Old shell hole expanding due to rapid growth

HCC3

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Hello! I have a 9yo Hermann's tort named Herbie. When he was about 2, my mom's dog got ahold of him and puntured his shell. I treated it at the time and the hole had covered over. Herbie hibernated outside over the winter - we thought that he had escaped and, low and behold, he "resurrected" in his garden on Easter Sunday! Hibernating outside must have been really good for him - because he has at least doubled in size since he has come out of hibernation! He is so healthy and strong and doing just great! The only thing that is an issue is the scar from that dog bite. It has opened and gotten bigger, I think bc he has grown so much and so fast since April. The hole is about the size of half of a pencil eraser and wide open. The shell around it is hard and there is no odor or discharge. I am wondering if I should cover it with a waterproof bandaid, to keep stuff from getting in, or if there is some sort of a compound that I can seal it permanently. Or, at this point, is the internal scar tissue sufficient in protecting him? Any thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you!
 

zovick

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Hello! I have a 9yo Hermann's tort named Herbie. When he was about 2, my mom's dog got ahold of him and puntured his shell. I treated it at the time and the hole had covered over. Herbie hibernated outside over the winter - we thought that he had escaped and, low and behold, he "resurrected" in his garden on Easter Sunday! Hibernating outside must have been really good for him - because he has at least doubled in size since he has come out of hibernation! He is so healthy and strong and doing just great! The only thing that is an issue is the scar from that dog bite. It has opened and gotten bigger, I think bc he has grown so much and so fast since April. The hole is about the size of half of a pencil eraser and wide open. The shell around it is hard and there is no odor or discharge. I am wondering if I should cover it with a waterproof bandaid, to keep stuff from getting in, or if there is some sort of a compound that I can seal it permanently. Or, at this point, is the internal scar tissue sufficient in protecting him? Any thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you!
It is probably healed with skin below the shell opening. Can you see into the hole to tell?

A photo taken with a flash of the hole showing the inside of it would be helpful in this case.
 

HCC3

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It is probably healed with skin below the shell opening. Can you see into the hole to tell?

A photo taken with a flash of the hole showing the inside of it would be helpful in this case.
Thank you. I will try to get one and will post.
 

wellington

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If it were me, and there is any kind of opening where dirt could get in and under the shell or even a layer of skin, I would try to cover it with something, making sure to not cover the growth area between the scutes.
 

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