Hello, My 25 year old Russian tortoise has had some shell peeling problems. Now the smooth part of the plastron under his neck has peeled and it is rough right under his right arm. He was in his outside enclosure and when I brought him in tonight I found that there is an abrasion and he some blood from his right leg.
We cleaned it and put on antibiotic cream. We tried to find some tape that would stick over the rough part but none of it would stay. He was starting to get stressed and so I put him in a large plastic box with newspaper. There is a heat lamp with an infrared bulb on to keep it above 70 degrees.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there tape or something else that will work to cover the rough part? I will be able to take him to a tortoise vet on Saturday.
Usually he is outside in an 8 x 10 foot pen. He does try to climb out all the time and I think that may be the reason for the rubbed wound. I don't know what is going on with his shell though. There are a few other places on the carapace where it seems that the top layer of the shell has peeled off and it is sort of rougher underneath.
I won't have pictures until tomorrow. Need the daylight to get better ones.
My name is Kim and I live in Southern California.
Thanks for your help.
Kim
We cleaned it and put on antibiotic cream. We tried to find some tape that would stick over the rough part but none of it would stay. He was starting to get stressed and so I put him in a large plastic box with newspaper. There is a heat lamp with an infrared bulb on to keep it above 70 degrees.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there tape or something else that will work to cover the rough part? I will be able to take him to a tortoise vet on Saturday.
Usually he is outside in an 8 x 10 foot pen. He does try to climb out all the time and I think that may be the reason for the rubbed wound. I don't know what is going on with his shell though. There are a few other places on the carapace where it seems that the top layer of the shell has peeled off and it is sort of rougher underneath.
I won't have pictures until tomorrow. Need the daylight to get better ones.
My name is Kim and I live in Southern California.
Thanks for your help.
Kim