Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a painted turtle didn't eat all winter even though I have a heater in the tank at 77 degrees with a basking light. Then all of a sudden this spring it woke up...started eating and showing a personality. We haven't had this turtle for long and have never had one before. It starting eating like crazy. Then all of a sudden it stopped..acts half dead. And now there is this dark thick stuff sticking out of it's butt. It looks like raw liver. We have no idea what is going on with this turtle. This thick red stuff is getting bigger each day. Does anyone have any ideas?!?!?!?

I'm finding this forum very helpful and interesting.

It most likely is a prolapsed intestine. If you don't act
quickly your turtle will die a very painful death.

Please do not hesitate!!

Keep us posted
Linda

Thursday there was a little sign of this problem. There was just a showing of red stuff coming out. Same on Friday..maybe a little more. By Friday night it looked pretty bad. Which is why I scoured the internet looking for help and found this website. I sent my first email Friday night. Sat. when I got home I checked and saw your response. Of course I can't bring a turtle to a vet on a Saturday night. But to my surprise I barely saw any sign of the red stuff. Sunday (today) it seems even better. The turtle is showing more energy. Not as sickly. Getting around the tank. Still not eating. But I just checked and barely see a showing of this red stuff again. Right now she's basking on a rock. She spent most of today floating on top of the water just hanging out. I don't know if it's possible but the turtle seems to be getting better. I am watching very closely and will call the vet tomorrow. I don't know if the vet even handles turtles.

Thanks for your help.

"Of course I can't bring a turtle to a vet on a Saturday night. But to my surprise I barely saw any sign of the red stuff"

Yes you can.
its a matter of how much you want to help the animal.

Don't bring it to a vet that "might deal with reptiles"
find a local reptile vet.
I suggest:
www.arav.org

list of arav menbers, find one near you

Thanks for the list of Vets who deal with Turtles. I just called the one nearest me and got an answering machine. I left a message and will continute to call till I talk with someone.

The Vet just called me as I was typing this email. They agree that it was probably a prolapsed intestine. But it has now retracted back into the body. They suggested I buy some worms and hopefully the turtle will eat them. If the turtle still isn't eating after a couple days or if the intestines prolapse again..I will bring the turtle to the vet right away.

Thanks for everyone's help. I do care about animals. I have never owned anything but a cat/dog. My daughter wanted a turtle because they had one in their classroom. But once I get an animal I am comitted to take care of it. I am also surprised to see how much I am really taking a liking to the turtle. It is very helpful to see the images that people send in of their tanks.

Short update....we dug up a worm and gave it to our turtle...she acts afraid of it. We will leave it in the tank for a while and see what happens.

She has never eaten anything but pellets. Cause I never knew any better. We bought this freeze dried shrimp stuff at the pet store..but she never ate any of that. Any suggestions welcomed.

sorry to have been harsh...you might be surprised how lame some people are and that they do let animals die.
you did good.
keep us updated.

other foods to try to stimulate the appetite include
strawberries, mangoes, live crickets,live small beetles, live wax worms, apple slices, bits of cooked chicken or any fish you would eat,
live guppies or mollies or mosquito fish or minnows(or freshly killed ones).

I'm not surprised about how people don't care about their pets. I've seen it. We have actually gone to the vet and visited our turtle, Juliet. My 9 year old sits in the waiting room with the turtle in her lap. I really hope the turtle gets better. I'll keep you all posted. I have lots of ideas now on what to feed her.

I tried pasting an image of Julie but I don't know what the syntax is. This was my attempt:
http://c:94.jpg

I have recently taken my turtle to the Vet. She is very sick and may not make it. Although her intestines have retracted back inside her body she is still very weak and not eating. I'm not sure the cause of this. Has anyone ever heard of turtles having a prolapsed intestine and what the cause was. They are testing for parasites in the stool. But we always kept the water clean.

hybernation depending on were u live ur painted might have to hybernate i live in new jersey and teach kids about reptiles at local zoos. i no that painted turtles need to hybernate in areas were it is cold or they will get sick and die

Our turtle hybernated all winter. Then 'woke up' this spring and was real active and ate a lot. Then just got sick. Thanks for your advice. We live in New York.

strangulation. That is why I told you in my first post to
get it to the vet ASAP. Time is of the essence in these cases.
I don't believe there is any one reason for prolapse. I
believe there can be many reasons for it.

I am afraid that if your turtle is that sick, part of its
intestine has necrosed. I am so sorry to hear that.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Linda