yesterday while feeding our land turtle I made a horrific discovery. As she walked away I noticed that the flesh had been torn off one of her hind legs and a bit taken off of her other one. The only explanation that we can think of is that the water turtle took a bite out of her as she lay on a shelve in the water. I took her in and cleaned her up and put neosporin on her and bandaged her up. It looks nice clean with no signs of infection but when I took the bandages off last night and this morning of course that irritated it and it started to bleed. I poured diluted iodine on it and slathered her up again with neopsporin but left it unwrapped so the air can get to it. I think it looks better already and will see how she looks tomorrow before I rush her off to the vet. My only concern being she might need antibiotics. Wondering if I should run to my local health food store and buy some of that silver. I had seen it once before and have been wanting to try it. Any suggestions or thoughts on treatment?
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Poor little turtle
- Thread starter Vesta
- Start date
- Messages
- 269
Vesta, do you mean silver water or colloidal silver. If you get the later, you need to mix it with water to make silver water.
I didn't know you had turtles.
So where is the pics?
I didn't know you had turtles.
So where is the pics?OH..That's a good question Sandy. I was at a store(Echo Hill0 for those that live near me. And saw it near the vitamins and supplements. And figured at that time that it was what I had heard about. It was quite pricey but I heard such good things about it I made a mental note as to where I had seen it.
Yes..Mike has kept turtles for many years. We were down to just the water one, which is quite large now. When someone returned this one to us.She had escaped 2 summers ago. But we knew she was ours by the markings. This land turtle enjoys a good swim. I am thinking this damage was fairly recent because of the way it looks. It is hard to spot because she pulls her legs in but I just happened to see it as she walked away from me. It was really nasty looking but tonight it looks like she should be OK if I keep it clean and cared for. The flesh is stripped right off her back leg. The other turtle must had clamped down and pulled!! The other one has a nip right out. I'll take some pics but I will warn you that it is not for the weak of heart. I just checked her again and it looks really good considering, and I can tell it does not pain her as much. I have poured diluted iodine on it again tonight abd she is slathered in neosporin. Watching for any signs of infection or odor. Mike says things like this must happen in the wild all the time. I just feel terrible about it. The water turtle must have seen her legs dangling and thought it was food. We have her inside right now but will be making her, her own pond and land area outside when she is all better.
Might take me a little while to post pics. I need Mike to hook the dock up again for me.
Yes..Mike has kept turtles for many years. We were down to just the water one, which is quite large now. When someone returned this one to us.She had escaped 2 summers ago. But we knew she was ours by the markings. This land turtle enjoys a good swim. I am thinking this damage was fairly recent because of the way it looks. It is hard to spot because she pulls her legs in but I just happened to see it as she walked away from me. It was really nasty looking but tonight it looks like she should be OK if I keep it clean and cared for. The flesh is stripped right off her back leg. The other turtle must had clamped down and pulled!! The other one has a nip right out. I'll take some pics but I will warn you that it is not for the weak of heart. I just checked her again and it looks really good considering, and I can tell it does not pain her as much. I have poured diluted iodine on it again tonight abd she is slathered in neosporin. Watching for any signs of infection or odor. Mike says things like this must happen in the wild all the time. I just feel terrible about it. The water turtle must have seen her legs dangling and thought it was food. We have her inside right now but will be making her, her own pond and land area outside when she is all better.
Might take me a little while to post pics. I need Mike to hook the dock up again for me.
Hey Vesta
Don't buy the silver water. It would be futile considering the natural habitat of the animal.
The iodine you're using will work just fine. In a man made pond, you can buy certain trace elements for healing to put in the water.
Remember that zinc promotes healing time and bumps up the natural immune system she's using.
Anytime nature can take it's course, it's better.
Don't buy the silver water. It would be futile considering the natural habitat of the animal.
The iodine you're using will work just fine. In a man made pond, you can buy certain trace elements for healing to put in the water.
Remember that zinc promotes healing time and bumps up the natural immune system she's using.
Anytime nature can take it's course, it's better.
Thanks Gina..Realize it is still early. But I am amazed at how well she looks already. If you can imagine what she looks like. The skin is pulled right off revealing muscles and raw flesh underneath. Still no sign of infection and less raw looking this morning. I had almost come to the same conclusion as you. To let her body do what it needed to do to heal her with a little help from me with the iodine and neosporin.
Right now I have her in Sarah's room in a dressing closet. She can move around freely and I have water in a dish for her. She ate 2 worms yesterday and one the day before. Also heartening to see she still has her appetite.
Thanks for the input!! : )
Right now I have her in Sarah's room in a dressing closet. She can move around freely and I have water in a dish for her. She ate 2 worms yesterday and one the day before. Also heartening to see she still has her appetite.
Thanks for the input!! : )
Actually the neosporin isn't doing her much good. it doesn't heal reptile skin like it does humans. Although the wound remains free from bacteria, the wound it's self is actually kept open by the petroleum in the gel.
you might find putting some crushed zinc on some of her food promotes good healing there.
you might find putting some crushed zinc on some of her food promotes good healing there.
I was thinking that the neosporin was keeping it moist and that it would probably heal faster without it but thought I would use it these last 2 days just because she was swimming in the nasty pond and to help keep it clean for a few days. I have been washing it out good twice a day with the iodine. I can see where new skin is trying to form over the wound and I feel pretty happy about that. I am waiting to see what will happen to the old flesh that is hanging there. Most likely it will dry up and rot away on it's own. But I will make a decision on that if I have to when the time comes. Thanks for the info on the neosporin. I'll post more pics as she progresses.
How should I buy the zinc? Is that in caplet form at the drug store?
How should I buy the zinc? Is that in caplet form at the drug store?
you can buy zinc at Wally World. It comes in tablet form i think, maybe gel packs........i can't remember.
Just crush a tablet a couple times per week and put it on her food.
the wound doesn't look too bad, considering.
Bad snapper!
Just crush a tablet a couple times per week and put it on her food.
the wound doesn't look too bad, considering.
Bad snapper!
Thanks Gina!! We don't have a Wally World around here. I'm guessing it is either a drug store or a health food store. But I will go on a hunt for the zinc tonight. Appreaciate the information on that.
Actually that was a red eared slider that did that damage to her leg. And YES. it is a pretty big one. She jumps in the water quickly if she hears us coming but I'll try to get a pic of her if I can.
I did not slather her up again last night with the neosporin so we will see what her leg looks like as it dries out. Not too thrilled with the way it looks this morning. No sign of infection but I think the neosporin was more to make me feel better more than her!! ???
Actually that was a red eared slider that did that damage to her leg. And YES. it is a pretty big one. She jumps in the water quickly if she hears us coming but I'll try to get a pic of her if I can.
I did not slather her up again last night with the neosporin so we will see what her leg looks like as it dries out. Not too thrilled with the way it looks this morning. No sign of infection but I think the neosporin was more to make me feel better more than her!! ???
This is the girl who did the damage. :'( The flowers in the pic are growing in the waterfall. I shook all the dirt off the roots and placed them in lava rocks. The nutrients in the water feed them. By the end of summer they will be HUGE!! Sorry about the smudge on the lens. I didnot know it was there until I uploaded the pics.
