Dog got ahold of my Sulcata tortoise.

C0di

New Member
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Kentucky
My dog got ahold of my two year old Sulcata tortoise I took her to the vet and she's on baytil. What will help her shell heal? It's been almost 2 weeks since it happened. How long should it take for her shell to heal? The pictures are the day it happened.20230122_174527.jpg20230122_174531.jpg
 

Chefdenoel10

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2018
Messages
3,162
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
Try to clean the wound area softly then apply neosporin (the one with the
“pain reliever” in it. Apply a coating of that and keep those areas clean. Especially the one on the back that is a hole!!!
and I’ll try to get @Yvonne G
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,119
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Try to clean the wound area softly then apply neosporin (the one with the
“pain reliever” in it. Apply a coating of that and keep those areas clean. Especially the one on the back that is a hole!!!
and I’ll try to get @Yvonne G
NOT the one with the pain reliever. The one without it, please. I know this was what you meant 🙂
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,119
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Baytril is harsh and painful. Your little tortoise may not survive a course of it, but hopefully he will. What conditions are you presently keeping him in?
 

thegangof5

New Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2023
Messages
4
Location (City and/or State)
Gloucestershire UK
My dog got ahold of my two year old Sulcata tortoise I took her to the vet and she's on baytil. What will help her shell heal? It's been almost 2 weeks since it happened. How long should it take for her shell to heal? The pictures are the day it happened.View attachment 353912View attachment 353913
I can't believe your vets sent him home with open wounds - is there nothing you can put over them to stop infection
 

C0di

New Member
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Kentucky
Baytril is harsh and painful. Your little tortoise may not survive a course of it, but hopefully he will. What conditions are you presently keeping him in?
We are keeping it cleaned out, Neosporin without pain, keeping it covered. We have her on straw to prevent dirt from entering her wounds.
 

C0di

New Member
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Kentucky
Try to clean the wound area softly then apply neosporin (the one with the
“pain reliever” in it. Apply a coating of that and keep those areas clean. Especially the one on the back that is a hole!!!
and I’ll try to get @Yvonne G
That's what we've been doing! Except using original Neosporin. I didn't know how long it'd take for the shell to heal. Trying to keep clean and not get infection.
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
Whatever you do, DON'T take it out on the dog. He/She did nothing wrong. They're just hardwired to see tortoises as chew toys.
Sometimes it takes years for it to happen. But it happens. Good dog or a very aggressive dog. Makes no difference.
Its up to US to stop this from happening.
Luckily, it looks like your tort will survive this one.
 

C0di

New Member
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Kentucky
I agree. She didn't do it out of aggression but playfulness. We know that and I made sure my kids understand that. This is just a freak accident that happened. They are never together. Trust me, we know we have to prevent it from happening.
Whatever you do, DON'T take it out on the dog. He/She did nothing wrong. They're just hardwired to see tortoises as chew toys.
Sometimes it takes years for it to happen. But it happens. Good dog or a very aggressive dog. Makes no difference.
Its up to US to stop this from happening.
Luckily, it looks like your tort will survive this one.
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,386
My dog got ahold of my two year old Sulcata tortoise I took her to the vet and she's on baytil. What will help her shell heal? It's been almost 2 weeks since it happened. How long should it take for her shell to heal? The pictures are the day it happened.View attachment 353912View attachment 353913
Tortoises heal much more slowly than humans and other mammals. It will be months before the healing is complete. Just keep doing what you are doing. The Baytril is given to prevent infections from starting, not to promote healing (other than the fact that having no infection allows for better and more rapid healing).

If the tortoise stops eating and becomes lethargic, you will need to take it back to the vet ASAP because something is going wrong.
 
Top