Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My male EBT recently got a prolapsed penis and thankfully someone on this site recognized it and told me what it was after I had posted photo's. He has since been to the vet and had it removed and is now home and doing fine. I have 2 questions the first one is because I forgot to ask the vet is why or how does this happen. The other question is I had posted that when I picked him up from the vet the girl who gave me his medicine that I have to inject told me she would call me because she had to find out which leg to inject it in. She showed me where in the front and also the back legs. Someone posted a message to never inject a turtles back leg why would that be?

I think it's because it's easier to accidently hit an internal organ when an injection is give in the back legs. However, if the turtle needs several shots, the vet will rotate which leg is used. I know my vet gave my turtle an injection in all four legs.
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

A prolapse can have many causes...almost too numerous to list. You really should call the Vet. back about that. One very common cause is a calcium deficiency.

Injections commonly must be given in either the front or rear legs due to their location on the body relative to the kidneys. It isn't for fear of hitting organs, but because turtles process chemicals in a very unique way. It would take a very, very long time to explain. Basically, it has to do with the method by which the chemicals are metabolized by the turtle's body. Maybe someone else can offer a brief description. It is very interesting.

thanks for posting the pictures.
And for keeping us posted about the progress.
I have nothing to offer as advice, because I have so little experience.
I am sorry for your turtle.
What exactly did the vet remove?
Not the turtle's penis?
so, was it an infection?
I would think that if it is prolapsed, then the vet would have just stuck it back inside...
see, I said that I have little experience.
/p
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Patsy

He removed his penis. He told me that luckily they do not need the penis to urinate. He is doing fine now but I do not think he cares for the shots. In all the years I have had him he never tried to nip at me but after I gave him his shot on Sunday I went to pet his head and he kinda lunged at me it was funny I felt bad for him. It may have been that he was hungry or annoyed.

>>He removed his penis.
I think I might be annoyed!
thanks for the reply/p
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Patsy

A turtles penis can be removed through surgery. Though most times its not needed and medical intervention can safely place the penis back. Addressing the reasons for the prolapse are important as it suggests that many things, including diet, improper habit, through growth problems are the cause. I've worked on many prolapses (20 plus) and none render surgical removal. Its invasive, risky, and doesn't address any potential problems that will likely lead to further issues. Its complicated, but not really.

Posted by: patsy1 at Fri Aug 1 14:53:06 2008 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

thanks for posting the pictures.
And for keeping us posted about the progress.
I have nothing to offer as advice, because I have so little experience.
I am sorry for your turtle.
What exactly did the vet remove?
Not the turtle's penis?
so, was it an infection?
I would think that if it is prolapsed, then the vet would have just stuck it back inside...
see, I said that I have little experience.
/p
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Patsy
Massachusetts Turtle Rescue

A little late for that response...the surgery has already been performed.

In the past, it used to be common practice to only inject in the forelimbs. It was suggested that IM injections in the rear limbs would be filtered by the kidneys and could be toxic. However, forelimb and hind limb injections
are equivocal and many vets that practice with turtles on a daily basis are accepting this method and thru equal results. As a rehabilitator, that injects turtles daily, this is becoming more the norm than the past myth. Here are some references:

Holz P, Barker IK, Burger JP, Crawshaw GJ, Conlon PD: The effect of the renal
portal system on pharmacokinetic parameters inthe red-fared slider (Trachemys
scripta elegans). J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. 1997;V28:386-393.

Holz P, Barker IK, Crawshaw GJ, Dobson H: The anatomy and perfusion of the renal
portal system in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans).
J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. 1997;V28:378-385.

Holz P, The reptilian Renal portal system and its effect on drug kinetics.
D.V.Sc. dissertation, Univ. of Guelph, 1994

Holtz P, Chapter 32: Reptilian Renal Portal System: Influence on Therapy. In:
Fowler, ME and Miller, RE (eds) Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy 4,
W.B. Saunders 1999

Beck K, Loomis M, Lewbart G, Spelman L, Papich M: Preliminary comparison of
plasma concentrations of gentamicin injected into the cranial and caudal limb
musculature of the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina).
J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. 1995;V26:265-268.

Benson KG, Forrest LJ: Characterization Of The Renal Portal System Of The Common
Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana) With Digital Subtraction Imaging.
J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. In Ppess

Posted by: kensopher at Thu Jul 31 18:16:27 2008 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

A prolapse can have many causes...almost too numerous to list. You really should call the Vet. back about that. One very common cause is a calcium deficiency.

Injections commonly must be given in either the front or rear legs due to their location on the body relative to the kidneys. It isn't for fear of hitting organs, but because turtles process chemicals in a very unique way. It would take a very, very long time to explain. Basically, it has to do with the method by which the chemicals are metabolized by the turtle's body. Maybe someone else can offer a brief description. It is very interesting
Massachusetts Turtle Rescue

would you please restate your response.
I couldn't follow it.
it was equivocal, so to speak.
thanks/p
equivocal |iˈkwivəkəl|
adjective
open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous : the equivocal nature of her remarks.
• uncertain or questionable in nature : the results of the investigation were equivocal.
See note at doubtful .
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Patsy

Hitting an internal organ via IM injection is not possible, even through hind limb injection. Other injections, in turtles may be an issue, such as bladder, but muscular is not near any organ. Please read these refeernces as many still believe what is commonly posted online:

Holz P, Barker IK, Burger JP, Crawshaw GJ, Conlon PD: The effect of the renal
portal system on pharmacokinetic parameters inthe red-fared slider (Trachemys
scripta elegans). J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. 1997;V28:386-393.

Holz P, Barker IK, Crawshaw GJ, Dobson H: The anatomy and perfusion of the renal
portal system in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans).
J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. 1997;V28:378-385.

Holz P, The reptilian Renal portal system and its effect on drug kinetics.
D.V.Sc. dissertation, Univ. of Guelph, 1994

Holtz P, Chapter 32: Reptilian Renal Portal System: Influence on Therapy. In:
Fowler, ME and Miller, RE (eds) Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy 4,
W.B. Saunders 1999

Beck K, Loomis M, Lewbart G, Spelman L, Papich M: Preliminary comparison of
plasma concentrations of gentamicin injected into the cranial and caudal limb
musculature of the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina).
J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. 1995;V26:265-268.

Benson KG, Forrest LJ: Characterization Of The Renal Portal System Of The Common
Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana) With Digital Subtraction Imaging.
J.Zoo.Wildlife.Med. In Ppess

Posted by: golfdiva at Thu Jul 31 16:57:37 2008 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

I think it's because it's easier to accidently hit an internal organ when an injection is give in the back legs. However, if the turtle needs several shots, the vet will rotate which leg is used. I know my vet gave my turtle an injection in all four legs.
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Massachusetts Turtle Rescue