Carapace flaking off and revealing something underneath?

[For-Mr.Spock]

Hello!

My Russian tortoise is a wild caught, I got her from PetSmart two years ago, and she is somewhere between 5 and 10 years old as well as we can tell. She is active and has a good appetite. When I first got her, she had some she'll damage that has been very slowly healing. She has also had a lot of new growth over the past few years.

Today, I felt something rough on her carapace and turned her over. Some of old, injured scute had flaked off and revealed something underneath that looks dirty and very much not good. It isn't wet, so I don't think it's shell rot. The photos are attached.

The area itself has been a problem since I got her. Attached is also a before photo of before the damaged parts flaked off taken in 2020. You can see that the area where the damaged scute came off was discolored even a year ago.

Any idea what this is?

 

[wellington]

That's the plastron bottom shell carapace is top shell.
@Yvonne G can probably help you best.

 

[For-Mr.Spock]

That's the plastron bottom shell carapace is top shell.
@Yvonne G can probably help you best.

My bad, I always get them reversed.

 

[Yvonne G]

That's on an area where new growth appears. It might have been some sort of rot or fungus that wasn't treated. If it were my tortoise I would soak the tortoise to soften the area, then try to pick out everything that will come out easily, then use honey to kill any bacteria that may be present. It helps in the healing process.

 

[For-Mr.Spock]

That's on an area where new growth appears. It might have been some sort of rot or fungus that wasn't treated. If it were my tortoise I would soak the tortoise to soften the area, then try to pick out everything that will come out easily, then use honey to kill any bacteria that may be present. It helps in the healing process.

Thank you!

 

[wellington]

My bad, I always get them reversed.

No problem. I have to stop and think about it every time.

 

[wellington]

That's on an area where new growth appears. It might have been some sort of rot or fungus that wasn't treated. If it were my tortoise I would soak the tortoise to soften the area, then try to pick out everything that will come out easily, then use honey to kill any bacteria that may be present. It helps in the healing process.

Yvonne, isnt the honey a certain kind. It's not the regular stuff that people buy to put on toast and eat?
This is one kind I found. Basically medical grade kinds.
(Manuka honey is used in medical settings to treat wounds because it's been found to be an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration. Studies show that Manuka honey can boost healing time and reduce infection).

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes, manuka honey.

 

[TammyJ]

Please keep us posted on the progress here!

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

I'm curious about updates on this cutie pie! Odd ball shell flaking. Did that honey cause any changes at all....?

 

[Cathie G]

I'm curious about updates on this cutie pie! Odd ball shell flaking. Did that honey cause any changes at all....?

It's funny but I'm thinking of trying manuka honey myself... that way if my tort ever needs some I'll have it on hand ? they say it's good for IBS.

 

[Cathie G]

It's funny but I'm thinking of trying manuka honey myself... that way if my tort ever needs some I'll have it on hand ? they say it's good for IBS.

Raw honey is an old time medicine also for the upper respiratory system. I need both.

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Manuka honey is used in medical settings to treat wounds because it's been found to be an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration. Studies sho

This type of honey is good used for URI in torts as well as bacterial infections?

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Is it more of a topical? 0_o

 

[Cathie G]

Is it more of a topical? 0_o

It's downright delicious! And as it turns out really good for humans also. I bought some today and to get the real stuff is expensive. It was around $23 for 8.8 ozs. Supposedly, it will help IBS so it's worth a try. I've seen our raw honey from the US do some really good things. This stuff is very thick and concentrated. I intend to try it...

 

[wellington]

This type of honey is good used for URI in torts as well as bacterial infections?

This is the kind that is suppose to be used for wounds etc, correct. Not just honey, which most would think of the regular kind we put on toast and comes in the cute teddy bear bottle. That's not the right kind, correct?
Or doesn't it matter?
Whenever I have seen it listed for wound care, it has not been regular honey we all think of.

 

[ZenHerper]

This is the kind that is suppose to be used for wounds etc, correct. Not just honey, which most would think of the regular kind we put on toast and comes in the cute teddy bear bottle. That's not the right kind, correct?
Or doesn't it matter?
Whenever I have seen it listed for wound care, it has not been regular honey we all think of.

All honey has a few antioxidants and antibacterial compounds in it...the more processed, the fewer beneficial compounds survive.

Raw honey contains more than processed honey. Manuka honey contains the strongest antioxidant compounds in the greatest amount world-wide. That is why is it so expensive.

Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview

The importance of honey for medicinal purposes is well documented in some of the world's oldest literature. Honey is well known and studied for its antimicrobial properties. The medicinal properties in honey originate from the floral source used by bees. ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health Benefits of Manuka Honey as an Essential Constituent for Tissue Regeneration - PubMed

In addition to bacterial growth inhibition, glyoxal (GO) and MGO from Manuka honey can enhance wound healing and tissue regeneration by their immunomodulatory property. Further studies are needed to provide detailed information about active components of Manuka honey and their potential efficacy...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Manuka Honey: No Longer So Alternative

Medicinal honey research is undergoing a substantial renaissance. From a folklore remedy largely dismissed by mainstream medicine as “alternative”, we now see increased interest by scientists, clinical practitioners and the general public ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Honeys (and other bee-produced items) have been used medicinally since people began collecting it wild. The sugar and active constituents are beneficial in many ways.

Greek honey may actually be stronger than Manuka:

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of different types of honey derived from Mount Olympus in Greece - PubMed

The aim of the present study was to examine the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of 21 types of honey derived from Mount Olympus (Mt. Olympus), a region with great plant biodiversity. The antibacterial activity was examined against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Cathie G]

One way to tell if you have raw honey from the US is to stick a teaspoon in it (and of course lick the spoon clean after) does the honey foam up around the area that you inserted the spoon. That means it still has the antibacterial and etc... honey has always been one of my best medicines.

 

[wellington]

All honey has a few antioxidants and antibacterial compounds in it...the more processed, the fewer beneficial compounds survive.

Raw honey contains more than processed honey. Manuka honey contains the strongest antioxidant compounds in the greatest amount world-wide. That is why is it so expensive.

Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview

The importance of honey for medicinal purposes is well documented in some of the world's oldest literature. Honey is well known and studied for its antimicrobial properties. The medicinal properties in honey originate from the floral source used by bees. ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health Benefits of Manuka Honey as an Essential Constituent for Tissue Regeneration - PubMed

In addition to bacterial growth inhibition, glyoxal (GO) and MGO from Manuka honey can enhance wound healing and tissue regeneration by their immunomodulatory property. Further studies are needed to provide detailed information about active components of Manuka honey and their potential efficacy...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Manuka Honey: No Longer So Alternative

Medicinal honey research is undergoing a substantial renaissance. From a folklore remedy largely dismissed by mainstream medicine as “alternative”, we now see increased interest by scientists, clinical practitioners and the general public ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Honeys (and other bee-produced items) have been used medicinally since people began collecting it wild. The sugar and active constituents are beneficial in many ways.

Greek honey may actually be stronger than Manuka:

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of different types of honey derived from Mount Olympus in Greece - PubMed

The aim of the present study was to examine the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of 21 types of honey derived from Mount Olympus (Mt. Olympus), a region with great plant biodiversity. The antibacterial activity was examined against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Would/Could honey be more beneficial in a prolapse then sugar?

 

[Cathie G]

Would/Could honey be more beneficial in a prolapse then sugar?

I'm curious as to what you mean by a prolapse.