Keeper needs help

[Skip K]

Person in a FB group showed this picture asking for help. Only info...problem areas are not soft.

 

[wellington]

Looks like a fungus possible shell rot.
Tell them to try an over the counter antifungal cream like the ones for athletes foot. Keep on paper towel. Clean area daily and apply daily for about a week. If it doesnt start to clear up then try an over the counter antibiotic cream instead.
Whichever one works keep using until gone.

 

[Yvonne G]

There's something terribly wrong with those back legs. The feet are on backwards!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

That's full blown shell ROT.
And looking at those legs. Likely MBD too.

 

[Jan A]

Is that what MBD can do to legs/feet? OMG!!

 

[Skip K]

There's something terribly wrong with those back legs. The feet are on backwards!

I saw that. MBD? I’ve seen similar issues on iguanas

 

[Yossarian]

I saw that. MBD? I’ve seen similar issues on iguanas

Metabolic bone disease, quite common with iguanas too.

 

[Skip K]

Metabolic bone disease, quite common with iguanas too.

I told the lady earlier yesterday I thought it was MBD. With iguanas it usually starts with signs of toe/digit twitching...from what I’ve seen

 

[Sleppo]

There's something terribly wrong with those back legs. The feet are on backwards!

Yeah I thought they looked off too.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm pretty sure that this tortoise/turtle will be dead soon.
And that the keeper needs to be kept away from tortoises/turtles.
My guess is that the severe fungus/rot is from the animal living in it's own waste and the MBD is from insufficient sunlight and wrong diet.
It's absolutely horrible.
And completely preventable.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Is that what MBD can do to legs/feet? OMG!!

The whole skeletal system and the nerves. Eventually other critical bodily systems too.

 

[Yossarian]

The whole skeletal system and the nerves. Eventually other critical bodily systems too.

Yeah, one of my childhood friends had an iguana and clearly didnt care for it properly. Its legs and feet were a mess, its jaw was badly deformed, and its spine was badly bent. Poor animal, was always mean and aggressive but I bet he was in pain pretty much all the time.

 

[Skip K]

I'm pretty sure that this tortoise/turtle will be dead soon.
And that the keeper needs to be kept away from tortoises/turtles.
My guess is that the severe fungus/rot is from the animal living in it's own waste and the MBD is from insufficient sunlight and wrong diet.
It's absolutely horrible.
And completely preventable.

I tried yesterday to be somewhat tactful...but there was simply no way I could soften or sugar coat the husbandry issues. She hasn’t responded back...I gave it the ol’ college try anyway

 

[Jan A]

I tried yesterday to be somewhat tactful...but there was simply no way I could soften or sugar coat the husbandry issues. She hasn’t responded back...I gave it the ol’ college try anyway

Maybe if he/she/it reads your comment, he/she/it will be so ashamed they will gift it to animal rescue or better caregiver or take better care...but I doubt it. Truly, truly heartbroken for this tort!

 

[Skip K]

Maybe if he/she/it reads your comment, he/she/it will be so ashamed they will gift it to animal rescue or better caregiver or take better care...but I doubt it. Truly, truly heartbroken for this tort!

She said it would be a week before seeing the vet...sad. I’m probably not too popular with that group. I’ve also talked quite a few “spur of the moment” potential turtle/tortoise owners from impulse buying. Especially water turtles. Rescue/adoption sites are full of adult water turtles people underestimated...and are now tired of taking care of them. Tortoises rarely show up on these sites though. Once I explain the situation..they decide water turtles are not for them. I don’t enjoy doing this...but it’s in the best interest of the animals and owners.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Yeah, one of my childhood friends had an iguana and clearly didnt care for it properly. Its legs and feet were a mess, its jaw was badly deformed, and its spine was badly bent. Poor animal, was always mean and aggressive but I bet he was in pain pretty much all the time.

And even though MBD can be stopped. None of the damage is reversible. So at some point, euthanasia should be considered.
It'd be the first ethical thing that the owner ever did.
Too bad so many people see living creatures as disposable play toys.

 

[Skip K]

And even though MBD can be stopped. None of the damage is reversible. So at some point, euthanasia should be considered.
It'd be the first ethical thing that the owner ever did.
Too bad so many people see living creatures as disposable play toys.

Fads and impulse buying...usually ends with “I had good intentions”...

 

[crimson_lotus]

She said it would be a week before seeing the vet...sad. I’m probably not too popular with that group. I’ve also talked quite a few “spur of the moment” potential turtle/tortoise owners from impulse buying. Especially water turtles. Rescue/adoption sites are full of adult water turtles people underestimated...and are now tired of taking care of them. Tortoises rarely show up on these sites though. Once I explain the situation..they decide water turtles are not for them. I don’t enjoy doing this...but it’s in the best interest of the animals and owners.

in comparison to my tortoise, once my water turtle was set up he has been SO EASY to take care of! (give or take the filter cleanings ) The problem is getting them set up right in the first place, I suppose.

The biggest issues I see with turtles near me is space. Red eared sliders just get so big, it's hard to accommodate them or find anything accommodating for them on the market very easily, and they are one of the most popular species of pet turtles. Pet stores have been slowly changing...I remember when I was a kid I would check out all of the pet stores in the mall. Today I believe all of those pet stores are gone, and most pet smarts/petco's near me work with shelters now. I dont know what its like in other states, I assume some are "upgraded" more than others, but it's something.

 

[crimson_lotus]

also I have never really thought about it, but could MBD really do such immediate damage to such a young animal? I thought MBD was more something you get over time, but not immediately. Can they be born with MBD?

 

[Skip K]

in comparison to my tortoise, once my water turtle was set up he has been SO EASY to take care of! (give or take the filter cleanings ) The problem is getting them set up right in the first place, I suppose.

The biggest issues I see with turtles near me is space. Red eared sliders just get so big, it's hard to accommodate them or find anything accommodating for them on the market very easily, and they are one of the most popular species of pet turtles. Pet stores have been slowly changing...I remember when I was a kid I would check out all of the pet stores in the mall. Today I believe all of those pet stores are gone, and most pet smarts/petco's near me work with shelters now. I dont know what its like in other states, I assume some are "upgraded" more than others, but it's something.

The issues most have that I’ve seen...is they don’t research the turtle ( especially the water variety) they are getting. And either the turtle is kept in too small a tank...or around the 3rd aquarium upgrade they pay for becomes too expensive...or proper maintenance becomes a chore ...or the child who swore they would take care of it but tires of it and the parents don’t have time to assume it’s care....well...this leads to the turtle dying...or going to rescue center ( if they will take them) or being released into the wild (possibly sick). Some make an effort to address a sick animal but aren’t prepared for expensive vet bills...and there is no guarantee even then. I’d rather paint a overly reality based picture to prospective buyers/adopters.