Mike, hi, I'm a turtle rehabber and below is a link to my page at the Gulf Coast Turtle Society to tell you how to care for an injured turtle until you can get it to a qualified vet or rehabber. It does not give instuctions on repair. Shell repair is something that should be done by a knowledgeable vet or rehabber. Most of the time there is more to it than just sticking the pieces back together. This turtle will need antibiotic injections to prevent bacterial infection. Bacteria has entered the wound and you don't want to seal them inside. The turtle would eventually die. Sometimes the wound is deep enough to go into the body cavity. You can't always see that. Another thing, this turtle should be cared for throughout the winter and not sealed up and then released. Seal and release is a risky business. Many times the repairs need partial redo's later. Also the turtle may need more antibiotics in the future. Depending on the severity of the injury. Shells can take months and even years to heal. So if you aren't prepared to care for this turtle long term, (which I really don't recommend you do) you'd better get it to a rescue organization. Native aquatic species can usually be returned to the wild after healing and re-exam.



Try these other websites for names of herp groups and vet lists:



http://www.anapsid.org/societies/index.html

http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/



Let me know if I can help further.

Anita
What to do if you find an injured or ill turtle.

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