Missing nails

Tabby0318

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Hi, after giving Tabby a soak I noticed she has 2 nails missing on her front leg. I am sure they were there a couple of weeks ago as I give her a wash when she is soaking to get the mud off her when she has been in the garden. There has been no blood and she hasn't been limping or showing any signs something was wrong.
I took her to the vets to make sure there is no infection. The vet said there are no signs of infection and is weird as they have just gone and can't even see the base of the nail.
Any ideas as to what might have caused it?
Do they heal quite quickly if the nail was caught somewhere?
 

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The_Four_Toed_Edward

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If the nail bed is missing, there is a possibility that they might not grow back anymore - though I don't think it will bother the tortoise. Is there anything she could've gotten caught on?

My Russian came to me with 3 nails in one of his hind legs and two on the other. Now he has 3 nails in both legs, and I doubt that the fourth ones will ever grow back.
 

Tabby0318

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2018
Messages
89
Location (City and/or State)
England
If the nail bed is missing, there is a possibility that they might not grow back anymore - though I don't think it will bother the tortoise. Is there anything she could've gotten caught on?

My Russian came to me with 3 nails in one of his hind legs and two on the other. Now he has 3 nails in both legs, and I doubt that the fourth ones will ever grow back.
I didn't know this could happen, so good to know. Still learning 🙂

I have checked over the garden but can't see anything that she could get caught on. We designed the garden for her with slopes etc. She occasionally tries to climb the wall in the corner, but she hasn't done that for a few weeks.

If they did grow back do you know how long it takes?

I'll keep checking her other nails over the next few weeks just in case.
Thanks
 

The_Four_Toed_Edward

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If they did grow back do you know how long it takes?
For Edward it took 11 weeks, but it probably varies. It is a goof habit to check your tortoise routinely, during soaks for example. Did you know that even ticks can be a problem for tortoises? Well that was news to me when I was a new keeper 😁
 

Tabby0318

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5 Year Member
Joined
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Messages
89
Location (City and/or State)
England
For Edward it took 11 weeks, but it probably varies. It is a goof habit to check your tortoise routinely, during soaks for example. Did you know that even ticks can be a problem for tortoises? Well that was news to me when I was a new keeper 😁
Ok, will see if they grow back.

I do check around the neck area and her back area when I bring her in from the garden, make sure she hasn't got ants or spiders on her. Only noticed her nails this week when soaking. I do check her eyes aswell as she always finds the cobwebs and ends up with it all over her face.

I had a baby bird in the garden last year that had ticks, I was paranoid for weeks checking Tabby every day. Luckily haven't found any.
 

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