Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's 'The Hatchling Problem,' as some might've guessed. I've had this yb for over four days now. Please don't tell me "Take it to the vet" I NEED SOME PRACTICAL ADVICE!

It sounds easy to say "Take it to the vet," but the vets where I live DON'T CATER TO TURTLES, okay? So here goes.

This little guy hasn't eaten for four days. I keep him warm, he sits on a sunny rock all day, under a sunlamp. I dunk him, try to feed him at morning and night, and then keep him dry for bedtime.

Well, he's still quite active, but I'm afraid he'll die if he doesn't eat soon. Is there a way to feed him via a beaker or some other method?

I've posted before about this turtle. It has eye problems. If I were in another city(I'm way in the country,) I'd contact a vet and get some medicine. I just can't. He opens his eyes sometimes, is extremely sensitive to my approach, but just seems to be not eating.

Is there any practical medicine I can put on his eyes to help it recover?

Weird behaviour: He rubs his snout, his eyes; he also wiggles his back legs, as if shedding skin. Doesn't like the water.

First of all taking it to a vet IS practical advice. You can't expect to keep posting this problem until you get an the answer you WANT to hear.

There is really not much else that anyone can offer you in the way of advice and I am sure that one of the vets that "does not cater to turtles" could at the very least get you the antibiotics that you obviously need for this animal that would appear to be suffering from some sort of bacterial infection.

But we can't diagnose a situation over the internet. Only a vet will be able to help you and since that is not an option -- what more can we tell you?

There are no over counter drugs that you can get that will do more than medicate the water. YOu could try over counter eyedrops but there is no way to tell for sure if an infection is causing an eye problem.

I understand your frustration but there is no other advice that can be given. The best you can do if you are no going to try your best to get a vet to see this animal is to keep it's environment warm and clean and keep trying to provide live food (worms and such would be a good choice) and hope for the best.

Here is a vet list http://nytts.org/nytts/helpnet.htm#NY
Find your state on it and see if there is someone nearby who may be able to help.

I am not trying to get on your case but don't get on everyone else's case because they offer you the only good and proper advice there is in a situation like this.

In the future no matter how difficult it is to see, please refrain from "saving" baby turtles unless you have access to someone who can assist you with medical problems.

Your heart was in the right place trying to get it away from all those sick turtles in the tank but now you have a sick animal that you are unable to do much for.

This little one my recover on it's own but proper medical help it may not happen and so you have an animal that may very well just sit there and linger for weeks until it dies. I hope this does not happen but in all the time I have done turtle rescue I can say this much -- it does not look promising.

Where are you located? Perhaps I know of a rescue near you that could take the animal and get it the proper medical attention.

Good luck with him.

You could call a vet, and ask if they will give it Baytril injections. My turtle just got them, and the vet said that was the best antibiotic out there as it is new (not much resistant bacteria around) and very broad spetrum. It take 4 injections, everyother day.

If you tell the vet what the turtle needs, maybe s/he will be more willing to work with the turtle.
-----
0.1.0 snapping turtle
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
0.0.12 chickens
3.2.0 children
1.0.0 husband

Another option if there are no vets in your area that treat herps is to see if one will consult with a herp vet via telephone.

All right, I took the hatchling to the vet- three times! He gave it some glucose, some eye medicine. Still hasn't worked.

Little fella is swimming around, but can't but open one eye now and then and this just barely. Sits on a rock most of the time, suns himself. Still doesn't eat, and it's been over a week.

Don't know what to do. Can't find another vet. The hatchling seems feisty, energetic a little, but just won't open its eyes and won't eat.

I'm giving him another week or two. Then what should I do if he's in misery?

Well -- you were absolutely right. The vets by you do not cater to turtles. Glucose?? Great the turtle isn't feeling good let's juice him up with some sugar!! Well -- I must at least give you credit for trying your best. I think perhaps your vet has not considered the possibility that this turtle has a bacterial infection of some sort and perhaps trying some antibiotic rather than sugar might help him a long. Now I twice feel your frustration.

As I mentioned earlier let me know your location. Maybe a rehabber is nearby who may be able to help you get your turtle back on his feet.

Is there any discharge of any sort from the eyes?

Honuman,

No, there's no discharge from his eyes. I attribute his illness to dirty water, his lack of appetitite probably to some bacterial infection, although he seems to have no repiratory symptoms.

He swims well, but can't submerge, or swim downward. I really don't know what to do. There are no vets where I'm living, because where I'm living is the remote seaside off the coast of Japan! Yes, believe it or not. I work here.

It's frustrating, and I've been seeing the little guy suffer. But lately he is opening both eyes(they look weird, icy,) but he still won't eat. It's been two weeks now, although malnutrition doesn't seem to be wearing on him, so he must be eating some of the floating sticks I leave in the water, or perhaps some of the plants in there.

Let me know if you have any practical advice. The vet did give me a beaker to feed the turtle with, but I have problems getting it to open its mouth. Should I use this method as a last resort?

I've been told by vets that sometimes you can use something like a credit card to get them to open their mouths. It basically comes down to annoying them enough to open up. Of course with an aquatic turtle they only eat in the water so it's a bit more of a challenge.

This might help you out www.anapsid.org/vets/japan.html There are 3 vets listed