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health problem of painted turtle

22 16:16:22

Question
I have a painted turtle, approx 3-4 yrs old. Normally, very active, eats well. Now, sluggish, acts as if she does not want to open her mouth when given food. Rubbing one side of her neck prompts her to open her mouth very wide, jerks head to that side as if there is some pain. She drinks water, but does not attempt to eat. Is it possible there is swelling in the neck and she cannot eat? Please let me know if you have any ideas or remedies I can try. She is given vitamins on a regular basis, and vit A recently for her eyes.   thank you

Answer
Sounds like a possible tympanic abscess or mouthrot. You need to get any animal to the vet which is not eating. She probably will need stomach tubing and systemic antibiotics to recover. Make sure your habitat temps and water quality are correct. Also, discontinue vitamin A. This is dangerous for turtles and seldom do these symptoms have anything to do with a vitamin deficiency. The turtle does not need vitamin A unless you have found a deficiency through serum retinol test first. Overdosing of vitamin A is too easy to do and can be a horrible and fatal experience for the turtle. If she is low on vitamin A, then give natural sources of beta carotene, not straight vitamin A.

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