Shell Injury Update

[Texastort]

Hi everyone! My big male, Dash, burned his shell this winter on a heat lamp. I have kept it clean and disinfected, and aside from enjoying it being scratched, he's as normal (and frisky) as ever. I just checked on him and that burned scute at the top is getting more loose. Will this fall off? Underneath its just white shell. Should I be concerned?

 

[Yvonne G]

Over time new keratin is growing under the dead bone (white stuff). It takes a VERY long time for it to take over the area, but eventually that old, dead bone, with the new keratin under it, will pop off and he will be his pretty self once again. I've only seen this in box turtles, and it took over a year to happen.

 

[Texastort]

Yvonne, thank you for your input. I just was scratching my big boys shell and his damage scute all but popped off. It is still somewhat attached. I cleaned it and put some neosporin on it. Anything else to be worried about?

 

[bholmes88]

Those pics really freak me out. Does it seem like it pains him at all?

 

[Texastort]

Not not at all. It is gross though.

 

[Katherine]

Yikes. I believe what is left under the scute is just osteiod, or bone. I would take exceptional care to prevent further damage to this area from bacterial, UV or mechanical means. The keratin scute provides a boundary layer of protection from the elements and your tortoise is much more vulnerable to infection there. As Yvonne said, with time keratin will again build up and 'regrow' the missing scute.

 

[lisalove]

Those pics really freak me out. Does it seem like it pains him at all?

Ditto!

 

[elvis]

Perhaps a dumb question. How is it that you know it's from a burn ?

 

[Texastort]

Perhaps a dumb question. How is it that you know it's from a burn ?

Hey decided last winter to get frisky with a rock, climbed up on it and the top of his shell hit a heat lamp.

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Well the scute has totally popped off and he looks like a crazy mutant tortoise. Keeping it clean with neosporin and hydrogen peroxide.

 

[Livingstone]

Clean it, then outline the scute with neosporin and cover it with gauze, and tape it down. Keep it dry, clean and protected.