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Posted by turtle doctor on July 11, 1999 at 09:32:23:
In Reply to: shell rot? posted by derrick G on July 11, 1999 at 09:27:25:
I was a guest Vet at a recent show and I was amazed at the shell rot that goes untreated. heres my summary on treatment:
Step 1: Correct the cause of the problem. For turtles who live in captivity, poor conditions will cause shell rot. Dirty water, cool temperatures, and lack of appropriate basking area and light are the most likely culprits. If your turtle has developed shell rot in your care, the first step is to correct your husbandry. Extensive information is available on correct care of a wide variety of species, on the internet and in books. Once you have corrected your turtle's housing, you may turn you attention to the shell condition.
Step 2: Clean the turtle's shell. Using a soft toothbrush and mild soap, clean off any dirt, algae and damaged pieces of the outer layers of the scutes. After the bath, dry the turtle off as thoroughly as possible. Gently peel off anything that will come off easily. Try to scrape out the white pits. If they do not come out easily, leave them in place. Further treatment will loosen them up. (Extensive debriding is incredibly painful for the animal and should be done under anesthesia.)
Step 3: Disinfect the shell with a general anticeptic. In years past, anticeptics such as hydrogen peroxide or Betadine (povidone-iodine) or antibiotic ointments have been used. These will generally kill the pathogens successfully, however recent research indicates that these things actually slow the healing process by preventing the regrowth of the epithelial cells over the effected area. The anticeptic of choice is Nolvasan (chlorhexiderm) which is available from veterinary clinics (non-prescription) and some pet stores. Healing is noticably quicker with Nolvasan, so it is worth the effort to find some and use it. Soak the turtle for at least an hour in a weak anticeptic solution, one part Nolvasan to 100 parts water.
Step 4: Air! Place the turtle in a dry container for at least 2 hours. Some turtles are not overly stressed if left in the dry container overnight(in complete darkness), returning it to the aquarium for at least a portion of the day. Air is the enemy of shell rot pathogens, so it is important to keep the animal dry for a lengthy period of time. But dehydration and excessive stress must also be prevented.
Continue to clean, disinfect and air dry the turtle each day for a 5 to 7 days. By that time, all the white pits will have loosened and been removed. If not, continue treatment. If there are discolored areas remaining after 2 weeks, consult a veterinarian.
When the turtle has been returned to the aquarium full time, it is vital that you maintain conditions that will prevent a recurrence. Keep the water clean. Provide a dry area with a warming light for basking. Natural healing will continue until the damaged areas are filled in (or nearly) with new epithial cells.
