Right Eye Hard and Swollen, Russian Tortoise.

mybusiness

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Howdy Everyone!

I have a 3 year old Russian Tortoise named Toytal. She has swelling over her right eye. It started off small 8 months ago but now it is really big. I took her to a veterinarian who specializes in turtles, and after $80 she could not tell me much about it or what it could possibly be. She told me that I have to see another specialist to have them remove it (I thought that was why I took Toytal to her in the first place). Anyways, I don't have money to spend on maybe's. Toytal is perfectly healthy according to the Vet, the mass is hard, and the eye does water a little bit sometimes. Can anyone please tell us what this is so we can see if its operable or if its due to a vitamin deficiency. Her set up is controlled, heat, moisture, water, bedding, housing (not in glass), greens, etc. I have attached a photo. Thank you

PS, the white crust seen on her eye is from the calcium from Repti Calcium that I sprinkle on her food. The surface is actual clean and smooth, hard.
 

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Ink

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Do you soak your tortoise in shallow warm water?
 

Lyn W

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Hi and welcome,
When did you first see the vet about this and what treatment has been given so far - eye drops, creams, antibiotics etc?
If you post a picture of her enclosure and the lamps you use then we can see if there's anything that could causing this.
It would also be helpful if you tell us what the humidity and temps are in her enclosure too.
I'll tag some members who may have seen this before @zovick @ZenHerper @Tom @Yvonne G @KarenSoCal
 
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mark1

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i've seen that cured in water turtles with boric acid /enrofloxacin baths therapy also included oral vitamin A , and antibiotic injections ....... not being a water turtle you might want to consider some enrofloxacin eye drops with an anti inflammatory ? might be an underlying vitamin issue also , eye problems also are indications of general health/disease ......
 

wellington

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@Yvonne G may have an idea also.
In the meantime give us all the info you can on her care. Diet, enclosure size, heat, type of lighting, temps, day, night, basking, etc.
 

Yvonne G

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Get some eye ointment and apply it to the area a couple times a day. This is what I use:

eye ointment b.jpg

You can find it in pet stores, if not, then online.
 

Sarah2020

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Maybe more soaks to encourage hydration as tortoise looks dry. In addition please check the light in use as this can cause eye issues. Looks sore and uncomfortable hope you can find a fix.
 

KarenSoCal

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This may be easier said than done, but I would try to put some warm compresses on this, as in get a washcloth wet with really warm water and hold it gently over the area.

Use common sense re' the temp... test it on your inner wrist.

I realize your tort is not going to see any reason to cooperate, but warm compresses can do wonders. It will soften the skin and help draw out any infection, if that's what this is.

Try for several times a day, for as long as possible, keeping the cloth warm.

And do use the gel that Yvonne recommended.
 

TaylorTortoise

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Howdy Everyone!

I have a 3 year old Russian Tortoise named Toytal. She has swelling over her right eye. It started off small 8 months ago but now it is really big. I took her to a veterinarian who specializes in turtles, and after $80 she could not tell me much about it or what it could possibly be. She told me that I have to see another specialist to have them remove it (I thought that was why I took Toytal to her in the first place). Anyways, I don't have money to spend on maybe's. Toytal is perfectly healthy according to the Vet, the mass is hard, and the eye does water a little bit sometimes. Can anyone please tell us what this is so we can see if its operable or if its due to a vitamin deficiency. Her set up is controlled, heat, moisture, water, bedding, housing (not in glass), greens, etc. I have attached a photo. Thank you

PS, the white crust seen on her eye is from the calcium from Repti Calcium that I sprinkle on her food. The surface is actual clean and smooth, hard.
Can the tortoise see out of his eye?
 

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