where she can bask in the sun.

What happened to that hatching?

[marisa]

I lost him.

[cribeiro]

Sorry to hear it.

[EmperorTunaFish]

I sadly have nothing to contribute towards a solution, but I just wanted to chime in and thank you for posting your stories. I'm hoping for the best for dear old Sarapica.

[marisa]

How is she coping with having one leg missing?

[cribeiro]

Very well.
Her leg was removed nine years ago.
Although she lost her ability to swim, she was very resourceful, even able to climb small ramps. Everything was fine until yesterday.

[marisa]

Is this condition (wish you knew the name of it) one that will eventually affect the other limbs?

Last spring I went to a talk by some rehabilitators who had a box turtle that was missing a hind leg (a car accident). The vet had cleverly attached a small wheel to the shell so that the turtle could walk and wheel herself along and not drag her shell on the ground. I know your turtle is already missing one leg, but if a second one had to be amputated, perhaps providing a similar device is possible?

Is getting a second opinion possible?

[cribeiro]

Eventually it will affect the other limbs. She's very old, her plastron is very thin and it will come the day that I will have to make a painful decision.

During all this time, being with only three limbs, never became a problem.

After the surgery the vet attached a "rubber" pad to her femoral plastron to compensate the lost limb and protect it from her dragging. It didn't stay too long.
But because she isn't very active there were no injuries to the shell.

Losing two limbs on one side is what's bothering me! Would she be able to walk, even with some "gadget"? How can she get into and out of the water - small basin?


As for getting a second opinion, I'm afraid there are no other options where I live.

(one of the reasons I'm asking it here)

[ami]

Well if you don't remove this limb will the condition spread to the rest of the body more quickly? Would that be determental to her life? will she be in pain if you dont remove it?
I dont know what to tell you but if the vet says it..it may be for some preventive method? you should find out if your vet will opt to putting some sort of assistance for your turtle like marisa suggested??
Im sorry you have to go through this i hope you find my questions will help you come to a decision... i think the turtle can still get around but with difficulty and it might affect her plastorn.

[coreyvht]

off the topic a littl(well not really)

i think if you do do that it would be best because it prob isnt comfortable and your vet might put 2 little cute weels on her lol:)

[cribeiro]

Hello guys,
The disease is called "Osteomielite" and it will spread to the rest of her bones.
The swollen of the limb was caused be it, the bone was fractured and there was no way to heal.
I went to the vet this morning and we had a long conversation. In the end I had to make the most painful decision of my life.

Thank you all for your ideas and support.

[worldpeace]

I'm really sorry it had to end this way. I'm sure her life would have been a whole lot uglier if you hadn't been around to care for her and make her as comfortable as possible, considering her condition. You have my respect.

[coreyvht]

im so sorry