Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was given an ornate box turtle approx 1 month ago. he iz about 6 inches long on the bottom. He waz given to me cuz he could not be sold due to missing a foot. (I named him Trooper cuz of this). They said he just came outta hibernation about a week before that. Well he waz doing good so I thought..he eats lots of nite crawlerz and some crickets. he does not seem to want to eat much vegiez. he haz a huge rubbermaid type tote filed about 6 inches deep with top soil and p. moss... some hiding place.. some plant..and a reptisun 5.0 and a basking area.. and plenty of fresh water, changed daily, if not 2x a day. Trooperz house iz misted 2 timez daily. Well about 3 dayz ago I noticed the area where hiz membrane that coverz hiz "earz" waz white.. so I checked it to see if it waz an absess. when I touched it it felt dry and soft. I checked it the next day and puss came out...( durring this time he also stated treatment turtle eye rinse cuz they were puffy and hard for him to open) I cleand the area with a small amount of antibacterial soap and water. The skin felt "dead" well this morning he scratched the hole area off..now there iz this little opening, which I am assuming iz his "ear" area. My questions are
1- will this membrane grow back
2- iz this causing him any pain
3- should I change hiz substrate, as the soil could get in
4- what causes something like this
5- iz this going to kill him

I do have an appt with the reptile vet...however not til next friday...ther are not many exotic vetz, much less turtle experience..

I am very sorry this iz so long....but i really am freaking out and omg.....a week iz so long

thnx for any help or advice....

Hi, You should put him on a clean substrate like paper or a towel until it heals up. Rinse it with peroxide and a betadine mixture and apply neosporin or an antibiotic ointment daily. As long as all the pus came out he should be fine when it heals up. Mine had the same problem. She is doing great now. Just make sure if any other pus developes you get it out before it heals up. Good Luck!!

Due to the anatomy of the turtle's ear as well as stressors they face, this is a very common problem.

We just recently put up an article on ear abcesses on our site:

Go to the main page (linked below) About half way down the page - under Newest Web Articles you will see a link to Ear Infections and Surgery in Terrapene (Box turtles)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A PHOTO INTENSIVE PAGE AND MANY OF THESE PICTURES ARE GRAPHIC IN NATURE -- ALSO NOTE THAT THIS ANIMAL IS PROPERLY AND COMPLETELY ANESTHETIZED IN THIS SERIES OF PICTURES -- IF VIEWING PHOTOGRAPHS OF SURGERY IS DISTRESSING TO YOU DO NOT VISIT THIS PAGE.

Darrell

World Chelonian Trust

My questions are
>>1- will this membrane grow back

Yes it will grow back however you don't want it growing back with pus still inside. The vet should rinse the ear out with a syringe (minus the needle) while holding the turtle so the fluid will come back out of the ear. The solution will likely be a weak betadine solution. The vet will then pack the ear with antibiotic ointment and maybe even give to shots to give the turtle since he has an eye infection too.

>>2- iz this causing him any pain

Probably, at least some discomfort. Reptiles do feel pain but how they manage it is something we don't know.

>>3- should I change hiz substrate, as the soil could get in

Yes, put him on moist paper towels that you change OFTEN.

>>4- what causes something like this

Many factors can cause an ear and eye infection. Poor diet, cool temps, drafts, dryness, bacteria in dirty bedding. The best thing you can do, if it's possible, is to get him into a more antural enviroment. That means outside in a safe pen.

>>5- iz this going to kill him

Not as long as you take care of the problem, and you are.
Good luck at the vets.
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Tess
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