Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We found a turtle dying and are trying to nurse it back to health. It has open red soars over its arms, feet and one above its nose. The skin looks to be peeling and looks red around the limbs. Also you can see into the shell above the head. It seems the skin has peeled away fromt the shell there. After searching online it seems the turtle might have speticemia and treatment for this is to use injectable anitbiotics. We dont have the money for a vet visit but we found some online sights that sell antibiotics. Can anyone suggest which antibiotics to buy and how much to give. We have the syringes and I am trained to give injections but we need to know what medicine to give. Thank you very much

Have you looked in your area for a licensed turtle rehabber or shelter that provides veterinary care. If the turtle that you found does have septicemia it will require the care of an experienced vet/rehabber, not just someone who knows how to give injections. Even if it doesn't have septicemia, it needs some professional medical care. If you are unable to pay for a vet please consider finding a rescue or someplace that can give it the care it needs. "Katrina" often posts on this forum and offers the names of rescues and adoption agencies. If she doesn't see this, perhaps you could search some of her posts in other threads and either contact her or one of the rescues she promotes. I think turtlehomes.org is one of them.

Good luck to you and your found turtle...Nancy

I agree with Nancy's post. You need to get this animal to someone who does rehabbing and has access to a vet if you cannot get to the vet yourself. I can tell you from treating septicemia myself in turtles that it is a serious condition and does sound like that is the condition or several other infections that are equally as deadly. Even having experience with this I would take the animal to a vet for evaluation.

Please consider finding a vet or rehabber in your area ASAP.
I know you intentions are good and I am sure you would be very dedicated to helping this animal recovery but I can assure this nothing that you could handle on your own without veterinary evaluation and follow up.

Good luck

Steve

I wish i could take the turtle to a vet but I lack transportation around my area and have no one who will take me. The nearest vet or petstore in my area is at least 30 miles away. You said you treated septicemia. Please do tell me the steps you took and the names of the anitbiotics that you used.

You first need to be sure you are dealing with septicemia before that it is what you a treating. It certainly does sound like that but the animal does need to get to someone who can diagnose the situation or at least someone who has access to a vet. All the antibiotics (injectible and topical applications for the sores) are by prescription only so a vet is the only answer. Perhaps there is someone you know who has access to someone who can get it the treatment it needs.

Well no one I know is going to help me and in fact they are tell me to get rid of it. So at this point I am its only hope. I found a antibiotic Ceftazidime(Fortaz) for 30 dollars online that I can buy. I found info for vets where it states to give 20 mg/kg SQ every 72hrs. Do you agree to this medication.

I have never had it prescribed for use on septicemia so I can't say as to it's effectiveness, or the dosage. Sorry I can't be more help to you but I can't give you advice about something without actually knowing what you are dealing with. Good luck and I hope what you are doing will help the turtle recover.

Keep us posted.

The #1 issue here is that you can not diagnose what is wrong. It is foolish to think antibiotics will help this turtle without first finding the problem.
It also sounds like it was a hit by car, meaning it needs more than medication.
Again, even a vet cannot prescribe or diagnose over the internet.
If you really think of yourself as a rescuer then research a way to get it to a vet/rehabber. (30miles btw? ride your bike if your that determined)

Should I also mention that practicing veterinary medicine is illegal unless your are a rehabber or registered vet assistant under the direct guidiance of a veterinarian. Also, is it really legal to get medications over the internet since the laws are the same for MD's?

Turtles are tough and your's has a good chance with the proper care. I"m usually not this blunt but suck it up and do what's right.

Another idea, spend your $30 on a cab. Just trying to brainstorm with ya!

Ian Animal Health Technologist

its sad, but in researching in prep for my first chelonians iam to adopt from a rescue society, i have seen too many posts like this, people who believe they can diagnose and treat thier reptiles without any basic animal care knowledge. i grew up on a native reservation, in loving single parent home and we were on welfare and the nearest vet was 65 miles away, and we had no car but for my 4 cats and 2 dogs, they all made it to the vet at least once in thier lives when my First Cat had to be euthanized, me and my mom, we hitchhiked all the way with our cat, Slippers, who had the feline form of luekemia, in a milk crate and she made it to the vet. if the turtle was run over, or attacked by a wild animal, it may have sustained considerable trauma. it may be suffering from internal injurys and in a considerable amount of pain, only a vet would be able to correctly administer a pain reliever. you made the first step in finding the time to post this, think of the animal first and surrender it to the s.p.c.a. they can even go to your house and pick it up if you live too far, especially if its a reptile.

im not acting superior but what we do for love......

Hoping for the best for your rescued turtle,

Nicole
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this is how a Res looks when he eats