Baby box turtle tail not improving

[WallieTheTortoise]

Every morning I have been soaking her and applying neosporin in a separate container. Today I looked at her tail and it looks like its getting worse. It looks like its a little swollen and I see a little red...what do you guys think is going on?

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Wow....I'm feeding her a worm now, and it looks like the part of the tail distal to the injury is going to come off.

 

[Yvonne G]

Its just like when you girdle a tree. Once you've disrupted the blood flow from the body to the tip of the tail, the end piece has to die. It will fall off and there won't be any problems. Happens all the time.

In fact, just to put it into perspective, when a farmer wants to make a bull calf into a steer, he applies a tight little rubber band around the sac above the testicles. The reduced blood flow kills the bottom section and eventually the testicles and excess sac fall off.

So, losing a little bit of tail isn't such a big deal.

(ouch)

 

[WallieTheTortoise]

Ick, I heard about that, the only difference was that it was a dog. I got nauseous when I saw her tail before, poor little one. It doesn't seem like she cares though, she was running around chasing worms and strawberries.

 

[jojodesca]

You seem to be doing a great job to try to save the tail...hopefully its just new growth...does the tip of the tail look like its lost blood flow?..is it drier and seem stiff like its dead?..if so then it will fall off...otherwise let nature takes it course. Sorry about your little one!

 

[WallieTheTortoise]

You seem to be doing a great job to try to save the tail...hopefully its just new growth...does the tip of the tail look like its lost blood flow?..is it drier and seem stiff like its dead?..if so then it will fall off...otherwise let nature takes it course. Sorry about your little one!

Thanks, it actually looks fine, but what makes me think that it'll fall off is that it can bend all the way back (ick, bad image in my head now).

 

[jojodesca]

Thanks, it actually looks fine, but what makes me think that it'll fall off is that it can bend all the way back (ick, bad image in my head now).
[/quote]

eek....another thought that crossed my mind...my ttbt can close all the way up into their shells...i think ALL boxies can...and they can close tight from predators...I am wondering if yours did...and didn't get the tail in all the way and pinched it..(get what i mean)....

 

[WallieTheTortoise]

Thanks, it actually looks fine, but what makes me think that it'll fall off is that it can bend all the way back (ick, bad image in my head now).

eek....another thought that crossed my mind...my ttbt can close all the way up into their shells...i think ALL boxies can...and they can close tight from predators...I am wondering if yours did...and didn't get the tail in all the way and pinched it..(get what i mean)....
[/quote]

If that's what happened, then that's a good explanation because I have no idea what caused it. Baby boxies can close up? (she's about 4-5 months old)

 

[turtlemann2]

that seems a bit too young for her hinge to start working, but i suppose it is possible

as emysemys says once it loses blood flow the end will fall off and it should be fine, as far as the story about making potential bulls into steers.... ive banded a few and ill tell ya im glad i aint no steer that for sure!

 

[WallieTheTortoise]

Well, it's official, that part of her tail broke off =(

 

[turtlemann2]

it had to happen sooner or later and now that is has, it has a chance to heal

 

[jojodesca]

Well, it's official, that part of her tail broke off =(

can we see pics..poor baby....

 

[tortuga_please]

At least now it can heal properly, and she probably didn't feel anything

 

[WallieTheTortoise]

can we see pics..poor baby....

Ill post pics tommorrow, if I bug her now, she'll throw a hissy fit.