Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy Folks,
Thanks ahead of time for your input. I'm house sitting for a friend that has a turtle colony in his backyard and everyone looks wonderfully healthy except one of the females. This female's eyes are very swollen, one is swollen completely shut. She is still active/good appetite, but I worry she might have an infection or be suffering from a vitamin deficiency.

I've raised colorbrids/ornate horned frogs for the last decade or so, but I know nothing about turtles. These are wild turtles in a backyard colony. Should I take her to the vet immediately or keep her warm in an enclosure? I don't want to traumatize her further, but I'll do whatever to make sure she lives.

Thanks again for your help!

That is a common problem in the spring after the long (eyes closed) brumation. Usually getting them outdoors in the sunshine and active is enough to clear the swollen eye quickly. You might try soaking the turtle in 2-3 inches of warmer water then take a que-tip and gently wipe away any puss or semi solid "gunk", that has helped speed up recover for me. If it is really bad and the turtle stops eating or is inactive it could become fatal if not taken to a vet for thoughout care and treatment, if and when to take to vet is ultimately your judgement call but since they are not your animals I would lean on the the side of error or caution and be more inclined to take to vet. I personally would rather come home to an unexpected vet bill than an unexpected death.
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

Thank you very much, this was most helpful!

I agree with Boxienuts.....this is very typical for our Southwestern turtles. I live in Albuquerque NM and see this regularly with our desert box turtles. As it warms up more her eyes should clear up. Most of mine wake up with varying degrees of this issue. I've never had to take any of mine to the vet for this issue as it typically clears up as it warms up. I would do just as Boxienuts suggests if she doesn't start clearing up fairly soon.....give her a warm bath and gently wipe the gunk out. I doubt you'll need to take her to the vet but if it starts to affect her feeding and general demeanor,.....by all means find a vet that knows something about reptiles.
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius