Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of Baby T's eyes is very swollen and closed. I know it cant be diet related. I am scheduled to go out of town later today and need some advice quickly. He has been indoors now. His humidity has been good overall. What else could it be? What should I do?

Thanks, Linda

Hey Linda,
Sorry for all the late responses. If you've kept boxies for any length of time, then perhaps you are familiar with cod liver oil drops for eyes. If you are absolutely headed out right now, and with no other options available, but have drops on hand, then I would drip a drop or two, put her into a warm and moist environment and hope for the best...short term. I don't think that just one inappropriate dose of vitamin would necessarily be that detrimental, given your choices, if indeed it were not consistent with the variables of treatments for symptoms described. How long will you be gone? Then, I would get her to a vet, ASAP, for a hands on evaluation. Not many options beyond that, unless you could leave her with a dependable surrogate to get her to a vet right away, like tomorrow. Hope all turns out well, eventually. Let us know what happens next. Best of luck and keep us updated...
-Spence

I had some Terramyacin ointment which I applied on Friday late afternoon. I got home today and his eye looks a little better. It is open but appears to be bloodshot. Do you think he stuck something in it? I have been keeping his enclosure at 70-80% humidity. He ate a great diet over the summer so I really don't think it is a Vitamin A deficiency. He doesn't appear to have a respiratory infection either. He has been refusing to eat as he is slowing for hibernation. I am concerned as he MUST be allowed to hibernate as I had to last year after not eating for many weeks.

Let me know what you guys think.
Thanks, Linda

All mine have totally stopped eating now. The adults as well as the juvies. The hatchlings have slowed down and I will take them out every three or four days to soak them and offer food. So I wouldn't worry about that. If he's eating good and you feel he's healthy and it's just his eye, I would keep putting the ointment on. He might have gotten some substrat in his eye, so let him soak a few times a day in warm water and then apply the ointment. Just what I would do. What kind of substrate are you using?

Thanks so much for responding. His substrate is a mixture of potting soil and sand with moss on top. I panicked on Friday when I found him like this. I worried all weekend while at NARBC in Tinley Park. My daughter was here to care for him though. Thank goodness I had this eye antibiotic. It really seems to have brought the swelling down.

Linda

antibiotic? If he has a respiratory infection should I assume it would affect both eyes? Should I increase his heat? It is about 80 during the day and 70 at night. If it is respiratory when would I suspect to see other symptoms? This couldn't have happened at a worse time with hibernation coming quickly.

Thanks for any advice

Hold him with both hands, thumbs on the bottom, gently squeeze and see if any bubbles come out of his nose. It so, he has a RI. The only way I could tell when mine had one. I would keep up the ointment and warm soaking until the eye is clear. Also keep the temp. around 85 now, and get rid of the sand. You would be better off with soil mixed with coco coir or peat moss. Here's a little trick I've learned....get some infant baby food..carrots..put in a dish with warm water and soak him in that. Will increase his intake of vit A, and if you can get some bird vitamins and soak him is the warm water adding some of the bird vitamins. I would not hibernate him now.

His eye looks better today. I got some turtle rinse and am using that along with the antibiotic cream. I really don't think there is a possibility of a Vit A deficiency. This little guy gained 29 grams over the summer on greens (turnip, collard, mustard), mixed veggies, carrots, different kinds of squash, parsnip and different kinds of fruit along with waxworms, catfood and Reptomin, and red wigglers in small amounts. I also threw in crused milk-bones, alfafa pellets and the list goes on. He ate with gusto every day this summer. Is it possible it could be Vit A with this diet? He also spent the summer outdoors and was brought in due to the colder temps.

I will try your advice on checking for a respiratory infection but again only one eye is affected and he has so far no other symptoms. I do have an exotic vet but she really isn't that up on turtles I don't think. The attached pic was taken just a few weeks before the eye swelled. He looks really healthy here. What a mystery.

Thanks, Linda

With a diet like that I don't think he has any vitamin deficiency at all. The only thing I could think of is maybe he got something in his eye or a chill ....he really looks beautiful and healthy to me. I would just keep soaking him and putting on the ointment for a little longer.

his eye is almost back to normal. It looked really clear yesterday morning when I soaked and medicated it. I am hoping a few more days I can let him hibernate. He is soooo ready

Thanks for all of your help
Linda