| In case your little turtle is ill, it is very important | | | | foreign substances that enter the eyes. Eye |
| for its water to be very clean, for its food to be | | | | drops may not be sufficient, so you should take |
| appropriate and carefully chosen and for the | | | | your little friend to the veterinarian and, in case |
| temperature to be sufficiently high. The absence | | | | the problem only affects the eyes, he will |
| of any of these factors causes your pet to get | | | | recommend drops of Gentocin. Even if this |
| sick. Even the most expensive available treatment | | | | substance will significantly improve the symptoms, |
| is useless, unless the above mentioned conditions | | | | the source of the problem still needs to be |
| are met. | | | | discovered and eliminated. It will do much more |
| If the turtle's condition seems to worsen or the | | | | harm than good to the little reptile to take |
| environmental changes bring no improvement, a | | | | excessive A vitamin. Never administer it under |
| veterinarian must be consulted. You may find an | | | | the form of injection, because this may even kill |
| expert either in the yellow pages or at the | | | | your turtle. Try some dietary supplements |
| animals hospital. | | | | instead. |
| * Sneezing and gaping rarely | | | | * Silver colored spots on the carapace |
| It is normal for turtles, as it is for humans to | | | | Silver colored spots are usually due to an air |
| sneeze sometimes, because of the water that | | | | collection under the first layer, which will soon |
| enters their nose and needs to be eliminated. In | | | | shed. It is perfectly normal for this to happen; |
| case of no mucus discharge and of isolated | | | | however you should keep your turtle under |
| situations in which it sneezes, no problem seems | | | | observation, because algae may enter the layer |
| to be present. | | | | and color the spots in green. In case this happens, |
| * Sneezing, gaping and coughing frequently | | | | try to remove the transparent layer with delicacy. |
| These symptoms should worry you, because | | | | * Shading of the skin |
| they indicate pneumonia or any other respiratory | | | | From time to time, a skin exfoliation is perfectly |
| problem. The veterinarian should be immediately | | | | normal. More over, turtles have an increased |
| seen, and he/she will prescribe antibiotics, will | | | | frequency of the process compared to other |
| perform X-rays and will recommend you means | | | | reptiles. In case the shading involves only thin |
| to take proper care of your sick little friend. | | | | transparent skin, leaves no lesions and is not |
| Pneumonia in turtles may be caused by water | | | | happening in excess, there doesn't seem to be a |
| that is too cold. Try to warm it up and wait; in | | | | problem. On the contrary, in case the peeling |
| case you don't notice any improvement, see a | | | | takes place all the time, the skin of the turtle |
| specialist. | | | | turns red and sore, a fungus may be present. A |
| * Swelling of the eyes. | | | | veterinarian should examine it as soon as possible. |
| This symptom represents the first sign that | | | | Another possibility involves bathing your turtle in |
| announces an infection, possibly a bacterial one, | | | | an idodine solution for 15 minutes two times a |
| generated by stress associated with a physical | | | | day then keeping it in a dry and worm |
| problem, such as scratches from another turtle or | | | | environment for a while. |