Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
I work at a aniaml hospital and one of my co-workers found an eastern box turtle in her backyard while mowing. It looks like it have either been attacked or is the victim of vitamin deficency as he is missing both eyes. The top shell is a little caved in the middle suggesting calcium deficency, but I'm not sure, as I have seen other wild box turtles with the same problem around here. I have made a pureee of watermelon grapes and strawberries with herptivite and reptivite in it,as well as fresh carrots and mustard greens and have him under a UV light and a heat lamp. I am soaking him in my tub about 2 times a day for 1 hour each time to rehydrate. Any other suggestions would be so helpful. I work at a vet (non reptile) and was wondering about vitamin shots....

Thanks!

Good job trying to take care of it, most people wouldn't bother! Are the eyes completely gone or sunk in and closed? I'm not a vet, but I do alot of rehabilitation on my own (we have no rehabbers in my area and I do it out of compassion). Is the turtle active at all? Try soaking it in some pedilite, this will help rehyderate him. If you can get him rehyderated and feeding, then he stands a good chance...however, if it's blind, I'm not sure that the outcome will be good, boxies usually won't eat if they can't see, but notice I said "usually"! All animals have an individual will leval and some will surprise you! If you can find a rehabber in your area, or a licensed reptile vet, then it would be in the turtles best interest to get help from one of them, but if you live in a small town like I do and don't have any of these avalible, then keep fighting the good fight! I would check into vitamin injections, maybe someone on here can give you more info on whether or not to take that route. Best of luck to you and the turtle! Christy

When I first received one of my female 3-toed's, she began to get very sick. She had the bubbly mucous and runny eyes etc. The vet gave her antibiotics along with a Vitamin A shot. You should be careful with the A shots, but they usually are more harmful to torts vs. boxies. You can also try feeding through a syringe of the "mush" that you've created. I also had an ornate for almost 3 years (he was a hatchling when I got him) and he always acted funny like he couldn't see. He always bit into the air etc. He didn't grow a lick in 3 years and he passed away earlier this year. Sometimes it's just their time. Do what you can!

The turtle sounds to be severely dehydrated: this can cause the eyes to become very sunken. By allowing it to soak and drink in shallow water, you ought to be able to alleviate this. Another post mention soaking in Pedialite, which would also help, but use plain water first.
A word on water: unless you're on a well, allow tap water to stand in an open container for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to evaporate off.
The shell "deformity" may be previous mower damage, and not any type of calcium deficiency, but without seeing it, its hard to say. Rehydrate your turtle first, before making any assumptions about vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Order yourself a copy of "The Box Turtle Manual", by Phillippe de Vosjoli and Roger Klingenberg, D.V.M.: it has a very good second half that addresses many common turtle ailments. The photos are an excellent diagnostic tool, and there's also a trouble-shooting chart that's easy to understand and use.
Force feeding is an option, although I've never had to use the ball-tipped syringe method, but rather just made a slurry of Reptomin and water and put it in the mouth with an eye dropper...
What part of the country are you in?
Stephanie

Hi again!!
Thanks for the advice! He as been stomach fed about 4 days ago (I was on vacation when they found him) I have a few pictures I just posted to show you what i mean by the shell deformity, tho I think i made it seem worse than it is. His eyes after getting better, they are sunken not removed, and the look ALOT worse earier yesterday when my doctor gave him to me, which made me think he had NO eyes (REALLY sunken). I have noticed after soaking he does have a little green discharge from the eyes, but its gone when he gets dry. I am feeding him waxworms and giant mealworms and bits of fruit and mustardgreens today with forceps. He really seems to be chowing down, but only when i hand feed him---he won't eat on his own. Any idea if his eyes will come back after this severe of dehydration? I really want to release him, but cannot in good conscience if he has no sight.
His Shell-

and his eyes

[img]http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/13978turtleeye.JPG[img]

thanks!

aorry bout the last pic here:

I would say that his shell grew to be that shape over the course of many years.
It does sound like he has an eye infection (the greenish discharge)...get some Terramycin (spell?) which is an antibiotic eye ointment to put on his eyelids. That would help with any infection and also help moisten the eye area. The damage to his eyes may indeed be permanent, but you never can tell.
Keep soaking him in water.
A healthy appetite is a good sign.
Good luck with him
Stephanie

I will be sure to pick some up tomorrow at work thanks!!

try feeding him some wild mushrooms. Mine love them but only certin kinds. they always poke there noise in the mushroom first before eating so i guess the mushrooms have some kinda smell.
The kind my box turtles love to eat grow mostly under oak trees. there tops are light pink to red and the under side is always white. In my area the squirrles love them to so they go fast when they come out after a rain.
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Jack

How did this turn out? Did the turtle make it? If so, is it eating? Did its eyes come out or are they really gone?