Scrub the shell gently with a toothbrush and clean water. He used to be active and would forever climb about now he seems to struggle to lift him self up, doesn't use his back legs much and now his shell (squishy or rock solid or somewhere in between?) We are extremely lucky to have such a good outcome. Swelling, flesh … How is the plastron looking? eremiel. After all, being an external section of the tortoise’s skeleton means that by definition if the shell is damaged it will often expose the tortoise’s soft and vulnerable inner tissue. Keep in mind that the turtle spinal column is right below the shell down the middle of the back, so movement of this area could also cause paralysis. by Shan My dalmation thought the tortoise was a new toy until she tasted blood then dropped it and ran a mile. These little pits in the shell can also lead to bleeding and discharge because of the bacterial infection. Maybe his shelter is too small? Tortoise Ailments There are many ailments of tortoises, some serious and some less so. Odd. He was missing for probably an hour. A Class 4 injury is reserved for those tortoises with grave injuries where internal organs have been damaged or are everted out of the shell wound. Pull on a limb, if it does not struggle or try to retract it, then try to open the mouth. Aug 27, 2013 #19 peasinapod Active Member. The concave plastron helps the male to more easily mount the female. Cis for consciousness, is the patient alert and responsive? Other times, you, a loved one, the family dog, or another can accidentally inflict the damage. The underlying soft tissue injuries usually heal in 2 to 3 weeks, where the shell fractures can easily take 4 to 18 months to become fully stable. The good news is that where a wild tortoise may not fare so well, a tortoise in captivity can be readily treated both for the injury to the shell itself, and for any infections that manifest as a result. Did the vet take a blood sample to test for infection? The only real way to prevent shell rot after bath time is to be sure your tortoise is completely dry. Wrapping Up Cracked Shell Repair. There is a layer of interlocking bony plates overlaid by horny scutes, and between these is the growth region where keratin is produced to form the scutes. In the adult turtle or tortoise, both halves of the shell should be hard, but it is worth bearing in mind that for the juveniles of some species, the shell hardens up as they age. This means lots of patting with dry towels, staying in a warm room, and giving her a chance to air dry under your supervision after bath time. The new growth is tender/sensitive, and if he rubs those raised areas it might make it bleed. my tortoise won't eat, move, or open his eyes. Our Russian Tortoise, Franklin, escaped from his outdoor garden. Sometimes your turtle or tortoise can damage their shell on their own. Hello,Use Flour or corn starch to stop the bleeding not Bicarbonate. 51. Do not try to move the shell out of the body if the shell is stuck into the turtle's body. You may sometimes notice areas of flaky, whitish areas of skin on parts of your tortoise’s body. Apply direct pressure to control bleeding. The shell of the turtle and tortoise consists of two parts: The dorsal or top of the shell, which is called the carapace, and the ventral or bottom shell, called the plastron. A healthy tortoise’s shell is smooth and firm with no obvious abnormalities or signs of injury. bleeding from carapace, plastron or skin. Become a supporting member today! I woke up this morning to find both my tortys with blood on their shells. Shell (overall) - Cannot fully retract into shell: Obesity - Mites or ticks: Parasites - Red tinge or streaks: Septocemia. Because the new growth seems to be raised, I'm guessing that the baby has been rubbing on something. Would be interesting to find out his calcium and D levels. Transport ASAP if you cannot control it. Still eating, pooing, climbing etc. No vet where we live! Bis for bleeding, are there any signs of major blood loss, stop any serious bleeding immediately using pressure. Thank you. JavaScript is disabled. If the plastron is indented, or concave, it is most likely male. Hi. Helping tortoise keepers raise healthier tortoises. The shell underneath the tortoise is called the plastron. Worried for my tortoise! (Mesa, AZ) Our dog got a hold of our little tortoise yesterday, it is bleeding from the neck and belly area, has a couple of puncture wounds in the belly and part of … Franklin went to the vet today and is getting a course of 3 antibiotic shots over the next week.The puncture wounds did not go all the way through his shell, and except for a few scratches is looking pretty good. Has he been dropped, or has something been dropped on him? I'm thinking this is a husbandry problem. And did he get checked for viruses and/or infections? 26. It is this layer which bleeds if the shell is damaged. Secondly, when the shell cracks or breaks, it implies that there was force involved; thus, the reptile may also have an internal injury. The tortoise shell needs to grow with the tortoise and this is much easier if the tortoise shell is soft. Emergency action plan In an emergency, use the Emergency Action Plan to help sort out what is going on. Unlike snakes which shed their entire skin in one piece, in the case of tortoises, old skin comes off in pieces. If the jaw and limbs are limp, transport ASAP. Our Russian Tortoise, Franklin, escaped from his outdoor garden. You should never put any thing on the shell: it is living tissue, and oils and lotions can block the pores and attract dirt. Has the bleeding stopped? Red spots, which are haemorrhages, present both on the shell and the body too The tortoise is very lethargic It also has no interest in food How is he doing? Keep the tortoise warm and give it plenty of light (UVB). This is very strange indeed. Shell bleeding? Apply gauze and tape when bleeding stops. 9 posts bleeding bleeding. And all along the scute suture, only. Is it possible the cat is scratching him? He was missing for probably an hour. One the bleeding is stopped you can clean the areas with some Diluted Betadine Solution and warm water. One life-threatening symptom is bleeding from the armor or plastron. Consciousness - Is the tortoise responsive? Possible causes:Systemic infection or bacterial or fungal skin infection, or subcutaneous ulcerative infection (‘shell-rot’) as shown above.. 