Sorry to introduce myself w/a medical problem
An adopted tort who had been attacked by a dog had some punctures in her shell. (While living w/previous owner)
The woman who adopted her to me said her vet said the shell had healed, injuries had healed, there should be no problem. (this was months ago)
HOWEVER, tonight when I went in to turn out their lights I noticed that one tort was at the pond gulping water, and I thought that maybe they were a bit dry and dribbled some water from my drinking glass over each.
When I dribbled some over the injured tort the bead of water that ran over the old injury seemed to sorta sparkle and disappear. I think it went into the hole. I dribbled some more and the same thing happened. Now, I don't want to chill her so I didn't want to douse her with water, I just wanted the humidity in the tank to maintain during the night. (I.E. evaporating water over the heating pad and around each tort)
I have been gradually cutting down on their escarole and upping their hay. I'm thinking that they aren't used to the reduced amount of moisture in their food...dehydration.
Could dehydration accentuate the depression, especially if it hadn't actually been fixed or healed by the vet and let this happen?
I don't think its safe or healthy for anything to have that type of access to the interior portions of their shell.
Depending on what you guys tell me, I'm calling the vet tomorrow.
TIA.
Sharon
