Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Please see my old post!!!!

I have discontinued dry docking for 1 week - and now the dry crusty areas are now white ish and show black mushy stuff underneath!
The rot is back I guess
Link

HERE is a photo

Try using the preview button at the bottom next time to see if it works.

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I see your photo works now, Im a dumbass. Sorry
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I can't get the pictures to come up but it sounds like the rot was still there.

You should go back to your regimen and keep him dry docked. As I mentioned to your earlier post the rot was still active under the crusted area. It did look rather suspect to me. I would get him to the vet again and this time ask if They might try treating the turtle with Baytril as the antibiotic.

Also ask him for a RX for silvadine cream (not sure of the spelling offhand but he/she will know what it is.) You have to clear away all the dead material then clean these areas with the Nolvasan that you have or betadine solution. Dry the shell and apply the creme liberally to the affected areas. Dry dock him for at least 20hrs a day. After you hydrate him for the day
clean the wounds again and reapply the silvadine cream.

Of course you will want to go over this with your vet first and see if perhaps he/she has another good regimen for you. The antibiotics I think the vet will agree are essential though as it may be more than a surface situation you are dealing with nd could be a systemic problem.

You will have to see the vet again regardless to get proper antibiotic dosages as well RX for the cream. I NEVER recommend just doing any of what I mentioned without first seeing a vet and getting their approval.

np.

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Did the vet ever debride the infected areas? I've found that if you see fluid under the scutes, that area needs to be opened to allow the fluid to be removed and "aired out". How large is the turtle? Larger turtles can handle prolonged dry dock, but smaller turtles need to be soaked more often.

Katrina

Acriflavine has been shown to help shell rot in some map turtles, it might be worth a try. (I'm surprised the betadine has not done more).

Additionally, you could try saltwater soaks. I have treated some fungal infections in shells in this manner; soak the turtle in saltwater just deep enough to cover the shell for about 20 minutes once or twice a day. CAUTION: this is somewhat rough on the eyes of freshwater turtles, so you may need to flush them GENTLY with fresh water during the soaks. Hopefully, if the water is shallow enough, the turtle will lift its head above the surface.

--'Rhemil'

These are effective treatments for superficial shell rot. This however, should be look at again by a vet because it may be a system problem which will need internal medicating.

dont stop drydocking! until the turt is healed. you gotta keep the rot dry but to make sure the turt doesnt get dehydrated you just soak it everyday.

then the other thing is, you have to debride the crusty stuff. it is protecting the bacteria hiding underneath! you or the vet have to pry up the crusty stuff. if it isnt to deep you can do it yourself. otherwise take it to a vet.

weve used betadine or nolvasan on the white crusty rot and both work. ssd cream is good to add too because it gets certain kinds of bacteria. the crusty stuff isnt fungus, its bacteria