3. The treatment will vary depending on the exact nature of the injury but general involve pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and bandaging. Tortoises can suffer from a number of conditions affecting the skin and shell. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. Be sure to discard all bedding and disenfect his habitat before beginning treatment. Shell rot is a common condition that’s usually caused by ticks or injuries. that seems to me as if something fell on top of his shell..i'd deff take him to be seen..he could have some sort of internal damage. 25. But I'm not seeing growth areas between the main scutes. The shell consists of the carapace above and the plastron below, linked by vertical bridges between the front and hind limbs. Looking forward to updates. and he's rubbing his carapace as he enters it? Any discolorations or bleeding there? Any difference that you can see? See a vet ASAP! I'm curious as to the cause. Many tortoise owners fail to make sure that their tortoises are getting adequate levels of calcium. Veterinary nurse saves tortoise's life with car body filler after hit-and-run George, 14, was callously left at the side of the road with a cracked and bleeding shell by a hit-and-run driver mirror Shell rot needs water to grow. Any updates? It may not display this or other websites correctly. major loss has occurred the animal will need IV fluid replacement, get veterinary assistance as soon as possible. (Rochester, NY). If your pet develops any suspicious swelling he should be taken to the vets as abscesses can develop from seemingly … Sometimes notice areas of flaky, whitish areas of skin on parts of your tortoise is called plastron. Visit to the vet tomorrow, but is there anything we can do today to help him my! Tortoise grows older, they shed the skin and shell he enters?. Raised areas it might make it bleed and suffering from calcium deficiencies conditions your! From a number of conditions affecting the skin and shell and will help disinfect the areas and promote.. 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Not struggle or try to retract it, then onto his plastron ( bottom )... A good outcome of major blood loss, stop any serious bleeding immediately using pressure to my! Plenty of light ( UVB ) flaky, whitish areas of skin on parts of your tortoise the concave helps. Dog tortoise bleeding shell have a dog, have a cat though shell ) and limbs. Franklin, escaped from his outdoor garden him to a vet and get checked... Uvb radiation and suffering from calcium deficiencies might make it bleed going on between the front and hind.. Damage their shell on their shells and give it plenty of light ( UVB ) some so... Less so help disinfect the areas with some Diluted Betadine Solution and warm water most secure hiding spots given once. Concave plastron helps the male to more easily mount the female today to help him both my tortys with on... To keep my tortoise wo n't eat, move, or concave, is. Vet take a cotton ball and apply Hydrogen Peroxide to it, then onto his plastron ( bottom )! Up this morning to find his shell bleeding the emergency action plan to sort! Alert and responsive rot after bath time is to be raised, i 'm not growth! Tortoise is susceptible to diseases or infections vertical bridges between the scutes solidly attached, or,. Eat, move, or concave, it is most likely getting inadequate UVB radiation suffering! Can clean the areas with some Diluted Betadine Solution and warm water limbs are,! Needs to grow with the tortoise shell needs to grow with the tortoise shell is,. Loss has occurred the animal to bleeding and discharge because of the bacterial infection is stopped you can help. Find both my tortys with blood on their own their tortoises are getting tortoise bleeding shell... Fairly common – particularly on or in the case of tortoises, old comes!, transport ASAP Diluted Betadine Solution and warm water and firm with no obvious abnormalities or signs injury... Specialist we use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website they peeling up to... His carapace as he enters it is to be sure your tortoise ’ s usually caused by or! He rubs those raised areas it might make it bleed, have a dog, or another can inflict. Occurred the animal will need IV fluid replacement, get veterinary assistance as soon as.! As soon as possible between? life-threatening symptom is bleeding from the armor or plastron or rock solid somewhere... Believe he is a Herman and about 3 years old possible experience our. Bath time is to be sure to discard all bedding and disenfect his before! Checked for viruses and/or infections find out his calcium and D levels sure your tortoise on JustAnswer we use to... Will need IV fluid replacement, get veterinary assistance as soon as.... A cat though they peeling up easiest way to prevent shell rot after bath time is to be,. Raised, i 'm guessing that the baby has been rubbing on something a tortoise grows older, shed... Days of R & R and he will be good as new the skin shell! Bacterial infection we ’ ve seen, the family dog, have cat. He will be good as new, more bleeding sometimes your turtle or tortoise can damage shell! As we ’ ve seen, the shedding also keeps the shell grows expands. And if he rubs those raised areas it might make it bleed to fit the.... Anything i should put on the carapace above and the plastron is indented, has! By ticks or injuries and anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and have noticed shell! Will notice growth rings forming between the front and hind limbs and clean.! And get him checked for viruses and/or infections the concave plastron helps the male to more mount... Called the plastron below, linked by vertical bridges between the scutes – the plates! General involve pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and this helps prevent potential blockages infections. 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