We need help diagnosing! Has anyone seen this happen?

[KatieandKyle]

We are picking this guy up in the morning from a friend of a friend. Apparently they found him, tried to keep him and their boxer thought he was a toy. His shell had color before the dog incident. Now it looks like he was bleached. How do I address this? Thank you in advance.
Katie

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

that is a male russian tortoise. all the white you are seeing is dead bone, caused by the shell being damaged. over years and years the dead bone will fall off exposing brand new keratin. there is nothing you can do but let it heal on its own. here is a pic of a sulcata after most of the dead bone has fallen off, its not the pretty.

 

[leigti]

It looks like the dog scraped off the top layer of his shell. And now what you are seeing is bone. But I am definitely not an expert so let's see if some of them will chime in. Here are a couple of them. in. @Yvonne G @Tom

 

[KatieandKyle]

Oh my gosh. That makes my belly sick.

Is there any special care I need to be giving him?

Length of quarantine?

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

Oh my gosh. That makes my belly sick.

Is there any special care I need to be giving him?

i dont think there is anything more to do than just let it come off naturally. this process will take years and years.

 

[leigti]

I don't know if that is what it is, but I do remember seeing a thread with the tortoise that looked similar that Yvonne G was rehabbing.

 

[HLogic]

It looks to me as if this tort was in a fire. That is the only time I've seen such extensive scute damage. If the scutes regrow, it will take several years. In terms of care, give it a good round diet, try to keep the bone clean (water only) and wait. If it is to recover, it will do so. I am aware of more than one tort that has nothing more than a bleached bone carapace.

 

[KatieandKyle]

i dont think there is anything more to do than just let it come off naturally. this process will take years and years.

Thank you, I appreciate your help. I'm so disappointed. Another story to where dogs and torts just don't mix.

 

[KatieandKyle]

Ok, thanks everyone. I'll be able to get a better look in the morning. @yvonne do you have one that looks like this?

 

[leigti]

Are you adopting this tortoise? I would still do it. Yvonne said that her tortoise has lived like that for years. Don't give up on it. Yes, dogs and tortoises do not mix. It is amazing that he didn't damage the tortoises fleshy part, he must've shut up really tight. I can't really tell what kind of tortoise it is.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

Are you adopting this tortoise? I would still do it. Yvonne said that her tortoise has lived like that for years. Don't give up on it. Yes, dogs and tortoises do not mix. It is amazing that he didn't damage the tortoises fleshy part, he must've shut up really tight. I can't really tell what kind of tortoise it is.

its a russian tortoise.

 

[leigti]

I wasn't sure, I thought it might be. They are very tough.

 

[HLogic]

BTW, the bone should NOT come off. Eventually the keratin scutes will cover the bare bone - if it regrows. I have two torts that have had more than 20% of the carapace that was nothing more than bone. Both have regrown scutes so that now neither have more than 5% or so showing. That regrowth took 5 - 8 years.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

BTW, the bone should NOT come off. Eventually the keratin scutes will cover the bare bone - if it regrows. I have two torts that have had more than 20% of the carapace that was nothing more than bone. Both have regrown scutes so that now neither have more than 5% or so showing. That regrowth took 5 - 8 years.

i thought the bone flakes off and new keratin is underneath? the pic i posted shows the old bone coming off.

 

[ascott]

We are picking this guy up in the morning from a friend of a friend. Apparently they found him, tried to keep him and their boxer thought he was a toy. His shell had color before the dog incident. Now it looks like he was bleached. How do I address this? Thank you in advance.
Katie
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What medical care has been offered to the tortoise while healing? I mean, usually antibiotics are required in order to avoid deep slow moving infections....

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Personally, I wonder how accurate the story is....

 

[leigti]

Maybe people did it to the tortoise instead of the dog. And I don't want to admit it. Because the dog was extremely thorough. And no fleshy wounds.

 

[KatieandKyle]

Are you adopting this tortoise? I would still do it. Yvonne said that her tortoise has lived like that for years. Don't give up on it. Yes, dogs and tortoises do not mix. It is amazing that he didn't damage the tortoises fleshy part, he must've shut up really tight. I can't really tell what kind of tortoise it is.

Yes, we will adopt and take care of him. It breaks my heart.

 

[KatieandKyle]

Personally, I wonder how accurate the story is....

Wish I knew. I have no connection with them. I don't know why anyone would make up such a horrible story. I would hate to think of anything worse!

 

[KatieandKyle]

Maybe people did it to the tortoise instead of the dog. And I don't want to admit it. Because the dog was extremely thorough. And no fleshy wounds.

Apparently they have children but I'm unsure of the ages.