sulcata

Question

scab  

scab   Hello i have aquired a sulcata through a rescue. first tortoise but far from first replite and am I completly ready for the task so lets not waste time there.. Marvin is really active, eats everyday and is developing a really funny personality. so this brings me to my main question..today we were outside and i picked the little guys up, i noticed a scab/wond under his arm. it doesnt seem to have slowed him down..it looks like maybe it was from his own spurs or a sharp peice of dry hay inside his home.. have you seen this? will it heal without infection?

Answer
It's hard to say how he got it, but they can get minor wounds like that fairly easily, from rocks, sticks, nips from another tortoise (not sure how he was housed at the rescue), etc.  It doesn't look too bad, and seems to be healing, so I don't think it's anything to worry about.  It probably wouldn't hurt to apply an antibiotic ointment to it, but other than that I think you can leave it alone unless it starts oozing or bleeding, or develops a bad odor.  In that case, you need to consult a vet for antibiotic treatment.  If he keeps opening a wound in the same area, watch his routine to see if you can figure out what's causing it, but most likely it's just a one-time injury.