Ok, I have a huge female snapping turtle that I just moved from another state to a new pond in a new house. I think the problem lies in the fact that her environment changed so she is holding back on the egg laying process. Tomorrow a fellow chelydra enthusiast is going to meet me and give me a drug called OXYTOCIN to induce egg laying. Ok, here is the MAIN question to EVERYONE who is experienced in this: Where on her body do I give her the shot? There is absolutely NO experienced vets around that have the know-how either!!!! I am thinking in the back near her tail, in the fatty tissue?? PLEASE ANYONE HELP ME. I have had her for nearly 20 years and this is the first time she has given birth. She has already laid 2 eggs in the water, but holding the rest back. Thank you!
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pregnant snapping turtle will not lay eggs! HELPPPPPPPPPP
Replies (1)
Injections should be given in the muscle tissue, if possible. This generally means in the muscles of one of the legs, since they are the most exposed parts of a turtle. With snappers you have only two legs to safely choose from... trying to give a shot into one of the front legs is just too dangerous. However, a very large snapper has a very large tail (unlike most other turtles) and there are plenty of muscles there, too, especially near the body.
The bigger question: getting an accurate weight on the turtle so the dose of the medicine will be accurate. I always have my large turtles weighed at my vet’s office on his digital dog scale. That gets me to within a hundredth of a pound, which is good enough.
Good luck.
