Turtle RES eye infection?

[snailrider]

Awhile back one of my friends turtles eyes became white (eylid), I went and got eydrops and that helped some. I then tried tetracycline baths and that didn't really make any difference. Seems to get better then something else looks worse.

Today instead of white the eyelids were looking like they might bleed. Is this because they are healing proper and blood is getting back? Or, has it progressed worse?

Water is clear and clean, and has been getting plenty of changes. I take her out into the sunlight daily for the medication. Do I need to "double up" to knock this out?

When I noticed this trouble the first time, her eye was almost completly covered and could not see out of it. It is better, just it seems like an eternity of medicating. (2 weeks already)

Anything else I can do to speed her recovery?

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Are they eyes puffy and closed? Does the turtle sound like it's weezing when it's out of the water? If so your turtle probably has a respiratory infection which is kind of like a cold for us. What is the water temperature in the tank? Whatever it is, bump it up to between 80˚ and 84˚. What is the diet like? Vitamin A deficiency will also cause the eyes to become swollen and closed. Does the turtle have access to a basking spot with a temperature between 85˚ and 90˚. Is the bulb giving off UVB rays? If the turtle has a serious case of R.I., you're going to have to take it to a vet familiar with turtles and get medicine for it. If it is suffering from lack of vitamin A, a shot can be given to your turtle.

 

[snailrider]

Well, the light is uv, not sure the wattage, but seldom see either basking. I am forcing them to bask, I take em into the sun for an hour every day. Then I add water after and hour and leave them for a little longer.

Healthy and happy otherwise. I hear air expell when they tuck in, but otherwise nothing odd. Shells are in great shape. After the tetracycline baths, she seemed happier, but no visible signs other than attitude. They are about a year and a little, raised from about the size of a quarter, to 4-5 inches now.

Today she looks a tad better, but darn I wish it would heal all the way. It may have been way bad before I found that she had a problem, not my turtles, but it seems I got roped into taking care of them, except for feeding. (many scoldings given for overfeeding) Pellets and goldfish.

Added calcium block, and sulfer block.

Maybe just patience, as she is not getting worse, and is somewhat better. I would just hate to be missing something.

 

[legendaryfrog]

Seems like there isnt much more than you can do. Good luck on getting her back to health.

 

[snailrider]

Well she is back in the tank, I don't know if it is possible for a turtle to enjoy going for a walk, but she don't really stress it anymore LOL

Thanks Much

 

[Vicious_Fish]

If her eyes are still sticking shut, you can leave her out of water for a bit to dry and then give her some saline eye drops. They also make turtle eye drops too.

Please don't feed her goldfish as they are junk food to a turtle. Stick with turtle pellets, shrimp pellets, freeze-dried shrimp, earthworms, frozen shrimp, cichlid pellets, small amounts of tuna, crickets, aquatic insect larva and maybe a few rosy reds. I like to feed my turtles varied diets, not just pellets. You might want to start offering veggies as part of the diet. As adults, that's pretty much all they eat. I like to have aquatic plants like Anacharis in my water turtle enclosures for them to pick at whenever they want to.

 

[snailrider]

Just an update, I did a fungal treatment since last post, and today her eyes are almost back to normal. The whole healing process from the start of that treatment looked odd, but the changes were like old dead eyelid sluffing off etc.

Man, I feel some relief. :nilly:

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Awesome! I'm glad your turtle is doing much better.

 

[snailrider]

Update on turtles. Doing great, moved them into a bigger tank in the window with some sunshine, and picked up a boy for the two fems.