Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I'm hoping someone may have some previous experience with bacterial infections. My painted has been dealing with a bacterial infection on his hind feet for a couple of months now. I went to the vet & he prescribed Mupirocin, an ointment to be put on his feet every night for 2 weeks. It seemed to have a slight improvement. Went back to the vet & he said to continue a few days a week until it improves. It seems to get a little better, then worse, then better, etc. It's not going away. Now a hind claw fell out on each foot. I have changed his tank water & even bought new parts to the filter thinking maybe the filter wasn't filtering well. I am really concerned. Although it doesn't seem to affect him at all because he is still very active and eats normally, I would be so upset if something happened to him! Does anyone know if this could become detrimental or have any suggestions?

Can you afford to have a culture done to see what the causative organism is? In other words, are you sure it's bacterial and not fungal?

I would set up a dry dock container from a Rubbermaid tote. Keep a towel in the bottom and a screen over one end for a 60 or 75 watt heat light.

One time, rinse him off, put 3% hydrogen peroxide on the feet, and let him sit out for 5 minutes. Rinse well, and and put Betadine on the feet, then let him sit in dry dock for at least 10 minutes, maybe up to an hour. Rinse him off well, and let him go back in his regular tank. You can get the 3% peroxide in a grocery store or pharmacy under the first aid section.

For a few days after that, rinse him off and just add Betadine to his feet, and let him sit in dry dock again. Try that for a few days and see how he looks. He might need systemic antiobitics (injections of Baytril or Amikacin), or he could have a fungal infection. Getting a culture done now could help you see what you're really dealing with.

Katrina

The vet took a sample, looked at it under the microscope, and determined it was a bacterial infection. I ended up bringing him back to the vet becasue I was very concerned. The vet seems to think the infection worked its way out & that's why he lost a couple of claws. He said his feet look normal now. I am still keepiing a close eye. Thanks so much for the advice. Hope I don't have to use it but really good to know.
Andrea

Glad the treatment worked. Is your turtle able to bask for several hours during the day undisturbed, without any interuptions, to completely dry off?
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

Sorry for the delay in responding. Yes, he basks for hours so he is dry for quite some time.