Red Ear slider found...bad shape, needs help.

[Laura]

It was taken to a Vet by some boys who supposedly found it in a pond and it was chewed by a dog.
It is small salad plate size maybe.. its shell is in bad shape, shell rot and dog chewed? Its underside has bruised marks. Its very thin. We put it in a shallow warm water bath.. it floated and it was lopsided..
I dont think it will live. its in bad shape. The shelter where its at is not set up for its care, i suggested it be sent straight to rescue. Although most are full.. especially of RES...
Maybe Euth is best, but always like to try to help. Since its usually people who caused it...
Ideas? Keep it dry. how to treat? Only water to eat?

 

[Shellback]

Laura sad to say sometimes the kidest way to help is to let it go
Nothing should have to suffer like that .


William

 

[evin]

my red ear was on the brink of death and made a full recovery they are very resilient animals, it probly has RI and if it has any chance it needs meds

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Laura: A turtle that has been out of the water for a very long time sometimes has trouble "sinking." But your turtle probably has pneumonia, which causes the turtle to float at an angle also. The turtle needs a regimen of Baytril injections (or the tablets). A turtle that has shell rot or dog chews needs to be dry-docked for 23 of the 24 hours in the day. You allow the turtle to be in shallow water for an hour, and you feed him. After the hour, you dry him off, paint the wounds with diluted Betadine the first two days, and diluted Chlorhexadine (Nolvasan) every day after that. (The Betadine kills off any germs, but it also inhibits the new growth, so you don't want to use it for more than a couple days.) Then you put him into a warm, dark, quiet area for the other 23 hours. I've seen dog-chewed water turtles where you could actually see the lungs functioning and the heart beating, but with care and treatment, they survived. You will know when its time to stop the dry-docking. The turtle will look much better and be more active.

Yvonne

 

[purpod]

Yvonne ~ You rock, my dear ~ once again, you've come thru with expert advice that is clearly understood and muchly needed ~ Xllnt!

Bestest prayers for your lil' RES, Laura ~
Purpod

 

[Yvonne G]

Yvonne ~ You rock, my dear ~ once again, you've come thru with expert advice that is clearly understood and muchly needed ~ Xllnt!

Bestest prayers for your lil' RES, Laura ~
Purpod

Thanks for that, Purpod: I thought I was going to get a little flack for keeping a WATER turtle out of the water for so long each day. Mary at the Turtle Puddle doesn't believe it is healthy for the turtle and has called me on it in the past. But I've taken care of lots and lots of mostly RES that have been struck by a car or chewed by a dog, and I only lost one so far (and it wasn't to dehydration!).

Yvonne

 

[purpod]

Nah, Yvonne, no harassment from this girl; you gave xllnt advice, and if the lil' tort was moving about from one pond to another in the wild, he may very well be on a trek for hour upon hour.. besides, a little drink can be given if dehydration is a worry for some..

Keep up the great work, my dear ~
Purpod

 

[Laura]

I passed the info along to the shelter caring for it. My first thought was out of the water as well. Faster healing I figured..
THANKYOU!

 

[Jentortmom]

I hope they follow through with the care or humanly euthinize him. Yvonne I wouldn't worry about the place calling you on drydocking, I here about it all the time. Good Job!!