Human beings have always been linked to the animal kingdom, so it should not surprise us that precisely now, where most of the population lives in urban centers, the world of animals is diversifying enormously company.
This is very positive because although the pets par excellence are dogs and cats, they do not always adapt to the individual characteristics of all people, therefore, more and more are choosing less conventional pets, such as ferrets, Vietnamese pigs, snakes or turtles.
If you are thinking of taking in a tortoise or if you already share your home with one of them, this AnimalWised article is very interesting for you, since in it we talk about themost common turtle diseases.
Recognizing signs of illness in a turtle
As happens with us and with many other animals, when a turtle's body is not he althy, it shows it through different signalsto which we must remain attentive, are the following:
- Swollen eyes
- Cough or sneeze
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in behavior
- Spots or anomalies on the shell
- Diarrhea
Respiratory infections
Sudden changes in temperature, which may be caused by a poor adjustment of the water temperature or by air currents, are the main cause that the turtle ends up contracting a respiratory infection, since as we, are susceptible to colds
The symptoms that we will observe in this case are the following:
- Open-Mouth Breathing
- Mucus and nasal secretions
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness and lethargy
It is a priority to increase the temperature of the water to strengthen the immune system, if in a few days we do not see improvement we should go immediately to the vet to prevent a cold from triggering pneumonia.
Diarrhea and constipation
Both intestinal transit disorders are caused by a poor diet. In the case of diarrhoea, it is usually due to a case of overfeeding, an excess of fruit and vegetables or the intake of a food in poor condition. If the affectation is constipation, the diet will be deficient in fiber, although this disorder also appears when the aquarium is very small.
To treat constipation, in addition to making the corresponding dietary corrections, we can offer our turtle a warm water bath that covers the lower part of the shell.
To treat and prevent diarrhea it is important to keep the aquarium water clean and be careful with our turtle's hygiene, in addition, We must reduce the supply of water through food until we observe that the intestinal transit has returned to normal.
Eye problems
Turtles are very susceptible to eye infections and we can detect them very easily if we look at our turtle's closed and swollen eyes, in addition to lack of appetite.
The cause is usually a vitamin A deficiency or dirty water. As a first treatment we must proceed to an eye cleaning with physiological saline, 2 times a day.
If no improvement is observed, we should go to the vet so that he or she can decide if an antibiotic treatment and/or a nutritional supplement based on vitamin A is necessary.
Pyramidism
Pyramidism affects tortoises and it is a disorder that is very easily perceived through the shell, as the shell thickens and rises, in the most serious cases, it can reach to be a very severe problem for turtles.
This condition is directly related to a poor diet, although lack of moisture and sun exposure as well as endocrine diseases can also cause pyramiding.
Although pyramidism has no treatment, early veterinary evaluation will be very important in reducing this condition and improving the quality of life of the turtle.
Lesions and shell on legs
Finally we mention these lesions, which without being a pathology, are common in turtles and must be treated in time, since otherwise Otherwise, more serious complications can appear. Turtles can be injured by falls, scratches or bites, if they live with other herbivorous reptiles.
If the tortoise simply has a scratch, simply clean the area with water and neutral soap, and then disinfect it with a solution of iodine dissolved in water. On the other hand, if the wound is deep, it is essential to go to the vet as early as possible.
