There are indeed cases of dry pitting and minor shell infection, but this does not appear to be the situatin in my opinion, although, as I said before, I am reluctant to make a definitive diagnosis based on the pictures alone. Minor "dry" lesions often do not involve a pinkish area under the scute and pinkish areas are usually visible primarily on plastral lesions. The principal bacterail agent in classic "shell rot " is often Benekia chitovora, rather than Pseudomonas, although this is a common pathogen of reptiles. A number of different organisms may be involved, however, and definitive micro biological studies are not that common. I would definitely descriminate "shell rot" from SCUD, however, a much more serious soft-tissue infection. I have treated dozens, if not hundreds of turtles with injectable antibiotics without significant side effects, if used in the proper dosage. My usual treatment is amikacin at 10 mg/ kg (six doses, two days on, one day off). Although this has a definite risk of kidney damage if overdosed or the animal is underhydrated, I have had no problems, even with 15 mg/kg for severe infections. Baytril (enrofloxacin) (10 mg/kg - about 10 daily doses) is very popular these days because of the lessend risk of kidney problems, but I have seen a number of reports of digestive problems and regurgitation with this drug. I have only used it a few times and cannot speak with great authority on its use. I usually debride the infected area of shell and apply topical anitbiotics daily after starting the first dose of injectable antibiotics and continue topicals until the lesion resolves and new tissue is evident.

[ Show Entire Thread ]