Help please! My wife's tortoise just got attacked by one of our dogs.

HagbardCeline

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Our German Shepherd has never been very interested in the tortoise and would always get up and move if it got near it but never acted aggressive toward it. I had put the tortoise outside in the little pen I made for it and came back to check 20 minutes later to find the dog chewing on it.

Our regular vet that also works on tortoises won't be in until tomorrow, do you think he will be okay until then or should I find an emergency vet. He is still moving fine and most of the damage seems superficial and just the corners of his shell have been cracked.

These first two pictures are the parts I'm most worst about but especially the underside one in the second picture. It is cracked all the way across and it is completely detached from the rest of the shell but the connective tissue underneath seems to be intact. There was very little blood just a few drops. Sorry about the bad quality, I can try to get better ones when she gets home.

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vladimir

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Wow, thanks for all the pictures. I've seen worse, but it does need to be treated. I'm not an expert but hopefully someone can assist. In the meantime keep the wounds clean

Let's see if anyone is around - @Yvonne G @wellington @zovick

Also, welcome to the forum! Wishing for a speedy recovery for your tort
 

wellington

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Boy I wish you had found our tortoises and dogs don't mix threads. They will always eventually attack a tortoise and use as a chew toy.
Keep him in an enclosure with paper towel as the substrate. He needs to be kept clean. Keep him warm day and night 80 and still give a proper basking.
Put some antibiotic cream on it daily after a soft cleaning and let him be for a while, the rest of today he will be very stressed from the trauma.
Be sure to build him a secure dog proof indoor and outdoor enclosure as it will happen again if you don't.
 
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Yvonne G

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Tortoises can and will recover from even the most horrific shell injury. What gets them in the end is infection. So be sure to follow through all the way to the end with the antibiotics prescribed.
 

HagbardCeline

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Thanks to everyone who replied. I just got him back from the vet. They were able to put 2 clips on both side of the large breakage and stabilize it with the rubber bands. She said in when we follow up in a couple of weeks she'll remove the small corners by his back legs. Because of all the trauma he went through she wanted to wait because she it will bleed when she removes it.
The only thing we didn't do was the Xray. She told me it was to check for internal damage but even if showed something the treatment we did today would be the same and only the follow up would be more intense. It would have doubled the bill and been nearly $300 more.
We have to give him antibiotic shot every three days and apply the topical cream everyday. She said she had seen far worse injuries that they survived, so we are hopeful.

I will definitely be making him a new outdoor enclosure for his time outside, but for now I washed an extra 10 gallon aquarium we had and have him in there until he recovers. I feel really guilty about this and never thought I would have to worry about the dog that did the attack. But again, thank you guys for your helpful advice.
 

Thessle

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Had the same happen with my baby Sulcata and Chiweenie. My tortoise was beat up worse than yours but they are very resilient. Keep a triple antibiotic ointment on any affected areas and keep up regular warm soaks….increasing them throughout this time wouldn’t hurt. I always reapplied ointment after each bath.
‘My tortoise went into what o could only describe as a depressive state for a few weeks following the incident but don’t get discouraged. As long as you have the antibiotics and use the ointment I think yours will fair this unfortunate learning experience well….it’s just going to take time.
mine had a complete puncture from one of the dogs canine teeth that went right through the chest plate of the tortoise..that was most concerning for fear of infection but as I say….they are very resilient.
‘It’s been about 6 months post trauma for my tort and edges of the shell still show where it was chewed but the puncture completely healed. Wouldn’t know it even happened….and he/she (still to young to sex) is back to acting its usual self. Best of luck to you but I think things will be ok.
 

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