can turtle shells be trimmed?

[mao]

Hi my turtle has a spike like growth in her shell above the neck area that causes her to bleed at times. Its kind of yellowish and I don't think should be there. Can this be trimmed or cut?

 

[Tom]

Something like this would need to be evaluated and performed by an experienced tortoise vet.

 

[Yvonne G]

Because it would bleed - a lot, trimming the shell should only be done by a good tortoise vet.

 

[Cathie G]

Hi my turtle has a spike like growth in her shell above the neck area that causes her to bleed at times. Its kind of yellowish and I don't think should be there. Can this be trimmed or cut?

Could he/ she be just scratching an itchy spot with a normal part of the shell. Is it possibly mites? What kind of turtle? Sometimes they have little projections on their shell for a purpose.

 

[JoesMum]

Can we see a photo of the head and of the shell?

 

[mao]

Hi and thanks everyone for the replies. She is a yellow belly terrapin. I checked on line and cannot find pictures of any other terrapin with that kind of protuberance in that area specifically. I will post a picture later this evening. The colour and the texture seem to be different from the actual shell. What curios me beside I cannot find any other references to it on line is that it literally poke her neck every time she look up. I am sure it is not as nature intended. Will post picture and wait for response before deciding if to bring her to a vet

 

[mao]

Hi everyone see picture attached. What do you think Vet or I am simply paranoid??

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes, I can see where that might be a problem. If it continues to make the turtle bleed, I would ask a vet to file it down for you.

 

[Amelia.Walton]

Something like this would need to be evaluated and performed by an experienced tortoise vet.

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