Found turtle hit by car!! NEED HELP!

[tortoisetime565]

We found this turtle. He is pretty beat up. He WILL drink water from a drip system but he looks bad. At least two cracks on his shell. I haven't turned him over in fear of severely hurting him. I think maybe he has a intestine hanging out.

 

[tortoisetime565]

Here are some pictures.

 

[sissyofone]

Thank you so much for trying to help. Poor Little Turtle Someone will be along soon to help out. I've not dealt with those type injuries before. But GOOD LUCK to you both. And Thanks Again

 

[bouaboua]

I have no idea what to do too. Sorry but someone may able to offer advises.

Bless your heart.

 

[tortoisetime565]

Thanks! He is very active now. I'm trying to get him to calm down. He is drinking and nibbling on a lettuce leaf. I figured maybe add calcium to help heal his shell? I'm cleaning his shell cracks with salt water.

 

[bouaboua]

Can you take picture of the plastron. Of cause without hurting him more.

 

[tortoisetime565]

I'm scared to pick him up. I haven't moved him.besides putting him into the container. When I did that he bled. I don't want to cause him harm. And now that he is more active I don't want him snapping at me.

 

[Yvonne G]

What little I can see of the injuries are really very minor. At any rate, the turtle should go through an antibiotic regimen to keep infection at bay.

 

[tortoisetime565]

Okay. Thanks Yvonne. I'll have to try to get him to the vet..

 

[katrvt]

You are in okc, right? Dr Minson is in until 10pm tonight and 10a to 10p tomorrow at Neel veterinary hospital. 947-8387

 

[compassrose26]

Look for a wildlife rehabilitation center near you! They will definitely take the little guy in, get it vet care, and release!!

 

[tortoisetime565]

I have been looking. I don't know anyone that would help him for free. I'm limited on money. I can't afford a $1000 bill on a turtle I found on the road. And it breaks my heart. I want what is best for this turtle.

 

[tortoisetime565]

He seems to be doing good, he pooped, it was bloody though. I cleaned his water for the night, I put warm salt water on his cracks. There is one major one that goes all the way from the top shell to the bottom.

 

[tortoisetime565]

Here are some more pictures. I've dubbed him Crash. I hope he makes it through the night. I'll have to try to get him help tomorrow.

 

[dmmj]

I see some cracks, but no breakage. Tge turtle should be ok without vet intervention, should also be little to no pain, infection from the cracks will be the biggest concern.

 

[mike taylor]

I've seen some poeple have put a spot of JB weld on one side of the crack then add a wire then put a small spot of JB weld on the other then put the wire in .After weld dries tighten up the wire . But your turtle has fatty tissue hanging out . She will have to see a vet . So they can put the tissue back in and clean it up . But on the other hand reptiles are resilient . I have seen some messed up box turtles in the wild that healed up with no help from anyone . Look at all the turtles that get legs eaten of or box turtles missing half of their hinge shell . If you don't take him to a vet I'm 50% the fatty tissue will die and fall off .

 

[tortoisetime565]

Okay. This eased my mind..

I'm cleaning the wounds with warm salt water multiple times a day. He has a CHE on him now and will be out outside in the sun tomorrow.

How long does it normally take for these cracks to heal up?

Do you think he can Ebert be released into the wild again?

 

[mike taylor]

It takes a long time to heal . Maybe as long as you don't hand feed him and make him to domesticated.

 

[dmmj]

Shells take a long time to heal, check your laws on releasing, of course the more you domesticate him, the harder it will be to release.

 

[mike taylor]

If it was me I'd use a two part epoxy resin and four zip ties . Cut the zip ties in half glue one to each side of the crack then when the glue dries zip the ties . The glue and zip ties will fall off with the sheding of the scutes . The only thing I don't know 100% is the tissue problem . Thats the only thing . Crack is one thing but the tissue is a another thing . I will bet she will be fine as long as you keep it clean .