Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Tom and Tina went to a reptile vet toady Their both torn up pretty bad, the vet cleaned their wounds and looked at Toms neck his skin is torn just about ¾ around and is exposing his muscles. Thankfully there was no severed muscles.
Tom has to go back in 4 weeks so the vet can decide to maybe put a few stitches, the vet doubts that it will hold. Toms other wounds were chunks of meat from his rear leg and front leg and ripped skin on the other legs. The front leg is bad but the vet thinks he’ll recover in 6 months to a year.

Tina had a big chunk from his rear leg and ripped skins on his other two legs along with a nipped nose. His rear leg has been hard to stop bleeding.

Both Turtles are on antibiotic shots every other day for three weeks, along with special cream for the wounds. Tina also has to go back in 4 weeks.
We will watch for any infections and will take them back right away.

The vet said both Tom and Tina were not to go back to the garden till next year.
No dirt or bed of beast in their living quarters, they are to live on towels or newspapers for quite some time and do not hibernate them.

As I write this Tom and Tina sleep side by side.
One bright spot though Tom did manage to get his bad leg out and move it not much but he moved it. As Stephanie mentioned, Turtles have incredible recuperative abilities, so hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Thank all of you for your input on this ordeal. Turtle88a made me look for other possibilities that turned out to be what the problem was.
In the coming weeks I will write a detailed account now that I now what happened. I would not want anyone have to have this happen to a boxies.
Thanks again Norris

Your Vet wants you to go back after 4 weeks to maybe put stitches in???? Time to get a new vet. The wound should be well on it's way to healing by that time.

That comment struck me as an unusual recommendation, too.
One of our turtles came to us with a recently-chewed-off foot, and our herp vet would NOT stitch it closed because he didn't know exactly how recently the turtle had been injured. This in spite of the fact that bone was exposed.
Keeping the wounds free of debris and packed with antibiotic ointment is a good recommendation, as is keeping them warmer than you might normally. This time of year you have the added challenge of preventing them from going in to hibernation mode, but if I recall correctly, you're equipped to handle that.

Our turtle recovered very nicely, by the way, he just has no foot any more: skin grew over the exposed bone, and he gets around fine.

Boxies have been known to lose a limb or two & survive quite well. I just don't like the fact that they got so many injuries. Consider them as a notch or two above critical. I think "intensive care" is a better word for their situation.
What I would also do is increase the temp to about 84 degrees. Also try to give them some "natural sunlight". A few minutes in some good sun with shade available for them works wonders. I agree with avoiding the garden. Have to kept very clean & dry - You don't want insects around the open wounds.
I am so satisfied in that you found the culprit. Another night and it could have been disasterous for poor Tom. Poor Tina got the blame and was going to get sent packing. (only joking!) (smiling) Hope both heal well and give you guys years of enjoyment.

I'm on that bandwagon too, stitches 4 weeks later sounds odd but otherwise what the vet is doing for them now sounds right to me.
Shell E spent 2 years living on towels, got used to it so today she still sleeps on them. When I allow her to roam the turtle proofed area inside the house, she always ends up on the dog's fluffy orthopedic pad. She's used to soft things now.
I think if you keep them & their sleeping area very clean, do the treatments as ordered in 4 weeks they should be a whole lot better! Good luck!
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PHRatz