SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
Isabella
- Thread starter SuzanneZ
- Start date
>>> What I'm dealing with is not white. She came here with one dime size darker area three scutes up from her tail . Not dark dark, just slightly different. I got them on the 13th (seems like months). Four days ago to he area blew up. The original area is now a depression and two more are dips. Treating from advice off the forum. She stopped eating last night. She aims her back toward the heat, but she's not right under it. I changed from foot cream to triple antibiotic this morning after her 30 minute soak.
/copy-pasted Suzanne's description of problem from other thread/
/copy-pasted Suzanne's description of problem from other thread/
@SuzanneZ Are you concerned about white stripes between scutes and change of elevation of a central scute and two neighbouring ones?
SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
Poor Isabella has areas on her lower back that I've been treating for fungus since it suddenly grew from the darkened area she came to me with on the 13th. She and Little Russian were one day late arriving. She was on top of him. She was out of the white shipment bag, he was tied in his. They seemed fine, vigorous. She had a slightly dark area third scute from her tail.
Four days ago the dark area suddenly sank and two more areas began to dip slightly. I looked up shell rot and did as was suggested. It took a day to even locate povidone-iodine, never did locate the one that starts with an N. Treated one time with triple antibiotic, then went with athlete's foot cream.
She stopped eating this morning.
She aims her back toward the heat light, but doesn't get under it. Otherwise she's in her hide.
First three days soaked her twice a day for 15-20 minutes in the weak sun. Today, 30 minutes.
Four days ago the dark area suddenly sank and two more areas began to dip slightly. I looked up shell rot and did as was suggested. It took a day to even locate povidone-iodine, never did locate the one that starts with an N. Treated one time with triple antibiotic, then went with athlete's foot cream.
She stopped eating this morning.
She aims her back toward the heat light, but doesn't get under it. Otherwise she's in her hide.
First three days soaked her twice a day for 15-20 minutes in the weak sun. Today, 30 minutes.
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SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
No. That's foot cream. Wouldn't come off. I don't know where posts ended up.
Suzanne posted a new thread with all the details. Here: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/miss-isabella.208495/
This one could be deleted, I guess
This one could be deleted, I guess
SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
Would be ok. I sent 2 pics and the write-up to health I hope.
SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
Really hard to tell how depressed that one area is even blowing the photo up.
Hello!
I've done some search on the forum:
1. Shell fungus and rot are very-very rare among Russian tortoises. And when it happens it happens on the plastron, fungus and rot on the top shell are extremely rare. Did someone assured you that Isabella have a shell rot (vet, one of the forum members)? Can you take a photo of a plastron (belly)?
2. I don't see any suspicious on the photo you posted here and on the better quality photos in the "Shell rot" thread (https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/what-shell-fungus-shell-rot-looks-like.163109/page-4#post-2084837)
3. For me (inexperienced owner) it looks like split scutes, which aren't harmful. But I don't know if this could happen with grown up tortoises.
4. On applying treatments:
* Betadine (povidone-iodine) should be applied once or two. It's used to quickly suppress contamination of the wounded areas. It's not a long-term treatment.
* Antifungial creme should be applied to contaminated areas and a small border around them (mention it here, because tortoise shell is glossy, like it has creme applied all over it).
* Never ever use antibiotic-containing (antibacterial) treatments once and cancel. They must be applied every day for 7-10 days or more (check the usage guides for a specific cure). Only if there is a bacterial infection confirmed. Applying them "just in case" or for less than a week might suppress the infection, but doesn't kill bacteria completely. As a result next time we might get an infection with bacteria adapted and resistant to antibiotic, which is much trickier to cure.
Can you post some details on substrate, humidity and temperatures in the enclosure?
I've done some search on the forum:
1. Shell fungus and rot are very-very rare among Russian tortoises. And when it happens it happens on the plastron, fungus and rot on the top shell are extremely rare. Did someone assured you that Isabella have a shell rot (vet, one of the forum members)? Can you take a photo of a plastron (belly)?
2. I don't see any suspicious on the photo you posted here and on the better quality photos in the "Shell rot" thread (https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/what-shell-fungus-shell-rot-looks-like.163109/page-4#post-2084837)
3. For me (inexperienced owner) it looks like split scutes, which aren't harmful. But I don't know if this could happen with grown up tortoises.
4. On applying treatments:
* Betadine (povidone-iodine) should be applied once or two. It's used to quickly suppress contamination of the wounded areas. It's not a long-term treatment.
* Antifungial creme should be applied to contaminated areas and a small border around them (mention it here, because tortoise shell is glossy, like it has creme applied all over it).
* Never ever use antibiotic-containing (antibacterial) treatments once and cancel. They must be applied every day for 7-10 days or more (check the usage guides for a specific cure). Only if there is a bacterial infection confirmed. Applying them "just in case" or for less than a week might suppress the infection, but doesn't kill bacteria completely. As a result next time we might get an infection with bacteria adapted and resistant to antibiotic, which is much trickier to cure.
Can you post some details on substrate, humidity and temperatures in the enclosure?
SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
Some very good information on here. Thank you.
Yes, I read somewhere to apply the medicine all over the area. Since three scutes are affected, I went on and around them.
Understand about the antibiotic. I was just putting out forest fires . I forgot some things I once knew. When ones little friend is leaking fluids from a dip in her back, one tries things. And it must be painful. She reacts. And she doesn't like me any more. (There is no odor.)
Substrate - 3 inches of earth and coir.
Yes, I read somewhere to apply the medicine all over the area. Since three scutes are affected, I went on and around them.
Understand about the antibiotic. I was just putting out forest fires . I forgot some things I once knew. When ones little friend is leaking fluids from a dip in her back, one tries things. And it must be painful. She reacts. And she doesn't like me any more. (There is no odor.)
Substrate - 3 inches of earth and coir.
No offence, we are both tortioise newbies here and tend to panic 
You didn't mention any fluids before. Can you dip a cotton bud in that to see what color it is?
And I would search for a good vet and make a preventive appointment. Any leaks between scutes seem very wrong to me.
@zovick or @Yvonne G maybe you can take a look?
You didn't mention any fluids before. Can you dip a cotton bud in that to see what color it is?
And I would search for a good vet and make a preventive appointment. Any leaks between scutes seem very wrong to me.
@zovick or @Yvonne G maybe you can take a look?
SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
Not between scutes. From the dip area. It was like puss. Ran down and dripped off her tail. Happened only once.No offence, we are both tortioise newbies here and tend to panic
You didn't mention any fluids before. Can you dip a cotton bud in that to see what color it is?
And I would search for a good vet and make a preventive appointment. Any leaks between scutes seem very wrong to me.
@zovick or @Yvonne G maybe you can take a look?
SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
Probably an abscess that ruptured.
Oh. That sounds far more serious... I hope for the best and for the help of the forum members.
SuzanneZ
Well-Known Member
But if it was one, it drained, which is the best thing.
That's a good thing, yes. Unfortunately, I'm not knowledgeable enough to say if antibiotic treatment is needed (not creme, injections), yet have a feeling that is.
