Posted by:
mj3151
at Thu Jul 24 19:37:58 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by mj3151 ]
I have read accounts by other long time box turtle keepers of these ear infections opening and healing spontaneously. The lumps eventually get so distended that either the turtle's claws or incidental contact with other objects will cause the tympanic membrane to rupture and the caseated mass to fall away. Having said that, last year my female Eastern that I've had for ten years developed a unilateral aural infection that I opted to have treated surgically. I wish I hadn't. I went to a local herp vet with a good reputation who assured me the procedure was routine. He used propofol to put her under and I gave her a series of five Baytril injections, starting before the surgery and ending afterwards. The morning after the surgery, she couldn't walk without a great amount of discomfort and dragged both legs on the left side and had trouble moving her right front leg also. She only had one fully funtional leg-her right rear one. It was as if she had a stroke. She didn't regain much mobility, although her appetite returned and she seemed fine as long as she was still. She hibernated on my porch, as usual, but upon coming out of hibernation, her leg problems hadn't changed at all. It's been a year since the surgery and I've been imposing physical therapy by putting her out in the open and forcing her to use her legs a couple times a day. She has gradually regained some mobility in all of her legs, but she still lacks any real strength in her front legs and still can't climb up on her hide log, which used to be her favorite place to bask. She can't reach forward completely to wipe away food while she's eating, so she always has stuff stuck to her face. It's been a very slow and trying recovery process, but I'm still hopeful she'll eventually get all of her mobility and strength back. Turtles do everything slowly, including healing. I know this was a long-winded story, but I thought it would be interesting to put out there. Anaesthesia and injections are risky and never guaranteed to be routine with small animals.
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RE: Ken, question - mj3151, Thu Jul 24 19:37:58 2008