Self inflicted shell damage?

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
Wonder dust....hmmm, sounds very illegal...LOL..(ps; I found it online)no Mags, you are a friend and most def aren't crazy and thank you for the suggestion. I had never heard of carrot soaks either, remember? Now I'm a believer! LOL YOU taught me that....and your sister....!

We got back late this morning & Kerry left a while ago. I checked on Matilda when we had walked in the door and her wound was about 70% dried out, the Triple-antibiotic stuff is gone and after I turned her heat che heater, she's much happier and the rest is drying out and getting the thick tough looking brown scar tissue over it. I am now using a drilled plexiglass lid over her rehab-home to help keep her humidity stable and I didn't have time to balance the heater vs lid-opening vs temps before we left so I turned it off to be safe. The house stays 70 so she was fine.. Kerry noticed egg shell on her face (Kerry made breakfast before we left Sat so I gave her shells to munch on) and I had left her a fresh piece of meat and it's been gone after a bit.

The pics are pretty gruesome but the only raw part now is the bright pick/red spot on the right said of the pic.

She's laid out now, chilling under the heat.....so the rest may dry out this evening.


20221030_163539.jpg
20221030_163512.jpgOops, thought I posted this at 6PM yesterday.....LOL
 

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
It looks like all the "wet" has dried in her wound.
Her water is still clean meaning it's doubtful that she bathed...she's kind of a pig that way....lol

The white splotch in the center concerns me but I did order a small bottle of the Wonder dust....should be here tomorrow. It seems to be similar to the old Sulpha they used to put on wounds in WW2 & Korea.

I just took this pic;
20221031_153057.jpg

She's very subdued so I'm paying special attention to her eyes and her breathing.....maybe she's fighting some vermin disease the vermin was carrying....or more likely, she hurts.

my poor baby....
 

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
She's up with me this morning and eating ....but I'll put that stuff on it after I clean it this afternoon if it arrives. She managed to get dirt in it ....

I misted her home and it makes her wound look pretty yucky.
20221101_015244.jpg
 

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
The Fairy dust finally arrived today so little Matilda got a warm soak and a dusting. I read that it has caustic properties so I rinsed it off her skin....yeah I'm a little messy but it's where it needs to be and she wasn't happy with me cleaning it! She's had that doodad hanging off her face for a couple days but she was too excited to get it, for now.

20221102_144726.jpg
 

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.
The Fairy dust finally arrived today so little Matilda got a warm soak and a dusting. I read that it has caustic properties so I rinsed it off her skin....yeah I'm a little messy but it's where it needs to be and she wasn't happy with me cleaning it! She's had that doodad hanging off her face for a couple days but she was too excited to get it, for now.

View attachment 351458
Oh, Jeff, she has such a cute Mug . . 😍
 

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
Got home yesterday and Matilda is really spending a lot of "alone time". I found it difficult to look up the nerve routings for a box turtle on the internet.....but from what I can tell, (please chime it if your know)there is a convergence of nerves under the 2nd scute in. Her lethargy and lack of movement kinds show that rat did some real damage to her. She dug in as soon as I got home yesterday and barely stirred under the leaves this morning when I misted. She's laying on a couple hundred worms but I put out a piece of meat for her anyway when I changed her water.

I will give her some doting when I get home....a warm bath, maybe a rub down......hoping that her wound has slowly sealed.
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,388
Got home yesterday and Matilda is really spending a lot of "alone time". I found it difficult to look up the nerve routings for a box turtle on the internet.....but from what I can tell, (please chime it if your know)there is a convergence of nerves under the 2nd scute in. Her lethargy and lack of movement kinds show that rat did some real damage to her. She dug in as soon as I got home yesterday and barely stirred under the leaves this morning when I misted. She's laying on a couple hundred worms but I put out a piece of meat for her anyway when I changed her water.

I will give her some doting when I get home....a warm bath, maybe a rub down......hoping that her wound has slowly sealed.
Good luck. Hope the little turtle will fully recover and be good as new soon.
 

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
I didn't think of that Len...good point.

She ate the meat I set out for her this morning. She actually looks pretty good, her eyes are clear and sharp, weight feels "heavy" and she still hates to "fly"!

Well here she is after her bath. I only rinsed her wound, no cotton swabs There is some dirt on the underside of her wound but it was @ the skinline so I didn't mess with it. It actually looks better in person. It took her all of 3 minutes to dig in for the night when I put her back in her home though! She prob didn't want to be handled again! LOL

I was starting to get a little nervous when I left Friday morning but she's doing fine with no obvious sign of infection, in her shell or otherwise. I have chats with the Big guy every so often, mainly when he's reaming me out for something I did, but I asked him to look out for my little girl ...while I continue to do what I think is the next right thing for her.

20221107_135824.jpg
 

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
Thanks for asking Mags, she's dug in for the night now, but she's doing great! THANKS so much for the fairy dust (Wonder dust) suggestion. It's caustic so she wasn't a happy camper between her actual would and the "pouring salt" on it but it's now healing, she's more active and she's eating like she knows she's inside for the winter.

She still cringes when I pick her up.....it might have something to do with the way her shoulders go together right under the wound site, and when I pick her up, her legs pull down.....I'll have to be aware of that next time i get her up.
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,906
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Thanks for asking Mags, she's dug in for the night now, but she's doing great! THANKS so much for the fairy dust (Wonder dust) suggestion. It's caustic so she wasn't a happy camper between her actual would and the "pouring salt" on it but it's now healing, she's more active and she's eating like she knows she's inside for the winter.

She still cringes when I pick her up.....it might have something to do with the way her shoulders go together right under the wound site, and when I pick her up, her legs pull down.....I'll have to be aware of that next time i get her up.
I think you're right. Maybe encourage her on to a towel laid on your other hand. I always carried Daisy May that way anyway because of the "I hate flying issue"🐢😉😁
 

New Posts

Top