Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was fishing in NJ yesterday and i found a turtle with a small but bulgy abcess right where his ear dot is.Is there any way i can help him or should i seek veteraniary attention???
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0.0.1 common snapper
1.1 RES
0.1 eastern painted
1.0 common musk
1.0 dumpy treefrog
0.0.1 pacman frog

You will need a qualified vet to take care of it.

Linda

It's an infection and the turtle needs antibiotics by injection. I would take him to a vet and tell them it is a wild turtle and you want to release it back when you are done.

i have read that you can treat it by very carefully cutting the bottom with a needle and gently squeezing it out. After apply topical antibiotics and keep the turtle dry accept for feeding.
Has anyone tried this, i've read that it's simple, but you have to be extremely careful.
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1.1 RES
1.1 eastern painted
1.0 common musk
1.0 dumpy treefrog
0.0.1 pacman frog

I had a similar problem with a western painted as a baby he had a bulge right behind his eye. I handled it myself by draining it. I used a needle to puncture it(very carefully). I then let him dry out in a glass aquarium and applied some antibacterial cream. In about a week and a half the bump and disappeared. The turtle is now 7 years how and a perfect specimen.

give long soaks several times a day in clean water. You
don't want the turtle to dehydrate.

I don't think it is a good idea to try to take care of
this yourself.

Linda

That is EXACTLY what a vet did to one of my turtles that had a huge bump on its jaw. The vet said it was an infected ear flap; he incised the bump with a scalpel, without anesthesia; he sent the turtle home with me with instructions to instill antibiotic drops on the bump twice a day for two weeks; he said to leave her in her pool during the treatment period. I didn't see much good to using drops and then putting her right back in the water so I kept her dry for several hours after each application plus I used triple antibiotic ointment 'cuz it sticks better. She's fine now; the bump receded and is gone. Next time, since the vet didn't use an anesthetic, think I'll try to lance the bump myself.

Yea...happaned to my baby as well. Had it on the right ear and took it to the vet, who administered ketamine, lanced it, drained, and applied antibiotics. Said he couldn't be sure whether the left ear would develop as well, so I waited.

Now my turtle has a left bump 1/2 the size of his head. I'm pretty close in thinking bout lancing it myself. The exotic vet here is going to charge $110 to do what many people can do at home if they have the skills to do it.

I'd administer anesthesia myself if I knew the correct dosage, etc ( I work in a animal lab but apply isoflurane on mice, not reptiles).

Johnny