Turtles have many common illnesses. Detecting one can be pretty easy but curing it can be challenging. Sometimes diseases can lead to serious problems or even death. Below I have listed common diseases and their cures.
SALMONELLA:
This disease is common and many people know about it. Before recently salmonella was a major issue that connected with turtles and their owners. This case led to the 1975 food and drug Administration's ban on the sale of turtles with a carapace length of under 4 inches. Salmonella is an intestinal infection that attack many living things, don’t always blame it on the turtle. Many animals along with turtles are known to carry this disease. Salmonella is transmitted through dirty water. It also comes from infected food when it is shipped to a place, especially when they are not packaged correctly. Be aware that salmonella is highly contagious from pet to owner.
The way it is passed to a human is by contact with the turtle. After having any contact with your turtle, always remember to wash your hand with soap.
Children are the majority of infections by salmonella. For this reason, baby turtles are now considered an outlaw. Kids would stick them up their mouths and do many other dangerous things. By the early 70's this was the quarter of the million cases that were related with baby turtle. Salmonella still exist today and it will never end and be fully prevented. Although some laws have help, keepers can still have contact with small turtles. Before I have read news on this, I bought my baby turtle. I haven’t had a problem with him yet since I am careful. The problem is not the turtle, but the conditions that the owner gives his pet turtle in captivity. The only way to CURE this disease is depending on the keeper. You should take your turtle to have a check up. Once the disease reaches the turtle, it will die very quickly, within a week. Here are some tips:
-the water of your turtle must be frequently cleaned, whether it is filtered or not.
-Tank must be scrubbed
-Keeper must wash his turtle with a soft sponge whenever its tank is cleaned. Dip the turtle into warm water also.
PLEASE wash your hand carefully!
All I have to say is that the only way to battle salmonella is to avoid it!
SORE OR SWOLLEN EYE :
This is an infection that attacks the eye. They will become quite swollen and boasting an alarming "bulging" appearance. Sometimes the turtle eye will do this as it sits in the pet store tank, then on the other hand a keeper will not encounter it until well after the animal has been purchased and spend time in his new home.
Unless the condition is severe, you should not have to go to the vet. This happens to a lot of aquatic turtles, but it can be cured very easily. A sore or swollen eye is cause by dirty water. Sliders are known to spend most of their time in water, so keep it clean.
The CURE to this sickness is simple. The condition can be treated by swabbing the eye with a cotton swab coated with diluted boric acid (60/40%). To avoid this from happening again, be sure to clean the water frequently. Recovery is usually rapid, but if the problem continues I recommend going to a trusted reptile vet. Beware that this sickness can cause permanent blindness if it does not receive attention.
SOFTENING OF THE SHELL:
This is a common problem in captive turtles. My turtle encountered this problem just recently. This sickness often leads to death very slowly but effectively.
It is caused by a lack of calcium. It can be notice easily, unless if it’s a baby turtle. You'll notice that the shell is becoming soft when you touch it or if it has dents in the shell. In young turtles their shell will sometimes turn bleach white, in patches like mine did.
In captivity, a turtle should always receive full-spectrum light and get calcium through a varied diet. Mealworms are an example of a food that does not provide sufficient calcium. Soft-shells are the first disorders your slider will develop if not given full-Spectrum light. If by any reason you cant provide a spectrum light, you should just leave your turtle outside to get sun. In the summer I put my turtle out in the natural sun.
The CURE to this disorder is to increasing the light hours that your turtle receives. Also try feeding more him/her more calcium. At any pet store you can buy calcium in powder. Here are some tips on feeding your turtle this powder:
1) Mix some calcium powder with a small wad of jelly.
2) Spread the jelly on a cricket or whatever your feeding it.
3) Dangle the item just above the water so that your turtle has to get it.
I hope this help you! Good luck
FUNGUS/FUNGAL INFECTIONS :
This problem is really easy to spot on a turtle. When this occurs you will see a substance that looks like a light layer of cotton. It’s mostly common in young aquatic turtles. Although, it may look alarming, it usually can be treated with full expectation of recovery unless of course it has been left to spread all around the body without any attention. If this has been left to spread, PLEASE contact the vet soon as possible!
It is very easy to CURE this problem. Put your turtle in warm salt water each day for about half an hour. Also, give your turtle a bath in the same solution. Just get a soft sponge and gently scrub the infected areas. As long as the problem is not severe, you should notice recovery within a day or 2. Full recovery takes 10 days or even 2 weeks.
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS::
There are many respiratory infections that attack captive Turtles or any amphibians. Most of them are mild ones and can be treated during the early stages; the few that remain can be serious and take life very easily.
Slider turtles along with other aquatic animals will get this problem. This problem starts because turtles love being in the water. We should know this problem because we always get reminded to stay warm. Doctors will tell you that the rain itself does not "cause" develop some sort of respiratory infection. The wind starts the problem or sickness. That is why we don’t want to put a slider turtle in a windy tunnel but obvious drafts are not usually the problem. It only takes a few cold breezes to set off this infection. Keeping the room tightly sealed is very important.
Some respiratory infections are contagious. The signs that your turtle might have this sickness are:
-runny nose, a turtle that does not keep its mouth closed (or wheezes).
In many cases, the turtle will swim lopsided, the ailing lung being the one in the other side.
–Also the turtle will refuse to eat.
The CURE to this infection is to make an effort to keep draft out, and check to make sure the temperature is set appropriate level. The water has to be warm. Make sure that the infected slider is moved into a new tank by itself since the illness is contagious. If after a week the condition is the same, PLEASE take the turtle to see the vet like all the other problems.
INTESTINAL INFECTION:
Sometimes a slider turtle will have trouble with its intestinal tract, and this can show up in many ways. One is blockage in the guts. It will cause further infections that will kill your turtle. You'll notice that your turtle has been eating, but nothing is coming out.
Another way to detect the problem is if the turtle's feces are runny or off-colored. If in the case of diarrhea or constipation, there may be a severe problem.
The problem is usually in the diet your giving your turtle. Did you know that giving it the same food day after day would give some kind of intestinal upset? This usually happens to turtle that are given commercial food. You might think that the food is good and healthy with all those vitamins. Although this food is as good as they are said to be, the simple fact is that they cannot provide variety makes them partial at best.
A CURE is simple! Give your turtle a bath in a tank in warm water for about 5-hour period every day until the guts are flushed out. After this has happen, try to feed your turtle a new food. You do not have to change the diet completely though. Every food is different and your turtle might not accept it. Read the label and see directions on feeding can make sure there are vitamins and that it is healthy.
